Military must respect civilian control: Tikoduadua

Fiji's Defense Minister Pio Tikoduadua has strongly emphasized that military authority must remain subordinate to civilian control, asserting that disciplined forces exist to serve the people.

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Military intervention in politics weakens democratic institutions, damages economic confidence, divides communities and diminishes trust in the disciplined forces.

Speaking in Parliament, Tikoduadua stated that national security cannot be separated from democracy, accountability, human rights, and the rule of law. He referenced Fiji's history, warning that when institutions tasked with national defense overstep their lawful responsibilities, it leads to detrimental consequences. "Military intervention in politics weakens democratic institutions, damages economic confidence, divides communities and diminishes trust in the disciplined forces," he said.

The Minister highlighted the government's commitment to confronting past failures rather than concealing them. "This government chose not to conceal that history or soften its lessons. We chose to confront it because no institution becomes stronger by refusing to examine the moments when it failed the country," Tikoduadua stated. He added that a professional military's role is to protect the constitutional system through which the people make decisions, not to decide who governs.

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This government chose not to conceal that history or soften its lessons. We chose to confront it because no institution becomes stronger by refusing to examine the moments when it failed the country.

Tikoduadua further articulated that the most robust security institution is not the one most feared, but the one most trusted by the people. He noted that Fiji's National Security Strategy 2025-2029 places citizens' safety and well-being at the forefront of security policy. "For too long, security was sometimes treated as the protection of the state from criticism or political disagreement. Our approach has been that the state becomes stronger when citizens are free to participate, when institutions are accountable, and when political change can occur without violence. Democracy is not an obstacle to national security."

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The strongest security institution is not the one most feared by the population. It is the one most trusted by the people.

The Minister reiterated that the Fiji Police Force remains the primary law enforcement agency, with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) providing specialist support only when lawfully authorized and genuinely necessary.

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Democracy is not an obstacle to national security.