The Republic of Fiji Military Forces is recommending several changes to the proposed Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026, including requiring a two-thirds majority before Parliament's term can be extended, placing a constitutional duty on soldiers to refuse manifestly unlawful orders, removing provisions allowing the chastisement of children, retaining FICAC and safeguarding the independence of the courts.
Making the RFMF's submission to the Joint Parliamentary Special Committee, RFMF Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai says the RFMF takes no position on the referendum, and none on any political party.
He says those decisions belong to the Government, the Parliament and the people of Fiji.
He says the RFMF does not seek the immunity in section 206 of this Bill, and they do not wish to receive it.
He says that on 16th October 2026, on behalf of the RFMF, he signed a Declaration on Constitutional Immunity, which is enclosed with their submission.
He adds that the spirit of the RFMF's submission is simple.
Major General Kalouniwai says in section 2, the Bill sets itself a noble standard: a supreme law that cannot be abrogated or suspended by any person.
He says they ask only that it meet that standard, and that it protect most carefully those who cannot protect themselves.
He says the Bill contains real advances, and they ask the Committee to keep them, including section 2(6), civilian direction of the RFMF and the return of the Ombudsman.
However, Major General Kalouniwai says a house with strong walls and a weak foundation will not stand.
The Commander says they are recommending that the Committee replace Chapter 14 with a Truth, Accountability and Reconciliation Commission, where protection is earned only by full disclosure, never granted in advance, and never available for murder, torture, sexual violence or drug offences, so that victims are heard and the truth is told.
He says they also recommend that the Committee protect the right of every citizen to vote and to have that vote respected, by preventing early commencement during an election, requiring any election already called to be completed, and requiring a two-thirds vote of the House before Parliament's term can be extended.
Major General Kalouniwai says that that the Force is recommending that the Committee protect the right to peaceful assembly, by placing on every soldier a constitutional duty to refuse a manifestly unlawful order, with Parliament overseeing every internal deployment.
He says they are recommending that the Committee protect those who cannot protect themselves by removing the provision that permits the chastisement of children, and by making every limitation of rights, including the rights of persons with disabilities, subject to the same test.
On the protection of public resources and trust, the RFMF is recommending that FICAC be retained, the Constitutional Offices Commission be balanced, and the independence of the courts be safeguarded.
Major General Kalauniwai says the Force is also recommending that the Committee confirm the lawful adoption procedure and correct the drafting errors in its annexes.
He says they ask nothing for themselves, but only that the law stand above every person.
He says the RFMF exists to serve the people of Fiji, never to rule them.
The Commander says they have looked honestly at their past, sat with those they wronged, sought forgiveness and, by the grace of God and the generosity of the people, received it.
He says they now come before the Committee to lay down the protection the law has given them, so that every citizen of this nation may stand on equal ground beneath one law.
The Commander says "Let this be the generation that breaks the cycle, let this be the Committee that keeps faith with the widow, the farmer, the child and the forgotten, and let us build, together, a Fiji where the voice of the people is sovereign, and the strength of the people is its servant".
