WELLINGTON – The sudden resignation of Fiji’s police commissioner has sparked concern around the region.

The leadership of the police force by the neutral and experienced South African police professional Ben Groenewald was seen as a symbol of Fiji’s determination to distance the former military regime from interfering in politics since the 2014 democratic elections.

New Zealand’s former foreign minister Phil Goff has called on Australia to speak out over the reasons behind the shock resignation of Groenewald this week.

Groenewald resigned suggesting the Fiji military was interfering with his policing.

“I think it’s really important that maybe – not in a public way, but certainly in a direct way – that high commissioners from Australia and New Zealand indicate their concern about that development,” Goff told the ABC’s Pacific Beat programme.

“We had elections that were deemed to be fair and free last year, an operating parliament that’s trying to find its way, but this is a step backwards for Fiji.”

Groenewald said his decision to resign was reached by mutual consent with the government.

He has confirmed that his decision is indirectly to do with what he says is interference with policing by the military.

“I have indicated to the attorney general that I have no interest in going forward with my contract. I am no longer the commissioner of police in Fiji.

In his interview with the ABC by telephone he first said his resignation was for “personal reasons” saying he preferred not to make a press statement to explain his sudden departure.

But when pressed he admitted Fiji’s military was stopping him from doing his job as a police officer.

“The fact is, I don’t agree with the way they’re interfering with policing,” he said.

New Zealand’s Goff has also expressed concern that the South African career policeman has been be replaced by a senior military officer, Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Qiliho.

Amnesty International spokesperson Rebecca Emory said Groenewald’s resignation was a “concerning development”.

“We saw the commissioner as having taken some very positive steps towards addressing impunity in Fiji and we were hoping the work he was doing would continue,” she said.

“We’re calling on the Fiji government to ensure this happens.”

Former New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, said the resignation of Fiji’s police commissioner will have Australia and New Zealand re-thinking their stance on Fiji.

Peters, who was Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand at the time of the 2006 coup, says the fact that Groenewald cited interference from the military in his decision to step down, is proof that some Fiji institutions are above the law.

He says it’s unacceptable that police officers who were charged for assault in relation to allegations of torture should be recruited by the military.

“Australian and New Zealand Foreign Affairs departments are going to ask themselves seriously now, ‘did we make a premature stand in support of Fiji, given this emerging evidence?’

“Frankly this is to do with the rule of law, it is to do with the separation of powers, it is to do with the quality of democracy and also it is to do with a leading member of the Pacific community. That’s the great disappointment here.”

Winston Peters says the resignation is a huge setback for Fiji.

The Secretary General of Fiji’s opposition Sodelpa party Pio Tabaiwalu has questioned the way a senior military officer has now been appointed to head the police force.

The government announced Colonel Qiliho would be in the job for three months – a draft advertisement for the job has been sent to members of the Constitutional Offices Commission which handles key appointments.

The government said the acting appointment comes on the advice of the prime minister who is chair of the Commission.

But Tabaiwalu said the process has been high-handed and it pre-empts the constitutional process. He says it sends the wrong signal to people.

Tabaiwalu said he is shocked and saddened by the resignation of Groenewald who he says has done a magnificent job.

The chair of the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police has paid tribute to Fiji’s outgoing police commissioner.

Tony Edwards, who is also the police chief of Niue, said Ben Groenewald is a true professional and is sad to see him go.

The regional grouping welcomed Fiji back into the fold this year following elections in 2014, however the resignation has been mired in controversy with allegations of interference by the military.

Edwards says he was grateful to Groenewald for his work.

“Just to have Fiji back in and not just Fiji but Ben himself, to be back into the fold you know he was an awesome participant at the conference and we felt that Fiji was going forward with his leadership there and there was nothing else we expected from him but it is sad that he’s resigned from his position.”

Tony Edwards says the regional grouping is ready to work with Groenewald’s successor. - PNC sources