MILITARY personnel may soon join the police in countering Fiji’s drug blight.
Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs Pio Tikoduadua confirmed the Fiji Police Force had reached out for assistance from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF).
However, he made it clear the RFMF would only play a supporting role.
At a press conference in Suva yesterday, Mr Tikoduadua said the RFMF’s primary responsibility was to ensure the security, defence and welfare of the Fijian people.
He also informed those Fijians who still feared the military that there was “nothing to fear” as he thanked the RFMF for its steadfastness.
“We have come a long way; with the reconciliation and restoration, there’s been a lot of inner healing within the military,” the minister said.
“Now we are defining their role under the NSS (National Security Strategy) in making sure that their role is consistent with the law.”
Mr Tikoduadua said the military was an institution that protected the very fabric of society and that it stood ready to act whenever the welfare of the people was at risk.
“However, we must also acknowledge the deliberate boundaries that exist between civilian governance and the role of the military.
“The RFMF’s readiness does not mean it is the first solution to every challenge that the nation faces. Deploying the military is a serious decision that must only be made as a last resort, and only in situations where civilian mechanisms have been fully utilised and found insufficient.”
Mr Tikoduadua said the determination of a “last resort” would have to come from the Police Commissioner.
He said considering the complex nature of the drug issue, societal issues interlinked with this crisis must also be looked at: poverty, limited employment opportunities, challenges to Fiji’s national education system, family disruptions and challenges to accessing medical health and rehabilitation services.
The minister said that simply increasing arrests or deploying the armed forces would not solve these systemic issues.
“We have always believed that the RFMF is a pillar of stability for the nation, but its involvement in domestic issues must remain exceptional, not routine.
“The primary role of combating drugs in Fiji in the drug situation is a police role. The RFMF, it’s not their primary role to deal with this issue.”
Mr Tikoduadua said any financial cost associated with this would be determined if the RFMF’s services were going to be needed.
