The Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai, stated this week that military officers do not receive training on how to stage coups during their international education or training. During an interview on The Lens @177, he reiterated that it is inappropriate to suggest otherwise.
Kalouniwai explained that the training takes place in democratic nations, where the focus is on legitimate security and defense practices, not on coup orchestrations. He emphasized that officers are instructed to understand security and defense in relation to the current situation in Fiji and are also informed about global shifts in these areas.
“Coups are illegal and should never occur,” he said, reflecting on the three coups Fiji has experienced in the past, highlighting the negative consequences that have followed such events.