About 100 former military officers and their families gathered at the High Court to hear the outcome of a strike-out application filed by the Attorney General and the Ministry of Home Affairs concerning a case involving several soldiers who served with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The proceedings, initiated in 2022 under the case name Major Josefa Savua & 6 others v The Minister for Home Affairs & others, addressed claims from the plaintiffs alleging they were not compensated for their location and ancillary allowances during peacekeeping missions in Lebanon between 1978 and 2002.
Yesterday, the court announced that the ruling on the strike-out application has been postponed to August 29, 2025. Their lawyer, Isireli Fa, expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the adjournments, stating, “If there is to be an adjournment, at the very least, 24 hours’ notice should be given.” He raised concerns particularly because their members, having traveled long distances from Lautoka and Vanua Levu, were informed of the postponement just half an hour before the scheduled ruling.
The lawsuit centers on claims that payments made by UNIFIL to the Republic of Fiji Military Forces were never dispersed to the soldiers involved. The named defendants in the lawsuit include the RFMF, the Minister for Home Affairs, and the Attorney-General.
This case echoes broader concerns regarding accountability and transparency within the military and government structures. Advocates hope that this legal battle will not only seek justice for the individual complaints but also promote a deeper examination of military compensation practices and enhance oversight measures for future missions.
The ruling’s deferral underscores the complexity of legal processes but also reflects an opportunity for the judicial system to delve into these serious allegations meaningfully. It offers hope that the persistence of these former military personnel will lead to fair treatment and resolution in the long run.
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