Why has it taken more than four months for the RFMF troops who tortured and killed the accused drug lord, Jone Vakarisi, to be charged and brought to account? (See our article eight days ago)
Is it because a hard-line faction in the RFMF is opposing anyone being charged? Has the military split into competing factions? “Kalouniwai’s boys (and girls)” ? Frank’s boys”? “Siti’s boys”? Someone else’s boys?
There’s another reason why the RFMF Commander may be worried. Very worried. According to reports reaching Grubsheet, Sitiveni Rabuka is planning to introduce a racist constitution and delay the elections.
How authoritative are those reports? Very. From sources monitoring events on a daily basis.
Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai was one of Frank Bainimarama‘s senior officers when the military helped formulate and signed off on the 2013 Constitution, with its provisions for a common and equal citizenry, a common identity and a secular state.
He was part of the collective body that saw itself as the custodian of the Constitution and the guarantor of the rights of the minorities and the “well-being of every Fijian”. Yet now – if these reports are confirmed – he evidently intends to stand aside and allow the introduction of a constitution that betrays the interests of the minorities.
Kalouniwai’s justification for doing so is that the military should have no role in national life other than defence. That democracy and the will of the people is the business of the politicians. And what they want must be respected.
He is going to stand aside to allow for a frightening new era for the minorities – the tyranny of the iTaukei majority in which the minorities become second class citizens in their nation of birth.
Equally seriously, he lied when Jone Vakarisi was tortured and murdered by his own troops. He said Vakarisi had died of a “pre-existing condition” when the truth was he had been scalded with boiling water, stabbed and beaten to death.
Where are the cries for justice for Vakarisi’s killing? Our story last week asking why no-one had been charged four months after the murder has produced no response. Not from the military, the police nor the mainstream media in Fiji.
No wonder Jone Kalouniwai looks worried. His carefully crafted image over the years of a fresh face for the RFMF is crumbling. And with it, his own reputation.
If the election is delayed contrary to the Constitution, that is an illegal act. In fact it is the worst kind of illegality, effectively a coup.
Kalouniwai already has a duty under the Constitution to act in the interests of all Fijians, which also means protecting the constitution.
The denial of the people’s right to an election guaranteed to them by the Constitution is unacceptable. No reason given by the government so far even remotely approaches a justification for the election to be delayed.
Kalouniwai must do his duty to uphold the Constitution, which the Supreme Court has already confirmed is the supreme law and cannot be violated.
Why can’t Kalouniwai just come out with a statement that the RFMF will continue to uphold and defend the integrity of the constitution? That is not a threat, simply a restatement of his existing duty under the constitution. But it might act as a deterrent to Rabuka if he is planning to push through a racially weighted alternative.
How do you expect him to do that now that he is part of the crooked mob? All he is concerned about is his entitlements when he retires. He does not give a shyte about the people and their welfare. Isn’t that the case with all Fijians – self-service and self-preservation and self-aggrandisement.
Because he is too much of a p*ssy to do anything. The guy has not got the courage to stand up for the law and order, how the f**k is he going to defend the nation. Unfit for the job and unfit to safeguard the Constitution.
The danger for kalouniwai is that he looks weak. And what happens to weak leaders? Sooner or later, they get removed.
Being late ( if a person arrived at all) is not a novelty in Fiji. Read “Punctuality”.
So no big surprise that the elections will be “late” as well. If it is held at all.
kalouniwai’s loyalty has been purchased by the great council of thieves and a wealthy sydney benefactor who is the vunivalu’s advisor.
Tell us more about this benefactor.
I don’t think a late election will endear the government to the people, as much as Rabuka thinks he can put a spin on anything.
Even the FEO are coming out and firmly saying they stand ready to hold an election.
Let’s hope any delayed election emboldens the people to vote against these evil clowns.
Maybe it’s time for the donor countries, particularly Australia and New Zealand to remind the current government that the support they receive is contingent on adherence to the Constitution of Fiji and any attempt to delay an election will be seen as a breach of existing agreements and they will withdraw financial assistance and support programs.
As for the RFMF commander he needs to grow a spine and make it absolutely clear the military will not support or accept a delay in the general election date, under the existing constitution.
The donor countries are concerned only with keeping China at bay. Nothing else matters while the same donor countries trade freely and largely with China for their own survival.
Therefore the donor countries have adopted a simple creed of the three proverbial monkeys- see no evil, hear no evil, and see no evil.
Is it unreasonable to state that all the Army Commanders after Frank Bainimarama are all liumuris. Naivalarua, Naputo, Kalouniwai. All turncoats and self-servers. They all shafted Bai and they all were made by Bai in the first place.
There is no ethics, professionalism or loyalty. Everything can change depending on where the money is. I think it is part of the ingrained backstabbing culture and tradition of the country. One cannot trust anyone. And that applies to Rambo as well, even though he may be flying high at the moment.Even the CJ has shafted the President and the PM.
It will be interesting to see how it all pans out in the end. Hopefully none of these people are left standing at the end of it.
Does his face look worried? Of course not. In fact no one in government or in high positions are worried. They all think the country is in their good hands and the economy is doing great. And I mean this seriously. All, their faces reveal is that they are late for dinner, good cake, perhaps some daru (liquor) free government housing, and leather boots that Linda wore to Parliament. And then we have this Mick Beddoes who did a write up on how the minority groups (including his kind) never thought of the itaukeis and now want sense of belonging. After not getting enough comments he has gone under the bed covers.
Ok let’s call this out…The constitution of 2013 was imposed by decree. It was illegitimate and invalid at its very inception as it was never created through a legitimate legal process!
The original sin of it all stems from the sheer FACT that it was NEVER ratified by the Fijian people.
This de facto constitution …(an apt metaphorical term in this case) became operational by default as the courts and government needed a basis to function. Those that implemented knew very well that so long as the barrel of a gun enforced compliance then the international community would follow in recognition.
HOWEVER that very “doctrine of necessity” doesn’t provide full immunity from future legal challenges…….And here we are now in 2026 staring down the ________ of another ! History has a funny way of repeating…There are no laws that state “HISTORY MUST NOT REPEAT”. And so the eager journos ask alas…..but who or what or where or when????? See no____ hear no _____ speak no _______ .
FACT. The Supreme Court – Fiji’s highest – ruled last year that the 2013 Constitution is the supreme law of Fiji whether you like it or not.
This isn’t a SM Instagram “get your instant moral/ethical” like it or not moment! This is about the brutal truth of how social anthropology co-exists amongst us!!!!!!!!!!! And more to the point how that manifests its self in power! I’m sorry Graham but I thought you understood that!
We seem to have become conditioned and accustomed to a wokeness that ignores the very beast that lives within…Society can only be re-calibrated so far by so many. At the end of the day you need to realize where you are , who you are and who they are. There is no one size fits all, utopian solution in this world only brutal truths.
Yeah we certainly know that in Fiji. Brutal truths like so many talatalas on the grog that the Methodist Church President has to read the riot act, more than 3000 schoolkids found with drugs including more than 1000 at primary level, wanton lawlessness, cabinet ministers up to their eyeballs in scandal and a military that thinks it can kill people in custody and get away with it.
I understand that, I can assure you.
social anthropology? you mean pallet of the apes? or in fiji’s case, monkeys?
Well we were once all the former before we were the latter…or there abouts. This discussion does induce the theory of “evolution” ..I’m not sure whether political process fits that category but all involved in it are a bunch of hopeless hipocrites to say the least!
Irrespective of whether the current constitution is legally recognized let’s not forget that the process which took us there certainly wasn’t legal. It doesn’t matter how much “after the fact” you give credence to, the reality is they are all a bunch of self serving bigots , marauding the political landscape , extorting, corrupting, drugging , robbing ,fooling anyone that cares to lend themselves to it….Good luck finding a solution
It was only given “qualified recognition” in 2025. This is merely an acknowledgment that the passage of time has given it legitimacy…The ruling NEVER declared it legitimate in the sense of approving its origins..(That would be illegal) it simply acknowledged “democratic deficit” while affirming its LEGAL STATUS BASED ON PRACTICAL REALITY AND COMMON LAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Perhaps that will shed some light for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is the L-A-W and there is no other. That’s what Fiji’s highest court ruled. Now I know you don’t like it but tough titty. Get used to it.
Stop smoking so much weed mate. Adding extra exclamation points does make your pointless tirade legitimate.
oh ….the monotony on the point of points….
K, please tell us how changing the Constitution will redress the high drug, HIV, poverty and incarceration rates that is plaguing the Itaukei community.
Also tell us how the 2013 Constitution has oppressed Itaukeis and if changing the constitution will make the Itaukeis realise the potential in the idle land they’re sitting on.
No cart before the horse scenario would work….Gvt should propose solutions first through ordinary legislation and use their executive powers to build public trust (urgent reforms on rehab centers, ART HIV drug roll out, bail reform, welfare boosts) .
Carry out a pilot trial within a set period…monitor the data….launch public consultation…measure success …present evidence…THEN introduce a constitutional amendment bill and secure the parliamentary majority …Follow this up with a national referendum. This is what governance is all about and that’s why ppl vote to begin with!
I realize we are approaching elections but there’s nothing stopping the gvt from getting the ball rolling …heck a few of the old guard might actually cross the floor and support it! Wouldn’t that be awkward?!
K, who/when “ratified” the 1977 constitution? 1990? 1997?
We’ll wait.
It seems to me inherently contradictory to advocate democracy and all that goes with it while simultaneously urging the military to take over the Government of the country on the basis of a Constitution that most people agree was imposed by an autocratic regime with no meaningful public consultation?
I appreciate the journalistic work you do Mr Davis, but I disagree with the constant complaints from you and many commentators about the fact that Ratu Jone has been steadfast in his refusal to use the army to overthrow the Coalition. Many of Fiji’s current woes can be related in one way or another to the coups of 1987, 2000 and 2006. I agree that the Coalition Government is hopeless in all kinds of ways, but surely, if the country is to mature beyond its current state, the actual democratic process must become embedded in the fabric of society.
This may take decades, but every time there’s a military coup that process is interrupted and set back by many years.
I am not “urging the military to take over the government”. I am asking Jone Kalouniwai to fulfill his constitutional duty to “defend the well-being of all Fijians” by preventing the abolition of the common and equal citizenry, the common identity and the secular state and turning the minorities into second class citizens in their own country.
If he won’t do that, he is in breach of the supreme law, as well as having supported the tyranny of the majority and betrayed the interests of the minorities, who still form almost a third of the population. This wouldn’t be tolerated in any other democratic society the world over and it shouldn’t be tolerated in Fiji.
Further to Fiji Watcher’s comment I previously run the below AI query though Gemini out of interest.
“Hypothetically if a new race based constitution that creates two different classes of citizens in Fiji, are there UN provisions to prevent this and are there donor partner policies with NZ and AU governments that also prevent or deter this?”
I’ll get the popcorn ready.
What the hell does the U.N know about running a country?! The less of that lot the better !
Racism, arrogance and prejudice, that is what this government and the GCC is all about.
The sad thing is the vast majority of people support these policies of making minorities second class citizens. It is all good fun for them. How will all this help the locals? Not one bit. But what is wrong with having a bit of kaila at the expense of the vulagi?
And then they all go to church! It is the best feeling when they go to church.
Also remember the current mood of the Supreme Court . As it stands this could be crucial in determining what amount of slack they give cabinet in the run up to an election….Section 91 (5) is flexible in its ability to advise cabinet about what it deems “most suitable” in terms of amendments that challenge any existing provisions of the carry on from the 2013 constitution.. There’s absolutely nothing stopping Siti from seeking another “opinion” when and how he chooses fit…That is one of the perks of being in power!
Unfortunately the reality of sane governance lies not in ensuring that a constitution covers all corners of minority inclusiveness but rather that which is in the best interests of the whole “nation” economically, socially , politically!
If you commoditize a countries equity in the best way possible it means economic leverage and ultimately economic success. For this to succeed it may result in some elements of its social fabric feeling hard done by (Don’t interpret that as suppression).
A governments job is to look at all the pieces and shape a path by using political clout to achieve the best outcomes efficiently. An elected party has the right to follow their policy but for some reason in 2026 this is seen as extreme , bias, unfair and unreasonable. Every one gets their turn on the roller coaster of democracy so bite your tongue and put up. If it means your stomach churns then throw up and take a nap! its a four year cycle , you’re lucky it’s not permanent. You had almost 17 years of a junta that practically destroyed everything and anything of value that had been produced prior! The fact you lapped up all the decree infused rubbish propaganda didn’t help your sorry state. The reality is you were the laughing stock of the world when Frank and his loonies went about systematically destroying the backbone of the economy. and I don’t care how many paid for statistics you want to throw in my face to suggest otherwise the country went nowhere for almost two decades.
You only need to look at the damage that woke political correctness has inflicted on some western societies to see the how this “truth” has emerged. Those countries would sooner put the interests of a queer band of transvestites and murdering , rapists ahead of their own generational citizenry simply because it “includes the minorities”……Wake up dumdum…That’s not sensible in any case! Don’t fall into that trap and don’t for a moment empathize with it’s rhetoric.
The reality is that countries like FJ, NZ have enshrined legislative anchors that back their core identities. They cannot be denied and they cannot be destroyed and they will define and steer you through a perilous global future where externalities seek to upend , distract, extort or corrupt ! Remember where you are and who is around you. Don’t ever forget that. Whilst you may have different beliefs and cultural norms as a people you must respect the culture of the country that identified you at inception!
Once again you ignore that fact that FijiFirst gained the most votes of any party in 2022 – which represents an endorsement of its policies including the 2013 Constitution – and this lot only took government by one vote on the floor of the house because of horsetrading between the PAP, SODELPA and the NFP.
That is not a mandate to do jack sh*t, let alone deprive a third of the country of its right to equality and to call themselves “Fijian”.
Remember who I am and what is around me? Yeah, a bunch of self-entitled, self-satisfied indigenous supremacists who couldn’t run a village taralala and are certainly doing a shockingly bad job of running the beggar nation Fiji has become.
The subjective “right to equality”…so often and now MORE often than ever used by the lazy political elites as a gravy train that they can front load with any amount of reasons in a futile attempt to achieve the farcical status of “UTOPIA”. If we just make it equal for all then all the problems of the world will be solved. If only those who have divine right by way of “Itaukei” were deprived of their “do nothing cash cows” could we have a more justified sense of existence in these sunny isles….
Well the reality is this. Stop complaining about the GCC/taukei/native issues. They exist and they always will. Much like the Maori in NZ the Fijians were the first to arrive. Perhaps the term “Fijian” should be reserved for nouns from the isles (Fiji water for instance) with the exception of the proper which would be referred to by “fijian language references” For example Itaukai for the indigenous , kaiviti, vulagis and kaiindians and so on and so forth. Fiji isn’t a Fijian term…it was loaned to them by the neighbors…Perhaps your aircraft and sports team should be renamed “Viti” If you really want to recognize yourselves then don’t half ass it for gods sake!
That way everyone including the lunatics in power could call themselves a “Viti” person! Call a spade a spade , accept it and move on .. Problem solved . Fiji and Fijian can be insulated from the debate once and for all.
Who gives a f**k about the Constitution except for all the racists. The Constitution is not important, it does jack shit for Fiji and Fijians and it definately is not the problem.
It is the iTaukei who are the problem in their own country.
Anyone want to argue with that fact????
Turning your back pocket on the illicit and highly organized world of industrial criminal enterprise requires a pretty stiff lip , enormous balls and a level of integrity that cannot be found in these isles. Prob never will exist. However , having said that there are examples in this world of ours where society can clean up its act without pandering to religious protocol to enforce it. There can be a happy co-existence of race, religion and independent thought , banding together to create successful economic, social and political harmony. True leadership is defined by those who accept the simple fact that making the most difficult decisions enforces virtue!