Military spokesman Maj. Neumi Leweni told a local radio station that the military will only assist police if the need arises.
“The maintenance of law and order will be the work of police and the Fiji Military Forces will assist when the need arises.” Leweni told Fiji Village
Police director of operations Waisea Tabakau said everything was under control.
“As for the current status quo, we will continue to play our role and responsibility on the security and the safety of the community as a whole,” he said.
“I want to assure members of the public that everything is under control and we should remain in peace and stay normal and enjoy your Easter weekend,” he added.
The executive director of Fiji’s largest political party, the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Party, said President Ratu Josefa Iloilo has taken the country into uncharted waters by abrogating the constitution and declaring a new legal order.
“It’s a sad day for Fiji,” said SDL Party Director Peceli Kinivuwai.
Kinivuwai was responding to Iloilo’s address to the nation where the president announced he had appointed himself head of state, abrogated the 1997 Constitution and revoked all appointments to the judiciary, with a new interim government to be appointed soon.
“He has set a serious precedent, where he has decided to take sides other then allow the rule of law to prevail. I think we are going into unchartered waters,” Kinivuwai told Fiji Live.
New Zealand‘s Foreign Minister Murray McCully said the abrogation of Fiji’s 1997 Constitution is a serious step backwards.
“The events of the past few days will merely compound the problems faced by ordinary Fijians,” he said.
“The decision of the Court of Appeals declaring the interim government unlawful provided a way out for Commodore Frank Bainimarama and his colleagues. It is a great pity that they did not take the opportunity they were afforded,” he added.
“The president’s decision, no doubt prompted by the commodore, to override the constitution, sack the judges, and depend upon the military to keep an unlawful regime in power, will compound the already serious economic difficulties confronted by Fiji,” he said.
“It will also further delay the point at which the international community can give Fiji the help that is urgently needed.”
