Fiji: ‘Military won’t step in’

The head of Fiji’s military says any government that tries to rewrite the constitution post-election would become illegal but it is not for the army to step in.

Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga says he stands by his earlier statement there will be no more coups in Fiji and he says he is working with his officers and members of the military to ensure that.

He was asked to clarify statements in Australian media that the military would not tolerate a government trying to change the constitution.

Brigadier General Tikoitoga has reiterated amendments to the constitution are allowed if they pass a majority in parliament and public referendum but a complete rewrite is not permitted.

“We will abide by the processes of the constitution. If they suddenly come in and throw away the constitution, and want to rewrite the constitution, that is not the provisions of a constitution, and that cannot be accepted”.

Tikoitoga says a new election would have to take place under the power of the president if a new government tries to enforce a complete change.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the newspaper article, opposition politicians in Fiji say the military needs to respect the will of the people if the people want the constitution changed following the elections.

The Labour Party says the regime’s constitution is undemocratic and will have to be amended by the new parliament.

It has called on the military to show support for a constitution for Fiji which will ensure transparency and good governance and provide political stability.

A youth activist in Fiji Pita Waqavonovono says in the communities he’s visited, people are asking for the 2013 Constitution to be changed.

He says they were not part of the process and within the document are mechanisms that entrench the rule of the gun or the coup culture.

A former opposition leader and Sodelpa candidate Mick Beddoes says the military’s comments amount to bullying and are the clearest reminder yet that free and fair elections are not possible.