Sitiveni Qiliho, the former police commissioner who is currently incarcerated for abuse of office, is now facing a new investigation related to comments he made after the 2022 General Election. This inquiry is centered around assertions he made in December 2022 regarding alleged unrest and violence following the election.
Assistant Police Commissioner for Crime, Mesake Waqa, confirmed to Fiji Sun that the investigation is looking into Qiliho’s remarks, particularly those concerning unverified allegations of stoning incidents and vandalism. Waqa stated, “We confirm that there is an investigation regarding the statement issued alleging the stoning incident and vandalism.”
On December 21, 2022, just a week after the election, Qiliho stated that police had received unofficial reports of stoning incidents, although those who reported had refrained from making official complaints. He subsequently instructed the Divisional Crime Officer for the North to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the vandalism reports in that area.
The following day, December 22, Qiliho announced that the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) would be assisting the police in maintaining order due to increasing reports of threats against minority groups following the election results. In his statement, he expressed worries about rising racial tensions and noted an agreement had been reached for RFMF support to bolster police operations.
The situation intensified when former police chief of operations Abdul Khan resigned from his role on December 23, citing personal reasons. There are indications that Khan’s resignation was connected to disagreements over the decision to involve the RFMF in police functions.
Recently, RFMF Commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai addressed the tense situation following the 2022 elections in a media interview, acknowledging that the tension had potential repercussions for the RFMF. He emphasized efforts to engage the RFMF while reinforcing their dedication to preventing further unrest.