The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) has called on Parliament to remove constitutional immunity provisions, with its Commander, Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai, saying the move would open the way for greater accountability and help prevent future military coups.

In a six-page written submission on Bill 32, Major-General Kalouniwai confirmed that the RFMF had signed a Declaration on Constitutional Immunity, formally requesting the removal of the legal protections provided under Chapter 14 of the Constitution.

He said the military acknowledged its involvement in Fiji’s coups of 1987, 2000 and 2006, identifying secrecy, fear-based governance, misplaced institutional loyalty and constitutional immunity as factors that contributed to previous unconstitutional interventions.

The Commander also reaffirmed the military’s acceptance of civilian authority under Section 151, stressing that the RFMF must remain politically neutral during elections and referendums and respect the choices made by Fijians through the ballot box.

In his submission, Major-General Kalouniwai said the military did not seek immunity under Section 206 and was prepared to cooperate with any lawful accountability process.

The submission also outlined steps taken by the RFMF towards reconciliation, including its acceptance of the December 2022 General Election outcome, the introduction of its Truth and Reconciliation Programme in March 2024, and a traditional matanigasau presented in August 2025 to affected families, the Church and the Great Council of Chiefs.

Among the key proposals is the establishment of a Truth, Accountability and Reconciliation Commission to replace blanket immunity with a framework that encourages truth and accountability while ensuring that individuals responsible for serious crimes do not receive legal protection.

The RFMF has also recommended introducing a constitutional obligation for military personnel to reject clearly unlawful orders, strengthening parliamentary oversight of internal military deployments and establishing safeguards to protect democratic institutions, human rights and the rule of law.

Major-General Kalouniwai further cautioned that failing to remove constitutional immunity through the proposed reforms could make the protections permanent under Section 207 of the Bill, potentially preventing future legal challenges.

He described the current parliamentary process as an important opportunity to address Fiji’s history of military interventions and ensure future generations are not left with the same challenges surrounding accountability.

The Commander