Police Commissioner, Sitiveni Qiliho says the Police are committed to ensuring freedom of expression and assembly but they must uphold the rule of law that the rights of some do not curtail the rights of others.
While speaking to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Qiliho said that the role of balancing fundamental human rights and freedoms with justifiable limitations in law is important to maintain public order and national security because Fiji has had a history of violence in 1987 and 2000.
Source:UN Human Rights Council
He says the powers of the Police Commissioner is enshrined in the Constitution, the Police Act, and the Public Order Act.
Qiliho says it is based on the enforcement of codified law and legislation of the land.
He also says the ambit of powers of the authority is tagged towards the good of law and order, safety and security, protection of all, peace and harmony of all communities and persons involved.
