Former Opposition leader Mick Beddoes says the Republic of Fiji Military Forces should accept the negative social media comments from concerned citizens targeting their reconciliation efforts.
Responding to RFMF Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai’s comments on the public backlash towards their efforts to seek forgiveness from those victimised by the military in the past, Mr Beddoes questioned who the military was reconciling with if not the citizens of Fiji.
“The RFMF’s decision to reconcile with the GCC is appropriate given they were also targeted ‘victims’ of the RFMF-led coup of 2006 and since then up to the re-establishment of the GCC on Wednesday May 24th on the Chiefly Island of Bau, an occasion which I was privileged to be present at,” Mr Beddoes said.
“The other ‘victims’ of the atrocities the RFMF carried out are our citizens, many of whom have since passed on, but their families and next of kin remain and given the hurt, suffering and losses that the actions of the RFMF subjected our citizens to, some negative social media commentary is the very least they should expect given the recollection that citizens today will have about the suffering they have endured for the past 38 years.”
He said the military should reclaim their place of pride they once held in the hearts of the Fijian people by taking some sincere steps.
“(Such as) Publicly expressing their sincere regret and remorse for what they have done especially to those families whose loved ones lost their lives or were brutalised by the regime and seeking the forgiveness of the people for their wrongdoing and making a pledge to never again abandon the people.”
Mr Beddoes said the military should renew and reaffirm their oaths to defend the people of Fiji and their elected government.
“Leave the business of managing the country to those aspiring candidates that the people elect through free and fair elections to do.
“If there are officers or servicemen and women who aspire to become representative of the people, then by all means, resign your commission or office.
“Hang up your uniform or robe and step into the political arena and like the rest of us, put your case to the people and if you are convincing and sincere enough, the people will respond to your message with a mandate for you to represent their aspirations and interests in the next parliament.
“There is no place in a society like ours for the use of military or any kind of armed intervention as a means of changing our political direction.”
Mr Beddoes added while he supported the efforts of the RFMF to seek reconciliation there needed to be a clear understanding that both parties in the conflict were equal participants to any genuine reconciliation effort and neither party should be dictating the terms or process.
