RFMF Commander says there’s no reason for alarm

DO not be alarmed.

This was the message from Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander MajorGeneral Ro Jone Kalouniwai to the people of Fiji during an interview with The Fiji Times after a statement was issued by Police Commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho yesterday that RFMF personnel would assist police with the maintenance of law and order, “amid growing concerns of racial tension”.

“There’s nothing that the public needs to be afraid of, no need for any uncertainty,” he said.

“It’s just a matter of us looking at the wellbeing and safety of the people at large,” the RFMF Commander said. “It’s only a temporary measure. “It’s different when things escalate and we are handed that responsibility.

“That’s a different thing altogether when they hand over responsibility to the RFMF, that becomes a state of emergency situation.

“This is just a normal support we provide the Fiji Police Force.

“We are only there to assist them with anything that they need.”

When told that The Fiji Times had noted one purported stoning incident on social media which was posted on a fake Facebook site, and that police had not provided details about the number of reports received and the location of homes stoned, Brig-Gen Kalouniwai said there were issues in “certain areas”.

“You’ll be surprised at what is happening, our discussions are coming out of certain areas, something we are worried about.

“This is why we had our discussions with the Police Commissioner and why we are here to support them, that’s all. “There’s nothing to be alarmed about.” Police Commissioner Brig-Gen Qiliho in a statement yesterday said as more information and reports were received by the Fiji Police Force and RFMF of threats made against minority groups “who are now living in fear following recent political developments”, a decision was reached to call in the RFMF to assist police with the maintenance of security and stability.