FORMER prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former commissioner of police Sitiveni Qilihio are being investigated for their alleged actions to compel the Republic of Fiji Military Forces to send troops on the streets, claiming there was widespread violence and civil unrest in parts of the country.
These claims were made during the period in which negotiations were underway to form a new government in December of 2022.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime, Mesake Waqa confirmed investigations are ongoing.
His response was based on queries from The Fiji Times on whether CID has ended investigation into a case of alleged sedition involving former PM Voreqe Bainimarama and former COMPOL Sitiveni Qilihio, and that charges will be laid on the two soon.
In an interview with The Fiji Times program Lens@177 in September 2024, military commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai had said then police commissioner Qiliho had called and asked him to send his troops, alleging instability because of the outcome of the polls.
“We had a discussion,” Maj-Gen Kalouniwai had said.
“I said I would keep the troops in QEB.”
On December 22 last year, President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, for the first time, publicly thanked Ro Jone Kalouniwai for standing his ground following the 2022 General Elections which gave way to a new government.
“Au via vavinavina’a talega vei na Commander ni mataivalu Ro Jone Kalouniwai ena nona veiliutaki vina’a ena lewe ni mataivalu. (I want to also thank the army Commander Ro Jone Kalouniwai, for his steadfast leadership in leading the military),” he said.
“He was grounded, steady and just in allowing that the people’s choice to elect a new government falls through and it is the Government we have today.”
