Fiji suspends top cop, discards police training deal with China
- President Katonivere said Commissioner of Police Sitiveni Qiliho will face a tribunal over his conduct
- The coup-prone Pacific island nation has been pivotal to the region’s response to competition between China and the US
Fiji’s president on Friday suspended the commissioner of police after a general election saw the first change in government in the Pacific island nation in 16 years, after the military earlier warned against “sweeping changes”.
President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere said Commissioner of Police Sitiveni Qiliho had been suspended on the advice of the Constitutional Offices Commission, “pending investigation and referral to and appointment of, a tribunal”.
The Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem was also suspended by the commission, the statement said.
The day before a coalition agreement was struck, Qiliho and Bainimarama called on the military to maintain law and order because they said the hung election result had sparked ethnic tensions, a claim disputed by the coalition parties.