One can understand why Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes is angry and disappointed after armed soldiers removed a consignment of ammunition from the Suva wharf early yesterday.
Angry because it was removed before he had signed and issued the required import licence to the soldiers to clear it from Customs. And disappointed because only the previous day he had discussed the issue at length with acting army commander Captain Esala Teleni and agreed to hold a joint press conference yesterday before the ammunition was released. The idea was to jointly explain to the nation the army's assurance that the ammunition would not be used to overthrow the Qarase government.
The soldiers chose to ignore him and his officers altogether. In fact, Mr Hughes claims some threats were made to his officers stationed at the wharf.
He therefore has ordered a police investigation into the removal of the ammunition to determine whether the soldiers were acting within the law. If not, they should be taken to court for partaking in an illegal operation.
The army maintains it did not need the Commissioner's approval to have the ammunition released. So the soldiers went ahead and took the cargo up to the Queen Elizabeth Barracks. Only they could explain why they could not wait for after the planned joint press conference.
In fact questions are being asked about the real intention of the army on some of its activities and statements in public recently.
While on one hand it strongly denies it would stage a coup, it demands the resignation of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and his Government if certain proposed legislations are not shelved.
It promises to work closely with the police on maintaining national security but bypasses the Police Commissioner to remove a consignment of ammunition from the Kings Wharf in Suva.
It says the President and commander-in chief has little support in the camp and that the army does not need his authority to force Qarase's government out. Yet it says it will protect Ratu Josefa Iloilo against any attempts to remove him - even legally through the Great Council of Chiefs - from office before his five-year term ends.
The soldiers are paid by the Government and enjoy public service employment conditions yet the army openly criticises its employer in public and even demands that it resigns.
It advises people they have nothing to worry about yet it is the confusing signals coming from the army camp that's causing anxiety, suspicion and fear.
More and more it seems to be creating an empire of its own which does not listen to or have any respect for any authority outside it. And we all know how dangerous and volatile that can be.
