Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says members of the public have nothing to fear after concerns were raised over his statement that if things do not go right, either the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander or his successor will have to bring it back to order.
Rabuka had made the comment while welcoming the RFMF Commander, Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai and his team, who made their submission on the Constitution Amendment Bill 2026 before the Joint Parliamentary Special Committee on Saturday.
In response to questions from the media, Rabuka says it is a normal thing in a situation that we have seen Fiji go through.
INSERT: Rabuka on military's role 3rd Nov
When he was asked whether the public should fear hearing such a statement, Rabuka says they have nothing to fear at all because that's an assurance coming from the Army Commander.
When asked whether he was swayed by the RFMF submission to extend the consultation period on the proposed Bill, the Prime Minister says no.
He says they just heard how serious it was, saw how serious the Vanua ko Lau was, and the fact that one of their coalition partners had decided to withdraw from participation in the Special Committee made them feel that there is some substance in the call for more time and more visits to other places.
The RFMF has declared that it does not want the proposed constitutional immunity under section 206 of the Constitution Amendment Bill 2026.
Major General 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 that on 16th October 2026, on behalf of the RFMF, he signed a Declaration on Constitutional Immunity, which is enclosed with their submission.
The Commander says the RFMF does not seek the immunity in section 206 of the Bill and does not wish to receive it.
He says they are asking Parliament to remove Chapter 14 and replace it with a Truth, Accountability and Reconciliation Commission.
He says they accept, without condition, the civilian authority set out in section 151 and will cooperate with any lawful process of accountability.
He says that in its Advisory Opinion of August 2025, the Supreme Court accepted that immunity weakens the rule of law and may encourage future coups.
Major General Kalouniwai says the Court left immunity in place partly because it was believed to be the price of the military's return to civilian rule.
He says the party for whose benefit that bargain was made now declines it, and that on the Court's own reasoning, what remains is the case against immunity.
He says a soldier who knows he will answer to the law can never be made into a weapon against his own people, while a soldier promised immunity in advance can.
Meanwhile, there have also been calls for the Constitution Amendment Bill 2026 to be translated into other languages, including iTaukei, Hindi and Rotuman, to allow more Fijians to understand the proposed changes and make informed submissions.
