On this day, 26 years ago, Fiji was thrown into turmoil just a few months after the 2000 coup, when there was an attempted mutiny at Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Nabua on November 2nd, 2000.
Speaking in an exclusive interview in March 2024, Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai said when he was held hostage in the November 2nd 2000 mutiny at the QEB Operations Room, it was one of the darkest days for the RFMF and the country, and we do not want to go back there ever again.
While speaking on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan, the Commander said the morning after the mutiny, when there were no officers within that particular area, he saw the danger of having soldiers who have no officers in place.
He also says there is a real need to have reconciliation and peace efforts which started from within the RFMF as a lot of healing has to take place.
He says you need to lead by example and with compassion, and the better soldiers will listen to you if the orders are coming from the heart.
Major General Kalouniwai says after the 2022 general elections, he stood up in front of the troops and said to them that they will go down and follow the rule of law, they will abide by the democratic principles, honour the votes of the people and trust the democratic process of this country.
He says despite some people asking him to remove some people after the 2022 general elections, he was focused on following the rule of law and the democratic principles of the country.
In an earlier interview with fijivillage News in 2007, former Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama who was still the Army Commander said those involved in the 2000 attempted mutiny underestimated the unity in the RFMF when the rebel soldiers tried to take him out.
Insert : Bainimarama on 2000 mutiny 1
Bainimarama says it was clear that people were trying to grab power and to take over the Army Commander's post.
Insert : Bainimarama on 2000 mutiny 2
Bainimarama also revealed to fijivillage News in that interview that he had a grog session with the CRW soldiers a week before the attempted mutiny.
Insert : Bainimarama on 2000 mutiny 3
Bainimarama said that it was clear on that day that the rebel soldiers came ready to kill him and the loyal soldiers as they were shooting people at random.
He relayed what had happened while he was having lunch with a few others at the Officer's Mess at QEB.
Insert : Bainimarama on 2000 mutiny 4
In 2024, the RFMF family also presented a matanigasau to 8 families who lost their loved ones during the 2000 mutiny at QEB.
Speaking at the service, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka apologized to the 8 families, saying that he is the one to be blamed as he started the coup culture on May 14th 1987 when he didn't follow the laws of Fiji.
He says if he did not do what he had done in 1987, then nothing like this would have happened in 2000.
Insert : Rabuka 2000 mutiny
During their presentation to the Special Parliamentary Committee on the Constitution Amendment Bill over the weekend, Major General Kalouniwai said the RFMF has declared that it does not want the proposed constitutional immunity under section 206 of the Constitution Amendment Bill 2026 and is calling on Parliament to remove Chapter 14 and replace it with a Truth, Accountability and Reconciliation Commission.
Major General Kalouniwai says he comes as a soldier of Fiji who believes that the institution he leads owes the people of this nation a debt, and that the time has come to begin repaying it.
He also says he thinks about families who lost their sons, husbands and fathers during the dark chapters of Fiji's history and have waited many years for the truth.
The Commander says when the law is equal, they are safe, and when the law bends for the few, they are the first to fall.
He says the RFMF is laying down its immunity.
Major General Kalouniwai 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 says the RFMF does not seek the immunity in section 206 of the Bill and does not wish to receive it.
