The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) has retracted its bid to dismiss a civil lawsuit filed by 5,000 former servicemen. This decision compels the RFMF, along with the Home Affairs Minister and Attorney-General, to submit their statement of defense within 21 days, a timeline established by Acting Master of the High Court Liyanage Kashyapa Wickramasekara. Despite their request for a full month to prepare, the defendants were deemed to have had ample preparation time since the case’s inception two years prior.
The lawsuit, representing former military personnel who served in UN peacekeeping missions in Lebanon, alleges that while the United Nations compensated the Fiji government, the RFMF held these funds in trust but failed to disburse the full salaries to the plaintiffs, instead allegedly misappropriating them. Lawyer Isireli Fa, representing the plaintiffs, emphasizes that this contention centers on significant fiduciary duty breaches.
The defendants have also been ordered to pay $2,000 by October for procedural delays. The case has been rescheduled for further hearing on October 14. This case spotlights broader accountability and transparency issues within Fiji’s military and governmental structures, thrusting the spotlight on military compensation practices.
This development follows various legal proceedings and discussions around military financial management in Fiji, which echo concerns about systemic transparency and accountability. As the judiciary engages with these serious allegations, there remains hope that a just resolution will enhance transparency and prevent recurrence.
While this legal dispute is a significant challenge, it also serves as an opportunity for systemic reform, offering a potential path towards clearer and fairer compensation practices for military personnel in Fiji. Such outcomes could enhance the integrity and credibility of Fiji’s military institutions on both national and international stages.
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