Sitiveni Qiliho, the former police commissioner who is currently serving a sentence for abuse of office, is now the subject of an investigation regarding comments he made after the 2022 General Election. The inquiry is centered on statements he made in December 2022 that suggested there was instability and violence following the election.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime Mesake Waqa confirmed to Fiji Sun that the allegations involve Qiliho’s comments about unverified reports of stoning incidents and vandalism. “We confirm that there is an investigation regarding the statement issued alleging the stoning incident and vandalism,” ACP Waqa stated.
On December 21, 2022, just a week after the election, Qiliho reported that police had received unverified claims of stoning incidents, although those who called did not file official complaints. He then instructed the Divisional Crime Officer for the North to carry out a comprehensive investigation into reports of vandalism in the area.
The following day, December 22, Qiliho revealed that the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) would assist the police in keeping law and order amid rising reports of threats against minority groups following the election results. In his statement, Qiliho voiced concern over increasing racial tensions and indicated that an agreement had been made for RFMF personnel to support the police.
Tensions escalated when former police chief of operations Abdul Khan resigned on December 23 for personal reasons, with sources suggesting his departure was related to disagreements over the decision to involve the RFMF in police operations.
RFMF Commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai recently addressed the volatile situation following the 2022 elections during a media interview, acknowledging the tensions that could have endangered the RFMF’s stability. He emphasized the RFMF’s efforts to prevent further unrest while engaging with police operations.