The death in RFMF custody of the accused drug overlord, Jone Vakarisi, is now being officially called what it is – murder – after the disgraceful attempt by Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai to portray it as having been triggered by natural causes – a “sudden medical emergency” caused by a “pre-existing condition”.
The Commander’s latest statement issued last night is a humiliating back-down at a time when the killing is now regional news, including on the front page of Australia’s most influential newspaper (see below).
Quote: “The earlier description of the incident as a ‘medical emergency’ does not fully reflect the medical findings now available”. Unquote.
Talk about a glaring understatement. Jone Vakarisi didn’t die of natural causes. He was beaten to death by soldiers reporting to the Commander. Yet as to why he personally gave the “earlier description”, Ro Kalouniwai simply sidesteps the issue. He clearly doesn’t believe it warrants any explanation.
It isn’t good enough. And if anything, the latest statement simply underlines that fact that the Commander’s position is untenable. As Grubsheet has said previously, he must resign or be sacked.
Why? Because he has failed the very test he sets out in this statement for the RFMF and presumably himself – transparency and accountability.
We are entitled to know why we were lied to – whether it was the Commander himself or his subordinates who gave him a false account. Yet either way, the buck stops with him.
He specifically authorised the orginal statement. And making a false public statement without establishing the truth shows an absence of judgment that gives us no confidence about the Commander’s judgment in any situation in which the defence of the nation is at stake.
The Commander’s own lack of transparency and accountability comes into sharp focus when you compare this statement to the latest statement from the Fiji Police on the Vakarisi killing.
No mention of the “M” word from Jone Kalouniwai. But the police are certainly calling it for what it is.
So we have an RFMF Commander who at first gave a false account of what transpired at the Camp, allowed that false narrative to persist throughout the weekend and even now avoids calling this outrage for what it is.
If Kalouniwai won’t use the word “murder” when the police are willing to do so, how can he possibly claim the RFMF “recognises the seriousness” of what has happened?
This isn’t going to go away. Far from it. The story is now front page news in Australia with a specific reference to “the Australian military becoming embroiled in an unfolding scandal in Fiji”.
An unmitigated disaster that has revived the RFMF’s abysmal human rights record of more than a decade ago and has severely damaged the nation’s overall image.
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POSTSCRIPT:
The Lockington family name is again at the centre of the national debate with a terrific Facebook intervention from the journalist and comms specialist, Mayann Lockington-Shirley.
The late lamented popular hero, Allen Lockington of Kava Place, would be very proud. And for once, Richard Naidu and I are in agreement that this is a “must read”.
And finally, it’s worth reminding ourselves of what the supreme law says about the right to life and the right to personal liberty. Both have been violated by the RFMF.
The Commander was officially on bereavement leave.
He was updated of the events that happened in QEB while he was away.
What he was informed and that what he relayed to media.
Now he is back in office, he gets full story and thorough investigation has started.
Social media in Fiji is faster than lightning.
There have been many deaths that happened in Delainabua since year 2000.
This one sounds unique and very special to many.
The Commander has not shed light on investigating the breach of security in camp whereby someone reached the armory at three army camps and attempted one at a Navy base which they foiled. A security breach as such is the most shameful thing that can happen at any military base. He is not honest with saying what went missing. Would someone go all the way in breaking high level security and not walk away with anything? The media and he is saying “attempted breach” no security has been breached.
His lies are catching up with him. In his statement he has not acknowledged that other people taken into custody were also beaten up. I hope their medical reports have been done. They are hunting for what went missing from their armories and doesn’t want to say it because it shows that they have let the country down with their overall slackness.
His latest statement is an attempt to make it look like he is professional in his approach but sorry Kalouniwai your integrity is shredded to bits. Your lies have been exposed to the world through your statements. The recent one doesn’t help your attempt to make it right and makes it even worse. Worse is your attempt to justify your murder with people glorifying you and the military. What has our country come to accepting murder and that from the Christian itaukei who are openly commenting in support of his actions.
What has he done about the group of soldiers and officers that were on duty when the armories were accessed. Is there a Board of Inquiry being done? Are the soldiers and officers suspended? Has security been enhanced? He is not looking within to see the cause of what transpired. They have vented their frustration and blame on Vakarisi and his group. He is the one that has caused the security instability in the country through what has transpired. All the political matanigasau and deviating from soldiering has caused this.
Like you said, GD. He should resign.