THE military will continue to comment on matters concerning reforms put in place by government until 2014, says Fiji Military Force Land Force Commander Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga.
He made the comments in response to a statement from three prominent political parties calling for security forces to stop commenting on the draft constitution.
The statement from Ratu Jone Kubuabola representing the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Party, Mahendra Chaudhry leader for the Fiji Labour Party and Mick Beddoes — president of the United People's Party called for security forces to desist from issuing intimidatory statements on the draft constitution.
Col. Tikoitoga said the three parties should know the now-dissolved Constitution Commission had worked on the draft copy of the constitution, and not the final copy to be released by the Constituent Assembly.
"We will complete the constitution process and the draft constitution is just one of the many reforms that will improve the lives of Fijians. It is not the whole process or the whole reforms put in place," he explained.
Col. Tikoitoga said the assembly would wait for the draft copy of the constitution to be handed to it by the President. It, Col. Tikoitoga said would then work on the draft to produce the constitution.
A statement signed by the three political leaders deplored the secrecy surrounding the draft constitution.
It read "they (political leaders) call on the regime to immediately release it (draft copy of the constitution) for public discussion and debate within their own organisations and communities as it is a people's document".
They also expressed their gratitude to commission chairman Professor Yash Ghai, his commissioners and staff for a commendable job done under what the leaders called extremely difficult circumstances.
Col. Tikoitoga said uniting the people of Fiji was one of the many reforms government was working on.
"If Ratu Jone or the party he is representing speaks for the iTaukei people, Chaudhary for the Indo-Fijians and Beddoes for other ethnic groups then that is not the picture the government wants," he said. "We want a united Fiji for all, a multicultural country, one leader who can represent all races," Col. Tiokoitoga said. "Our biggest downfall is when political leaders talk based on ethnicity, the military will continue to comment on matters or what we want to unite Fiji and we will only stop commenting on issues until all the reforms put in place is complete by 2014."