THE Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) has renewed its call for a commission of inquiry into the Fiji Police Force, warning that weak independent oversight could undermine Fiji’s democracy.
FCOSS program’s manager Josaia Tokoni made the submission yesterday to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights during its consideration of the Fiji Police Bill 2026.
Mr Tokoni said FCOSS had called for a commission of inquiry three times – in 2021, 2023 and again in December last year – following concerns including the death of a person at a Beqa village linked to alleged police brutality.
“Our national precedence set it plainly at the time – when law enforcement bypasses the court and takes human life into its own hands, the foundation of our democracy begins to crumble,” he said.
FCOSS welcomed provisions requiring the use of force by police to be proportionate and a last resort, greater civil society involvement in police training, community policing and quarterly reporting of complaints and disciplinary action.
However, Mr Tokoni said stronger independent oversight was needed.
“We are not here to oppose any reform,” he added.
“However, we are here because in our experience, the gap between good intention and good outcome in this country usually comes down to one question: who is watching when something goes wrong?”
FCOSS recommended mandatory independent review of complaints involving human rights violations or excessive force that are summarily dismissed.
Mr Tokoni also raised concerns about covert surveillance, tracking and biometric powers.
“Given Fiji’s history of coups and political interference, powers this broad concentrated in one institution, create the risk of misuse against civil society, political opponents or journalists.”
