2022 General Election: ‘Come what may’ – Kalouniwai

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2022 General Election: ‘Come what may’ – Kalouniwai

Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai has ordered his men to honour the democratic process by respecting the outcome of the votes in the 2022 General Election.

Speaking during the RFMF’s end of year parade at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks (QEB) in Nabua, Suva, yesterday, he called on every soldier in the country and abroad to “keep in perspective our constitutional mandate that regardless of the outcome, democracy is alive and God is still our sovereign”.

Maj-Gen Kalouniwai told them to cast their ballots “prayerfully and consciously”.

“If you are a supporter of the candidate who won, let us continue to trust the Lord and not dwell on the success or another’s misfortune with smugness or malignant pleasure,” he said. “If you are a supporter of the candidate who lost, let us continue to trust the Lord and not reject them with disdain or contempt.”

Maj-Gen Kalouniwai said yesterday’s speech was one of the most important speeches he had to share as it entailed the future of the country.

He also said that on the basis of Fiji’s constitutional mandate, everyone was duty-bound to vote.

“Let me remind you this morning that bad choices may result in unjust laws, needless conflicts and violence, and calamitous economic policies.

“So the future is very dependent for all of us in the next few days, in the next few weeks leading up to December 14, where we will all have the opportunity to choose our nation’s path.

“Each and every one of us here this morning and those that are not here with us, those that are listening from the Middle East and in other areas, every one of us will be exercising our democratic right to vote. .

He said nothing was more integral to democracy than voting, as he urged all soldiers to vote.

“We must look at this as a duty to avoid complicity with injustice.

“To those of us thinking that we should not be a part of this very important task ahead of us, I would like to stress to you that you must remember, in not doing so you become complicit in allowing injustice to prevail over the most vulnerable of our people.”

Maj-Gen Kalouniwai also thanked members of the force for serving the people diligently throughout the year.

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