Fiji’s newly-launched National Security Strategy (NSS) has no formal legislation that gives it legal authority or outlines how it should function.
Speaking at the launch of the strategy alongside Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka earlier this week, Minister for Defence Pio Tikoduadua said this was the first time a proposal had been made to establish the NSS in law.
“Currently, it has no legal enablers. There is no law,” he said.
“This is the first time it is proposing that it should be established in law.”
He explained that the NSS involves two key bodies, the National Security Council (NSC), made up of politicians, and the Senior Officials Committee (SOC), which includes the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander and the Commissioner of Police.
“In the NSC, it is always up to the Prime Minister to co-opt a commander, a commissioner, or anyone at all in matters of national interest.
“Otherwise, the RFMF Commander is a member.
“I am part of the NSC, the council of the whole of government. It is headed by the Prime Minister. We are part of it.”
Mr Tikoduadua said Fiji’s security depended on a whole-of-government approach as well as cooperation with regional partners.
“Fiji’s security can only be defined by how we deal with our partners.
“It is a whole of government plus our partners in the region to keep us safe.
“No one is responsible for their own security.”