THE province of Lau has warned against a ‘barrel of a gun’ role for the military.
In its submission to the Constitutional Review Commission this week, Lau recommended that section 131(2) of the 2013 Constitution, the constitutional provision that gives the military a role in safeguarding the security, defence and well-being of Fiji and its people, be removed in its entirety, arguing that such wording could open the door to extra-constitutional intervention.
“The guardianship of the Constitution belongs to the people, Parliament and the courts – never to the barrel of a gun,” the province said in a statement, while calling for major changes to the role of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.
“A constitutional clause that invites the military to judge for itself when the ‘well-being’ of the nation requires its intervention is not a security provision.”
“It is a standing charter for extra-constitutional action, and Fiji’s own history has shown where such reasoning leads.”
The submission comes from a province whose paramount chief, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, is a former senior military officer who was involved in the events surrounding the 2006 coup before later falling out with former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and living in exile in Tonga.
He returned to Fiji after the 2022 national polls brought about a change of government.
Lau said the military’s role should instead be limited to defending Fiji and carrying out duties prescribed by law under civilian and parliamentary oversight.
The province also called for the restoration of the Great Council of Chiefs’ role in appointing Fiji’s President, with consultation from the Prime Minister, saying this would strengthen the independence and legitimacy of the Head of State. It further proposed the return of the Office of the Vice-President and the restoration of the President as substantive Commander-in-Chief, similar to arrangements under the 1997 Constitution.
