WHAT TIKODUADUA SAID: ‘GOVERNMENT AND RFMF WILL WORK TOGETHER’
The newly elected Coalition Government and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces will work together moving forward. This was the reassurance made by the Minister for Home Affairs Pio Tikoduadua yesterday following concerns raised by the RFMF Commander, Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai. Mr Tikoduadua said the concerns raised by the RFMF Commander were prompted by the statement made by Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka on the reinstatement of the laid-off workers of Air Terminal Services and the appointments of Fijian diplomats.
“I told him that we are following the law, we have not broken any law,” Mr Tikoduadua said, adding that the intention with the ATS matter was the re-employment of workers. We have not brought anyone yet. The applicability of that is going to depend on many issues.
“The Commander was concerned in particular because the court had made a ruling to let those people go, but that was an action taken by ATS which is the Government and like any employer, the Government through ATS has expressed now that it would like to consider the plight of those who were removed.
“It is not a conflict of interest, we are not disrespecting the separation of powers. The court has made its decision, but we would like to accommodate those people now, the practicality of that is being worked out.” He reiterated that the coalition Government was the elected Government of the people which was why he had summoned the RFMF Commander to his office to inform him of his concerns. “We have agreed that we will work together going forward because
Fiji needs us to work together. Our history speaks a lot for itself, he understands that, I understand it and we want to assure the people that the relationship between the Government and the RFMF especially the Commander is on a good note,” Mr Tikoduadua said.
“There is nothing for people to worry about and I want to assure the people of Fiji today and all our investors and all people who are interested in what’s happening in Fiji that we are working well together.” Mr Tikoduadua said moving forward the commander would refrain from making similar utterances to the public rather he would raise his concerns with him as his line minister.
“I trust the commander to do the right thing. He has pledged himself today to support the Government,” he said.
“The Commander and I go a long way back.
“We’ve agreed that he will not make such statements due to the impact on the people and confidence and he understands that.
“We have agreed on a new beginning and I would like to reassure the people of Fiji and the region that our relationship is good and clear.
“We are going forward assuring our people that we work together to look after our people and protect this new intention of democracy that people have elected. They have said no to the old ways of doing things. The Commander recognises that and I thank him for that and I have every trust in him that he is going to uphold the law and do the right thing according to the will of the people expressed in the elections.”