“The rule of law has been applied.”
These were the comments of the RFMF Commander Major General Jone Kalouniwai following yesterday’s High Court ruling on the “unlawful” dismissal of the former FICAC commissioner Barbara Malimali.
In an interview with The Fiji Times, Major General Kalouniwai said while he had not closely examined the court’s findings, confidence in the legal process remained critical. “I haven’t really looked into the findings from the court proceedings, but we are confident that the rule of law has been applied, and I think that’s the important part,” he said.
He said the appeal process now open to the Prime Minister was part of that framework.
“And again, it’s an opportunity also for an appeal by the Prime Minister and his team so that process is in place and it’s something that I feel is important for Fiji – understanding that the democratic process still exists and it provides an equal opportunity for everyone.
Asked about current court cases that touch on constitutional processes, the RFMF Commander said the military was closely monitoring developments, particularly as the country heads toward an election period.
“We are maintaining a situation awareness of what’s happening. That’s important for us – to understand what is happening.
“Looking at it from a security perspective, things can cascade into a different situation, we are going into the election period, we’re listening to so many vibes that are coming out.
Major General Kalouniwai said staying informed allowed the RFMF to make sound decisions when required.
