The leader of the opposition in Fiji says three key state appointments announced last week are just "jobs for the boys" and further consolidate the military's grip on the country.
Fiji's Government House. Photo: RNZ / Sally Round
The authorities announced on Friday afternoon that Sitiveni Qiliho, a former land force commander, had been confirmed as police commissioner, Viliame Naupoto was confirmed as the new military commander and a former navy commander Francis Kean was appointed as prisons commissioner.
The opposition leader Ro Teimumu Kepa said the trio are known abusers of human rights and they should be disqualified from taking on the crucial posts.
She said democracy in Fiji is being replaced by a new form of dictatorship with the appointments.
Ro Teimumu Kepa said the Constitutional Offices Commission which made the appointments is operating in a farcical and unconstitutional manner without the required input from the opposition leader or her appointee who resigned last year.
