Fiji Intelligence Services
Encyclopedia
The Fiji Intelligence Services (FIS) is a former intelligence agency
of the Republic of the Fiji Islands
. Its official purpose is "to handle national security
matters".
It was established in 1988 by the government of Sitiveni Rabuka
, which had come to power in a military coup in 1987. Describing it ten years later, Rabuka said: "We had to set up an intelligence unit that would incorporate both criminal
and military intelligence
, and in fact they recruited from both the police and the army for the Fiji Intelligence Services". The FIS was abolished in 1999 by Prime Minister
Mahendra Chaudhry
's government, and due to be revived in 2008 by the government of Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, which had seized power in the 2006 military coup
. The Bainimarama government announced that the FIS was being reistablished so as to "ensure a safe and secured Fiji from increasing terrorism threats", citing "the events of 9/11 in 2001 in the USA and recently in Bali
", and more generally "rising terrorism
worldwide".
Rabuka criticised the revival of the FIS in 2008, describing it as unnecessary, and hypothesised that its intended purpose was "perhaps keeping an eye out on what Australia
and New Zealand
are doing". Ousted Opposition leader
Mick Beddoes
was highly critical, stating that the FIS' revival might lead Fiji towards being a "police state
". He expressed the view that it would "invade people's privacy and intrude on innocent people in the name of intelligence gathering", and that the funds put into a "spy network" would best be used on "heath, housing, water supply and road maintenance".
By early 2010, the FIS had not yet been revived, and the Bainimarama government announced it would create a National Intelligence Agency to replace it. This new Agency would have "similar functions" to the FIS. It would protect Fiji's borders and "protect Fiji against the increasing global threat of terrorism". The Minister of Defence, Ratu
Epeli Ganilau
, however, added in May 2010 that the NIA would not be a "spy organisation", and that it would be "totally different" from the FIS: It would merely "strengthen the assessment and national security capability and co-ordination of the Ministry of Defence as the ministry responsible to (sic
) the national security".
The FIS' director during the 1990s was Metuisela Mua
, who was later convicted and gaoled for his participation in the 2000 coup.
Intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering for purposes of national security and defence. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public...
of the Republic of the Fiji Islands
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. Its official purpose is "to handle national security
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
matters".
It was established in 1988 by the government of Sitiveni Rabuka
Sitiveni Rabuka
Major-General Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, OBE, MSD, OStJ, is best known as the instigator of two military coups that shook Fiji in 1987. He was later democratically elected the third Prime Minister, serving from 1992 to 1999...
, which had come to power in a military coup in 1987. Describing it ten years later, Rabuka said: "We had to set up an intelligence unit that would incorporate both criminal
Criminal intelligence
Criminal Intelligence is information compiled, analyzed, and/or disseminated in an effort to anticipate, prevent, or monitor criminal activity....
and military intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
, and in fact they recruited from both the police and the army for the Fiji Intelligence Services". The FIS was abolished in 1999 by Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Fiji
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji is the head of government of Fiji. The Prime Minister was appointed by the President under the terms of the now-suspended 1997 constitution....
Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party...
's government, and due to be revived in 2008 by the government of Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, which had seized power in the 2006 military coup
2006 Fijian coup d'état
The Fijian coup d'état of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and 2005-2006 Fijian political crisis....
. The Bainimarama government announced that the FIS was being reistablished so as to "ensure a safe and secured Fiji from increasing terrorism threats", citing "the events of 9/11 in 2001 in the USA and recently in Bali
Bali bombings
Bali bombings can refer to either of two separate incidents on the Indonesian island of Bali:* The 2002 Bali bombings, occurred on 12 October 2002 in the tourist district of Kuta on the Indonesian island of Bali...
", and more generally "rising terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
worldwide".
Rabuka criticised the revival of the FIS in 2008, describing it as unnecessary, and hypothesised that its intended purpose was "perhaps keeping an eye out on what Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
are doing". Ousted Opposition leader
Leader of the Opposition (Fiji)
The post of Leader of the Opposition is a political office common in countries that are part of the Commonwealth of Nations. It did not originate in Fiji but has a long tradition; in British constitutional theory, the Leader of the Opposition must pose a formal alternative to the government, ready...
Mick Beddoes
Mick Beddoes
Mick Malcolm Millis Beddoes, widely known as Mick Beddoes, is a Fijian politician and businessman from Nadi, who has led the United Peoples Party since 2000, and was the Leader of the Opposition at the time of the military coup of 5 December 2006...
was highly critical, stating that the FIS' revival might lead Fiji towards being a "police state
Police state
A police state is one in which the government exercises rigid and repressive controls over the social, economic and political life of the population...
". He expressed the view that it would "invade people's privacy and intrude on innocent people in the name of intelligence gathering", and that the funds put into a "spy network" would best be used on "heath, housing, water supply and road maintenance".
By early 2010, the FIS had not yet been revived, and the Bainimarama government announced it would create a National Intelligence Agency to replace it. This new Agency would have "similar functions" to the FIS. It would protect Fiji's borders and "protect Fiji against the increasing global threat of terrorism". The Minister of Defence, Ratu
Ratu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
Epeli Ganilau
Epeli Ganilau
Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Ganilau, MC, MSD, is a Fijian soldier and statesman, who currently heads the National Alliance Party of Fiji. His career has previously encompassed such roles as Commander of the Fiji Military Forces and Chairman of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga...
, however, added in May 2010 that the NIA would not be a "spy organisation", and that it would be "totally different" from the FIS: It would merely "strengthen the assessment and national security capability and co-ordination of the Ministry of Defence as the ministry responsible to (sic
Sic
Sic—generally inside square brackets, [sic], and occasionally parentheses, —when added just after a quote or reprinted text, indicates the passage appears exactly as in the original source...
) the national security".
The FIS' director during the 1990s was Metuisela Mua
Metuisela Mua
Colonel Metuisela Mua is former Fijian military officer, intelligence officer and politician.He was the director of the Fiji Intelligence Services, established by Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka's military government in 1988, until it was disbanded by elected Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry in 1999.He was...
, who was later convicted and gaoled for his participation in the 2000 coup.