Kotobalavu: Commander is different

THE Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai is so positively different from the leaders in the military who were responsible for the 2006 coup.

This is the view of a long-time permanent secretary to the prime minister’s office, Jioji Kotobalavu.

He said he was impressed by the commander’s effort to lead the military through a reconciliation process.

“When I read report (March 5, 2024) on comments by RFMF commander Ro Jone Kalouniwai about what he saw as the imperative need to bring about reconciliation and healing within the rank and file members of the military and their families, in the wake of the mutiny that occurred during the civilian-led coup in 2000, I was so impressed,” Mr Kotobalavu said.

“I could perceive from his comments that here is a leader who is so positively different from those in the RFMF who were responsible for the unconstitutional and unlawful removal in December 2006 of the democratically elected multi-party Cabinet Government led by the late honourable Laisenia Qarase.”

Mr Kotobalavu said those who led the coup in 2006 and the regime that followed were usurpers and power grabbers.

“They manipulated the law to abrogate the 1997 Constitution and they then protected themselves by the State immunity provisions of their 2013 Constitution.

“In contrast, I see in Ro Jone Kalouniwai’s vision and commitment to restoring unity within the RFMF and then, beyond this, for the RFMF to reach out to Fiji’s wider community and to assist our government in its programs to promote national reconciliation and unity, the qualities required for effective national leadership in our country.”

He said these were the qualities of clarity of vision, courage and commitment to follow up with action, compassion, empathy, honesty and integrity and humility.

“He is a leader who cares about the wellbeing of the people he serves.”