Rebuild public trust
Kalouniwai: RFMF has to get its house in order first
THE Republic of the Fiji Military Forces’ efforts to rebuild public trust in the institution will include reaching out to former leaders affected by military-led coups, says RFMF Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai.
He said after carrying out their own reconciliation within the force, they would approach leaders such as former prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry and the family of the late
Laisenia Qarase.
“I believe that the RFMF has to get its house in order first before it starts reaching out to society, to the Government, and past governments as well,” he said.
“If you go back as far as 1987, the ethnic races have been affected as well within Fiji.”
Maj-Gen Kalouniwai said he was not pointing fingers at those who were leading Fiji during the political upheavals.
“I am not pointing fingers at any leadership. I am speaking on behalf of the institution.
“The institution is my responsibility, and the integrity of the institution is what I am talking about.
“It has been affected. It is something that I need to retain in terms of looking at things differently.”
Maj-Gen Kalouniwai said the military had “its values, its ethos, its principles”, and that rebuilding the trust of the people in the institution was crucial.
“Whatever the RFMF does today, people will ask us, with this reconciliation process, what will we achieve from it?
“There is a need for us to rebuild the trust back into society. That is a huge challenge for us because of our past.
“So, healing first within is very important for us and that is why we are focusing our reconciliation process towards November 2.”