A senior police officer is the subject of an internal probe after being accused of endorsing a new set of customary rules in the Qoibau district of Labasa, police confirmed, in a development that has reignited debate over the limits of traditional authority and gender equality. The investigation was ordered by Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu, who directed officers to examine the alleged involvement while inquiries continue.
The scrutiny follows a district meeting held last month at Nakorowiri Village where chiefs and community leaders formalised a written code dubbed the lawa ni Qoibau. The code, the leaders say, will be enforced across all villages in the vanua and sets out stricter controls on behaviour, including tighter regulations on alcohol consumption, noise levels, dress standards and how kava is served and consumed. Among the most contentious provisions is a ban on women consuming kava, a gender-specific restriction that has drawn immediate criticism from rights advocates.
Police issued a brief statement confirming Commissioner Tudravu had directed an investigation but did not name the officer under scrutiny or provide details on the nature or extent of their role in endorsing the lawa ni Qoibau. “An official inquiry has been initiated,” the statement said, adding only that investigations are ongoing. It is unclear whether any disciplinary steps have been taken or if the probe will involve consultation with the district’s traditional leadership.
Traditional leaders in Qoibau have defended the new code as a means of restoring respect, discipline and cultural norms within the community. They say the laws are intended to preserve customary practices and to address what they describe as growing social problems by reasserting local authority. Supporters argue that a written code provides clarity and consistent expectations across villages in the district.
Nevertheless, the gender-specific kava ban has prompted sharp concern from equality and human rights advocates, who say such measures risk contravening national laws and international obligations on non-discrimination. Legal and gender-equality campaigners have signalled they will closely monitor the investigation and may raise challenges if the lawa ni Qoibau is enforced in ways that curtail women’s rights or if state actors are found to have improperly supported discriminatory measures.
This probe marks the latest time Commissioner Tudravu has publicly overseen sensitive internal inquiries involving police conduct. Observers say the current investigation also raises broader questions about the boundary between customary governance and state institutions, and whether police endorsement of traditional codes could lend them extra force beyond the scope of village leadership.
For now, the identity of the senior officer and the precise nature of the endorsement remain undisclosed. Police said they would release further information when appropriate, while community leaders maintain the lawa ni Qoibau is a local initiative aimed at cultural preservation. The outcome of the investigation will be watched closely by both customary authorities and human rights groups, given its potential implications for customary practice, policing, and gender equality in Fiji.
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