THE Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) respects the rule of law and maintains its commitment to Fiji’s safety despite recent events.
This was the reassurance provided by Defence and Veterans Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua yesterday in an interview with the media following the opening of the Regional Workshop on Hybrid Threats and Natural Disasters taking place at Camp Blackrock, Nadi.
“Soldiers are humans like everyone; we are subjected to the same law and that is the same law that the RFMF will uphold,” he said.
Mr Tikoduadua said the RFMF will await the completion of investigations regarding the alleged murder of Jone Vakarisi.
The RFMF had earlier attributed Vakarisi’s death to medical reasons before the issuing of the Fiji Police Force’s statement determining the cause of death to be murder.
“The investigations are continuing, we will wait for the police outcomes.
Mr Tikoduadua also addressed speculation that Vakarisi’s death was caused by his alleged abuse by military officers who took him in for questioning.
“In this particular case, something that the RFMF has admitted is unwarranted and needs to be investigated so that the law can take its full course and then only the law is where we have confidence when the law reveals the whole truth and nothing but the truth and that’s what we should re-emphasise.
Mr Tikoduadua also reassured members of the public that the RFMF as an institution is here to protect the people.
“I would like to assure the people that there is nothing to fear about, there is nothing to fear for, that the RFMF is here.
“As a law-abiding institution, we respect the rule of law, and that despite this incident that has happened, our commitment to Fiji’s safety and its people remains the same.”
