Difference between revisions of "Fiji Intelligence Service"

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The '''Fiji Intelligence Services''' (FIS) is a former [[intelligence agency]] of the [[Fiji|Republic of the Fiji Islands]].<ref>[http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=82492 "Regime revives Fiji spy agency"], ''[[Fiji Times]]'', 28 February 2008</ref> Its official purpose is "to handle [[national security]] matters".<ref>[http://www.vanuatu.usp.ac.fj/pacific%20law%20materials/Fiji_cases/Volume_S-T/Sharma_v_Dwivedi.html "Sharma v Dwivedi"], [[High Court of Fiji]], June 2000</ref>
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It was established in 1988 by the government of [[Sitiveni Rabuka]], which had come to power in a [[1987 Fijian coups d'état|military coup]] in 1987. Describing it ten years later, Rabuka said: "We had to set up an intelligence unit that would incorporate both [[Criminal intelligence|criminal]] and [[military intelligence]], and in fact they recruited from both the [[Law enforcement in Fiji|police]] and the [[Republic of Fiji Military Forces|army]] for the Fiji Intelligence Services".<ref>[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/programguide/stories/200803/s2178452.htm "FIJI: Rabuka says Fiji Intelligence Service revival not necessary"], ABC Radio Australia, 3 March 2008</ref> The FIS was abolished in 1999 by [[Prime Minister of Fiji|Prime Minister]] [[Mahendra Chaudhry]]'s government, and due to be revived in 2008 by the government of Commodore [[Frank Bainimarama|Voreqe Bainimarama]], which had seized power in the [[2006 Fijian coup d'état|2006 military coup]].<ref>[http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=82492 "Regime revives Fiji spy agency"], ''Fiji Times'', 28 February 2008</ref> The Bainimarama government announced that the FIS was being reestablished so as to "ensure a safe and secured Fiji from increasing terrorism threats", citing "the events of [[9/11]] in 2001 in the United States and [[2002 Bali bombings|recently in Bali]]", and more generally "rising [[terrorism]] worldwide".<ref>[http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_11289.shtml "Govt revives National Security Council"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804193141/http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_11289.shtml |date=4 August 2009 }}, Fiji government, 26 February 2008</ref>
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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".<ref>[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/programguide/stories/200803/s2178452.htm "FIJI: Rabuka says Fiji Intelligence Service revival not necessary"], ABC Radio Australia, 3 March 2008</ref> Ousted [[Leader of the Opposition (Fiji)|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".<ref>[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s2176614.htm "Former opposition leader says Fiji becoming a 'police state'"], ABC Radio Australia, 29 February 2008</ref>
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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.<ref>[http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201005/2890079.htm?desktop "Fiji gets spy agency"], ABC Radio Australia, 4 May 2010</ref> 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".<ref>[http://www.indianweekender.co.nz/Pages/ArticleDetails/14/1082/Fiji/Fiji-to-set-up-National-Intelligence-Agency "Fiji to set up National Intelligence Agency"], ''Indian Weekender'', 4 May 2010</ref> 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".<ref>[http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=146279 "Intelligence officers are not spies, says Ganilau"], ''Fiji Times'', 11 May 2010</ref>
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The FIS' director during the 1990s was [[Metuisela Mua]], who was later convicted and gaoled for his participation in the [[2000 Fijian coup d'état|2000 coup]].<ref>[http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=82492 "Regime revives Fiji spy agency"], ''Fiji Times'', 28 February 2008</ref>
 
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Latest revision as of 06:20, 15 January 2022

Group.png Fiji Intelligence Service  
(Intelligence agency)Rdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
AbbreviationFIS
Successor Fiji National Police Intelligence Bureau
Formation1988
Extinction1999
HeadquartersFiji
A former intelligence agency of the Republic of the Fiji Islands

The Fiji Intelligence Services (FIS) is a former intelligence agency of the Republic of the Fiji Islands.[1] Its official purpose is "to handle national security matters".[2]

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".[3] 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.[4] The Bainimarama government announced that the FIS was being reestablished so as to "ensure a safe and secured Fiji from increasing terrorism threats", citing "the events of 9/11 in 2001 in the United States and recently in Bali", and more generally "rising terrorism worldwide".[5]

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".[6] 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".[7]

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.[8] 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".[9] 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".[10]

The FIS' director during the 1990s was Metuisela Mua, who was later convicted and gaoled for his participation in the 2000 coup.[11]

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References

  1. ↑ "Regime revives Fiji spy agency", Fiji Times, 28 February 2008
  2. ↑ "Sharma v Dwivedi", High Court of Fiji, June 2000
  3. ↑ "FIJI: Rabuka says Fiji Intelligence Service revival not necessary", ABC Radio Australia, 3 March 2008
  4. ↑ "Regime revives Fiji spy agency", Fiji Times, 28 February 2008
  5. ↑ "Govt revives National Security Council" Archived 4 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine., Fiji government, 26 February 2008
  6. ↑ "FIJI: Rabuka says Fiji Intelligence Service revival not necessary", ABC Radio Australia, 3 March 2008
  7. ↑ "Former opposition leader says Fiji becoming a 'police state'", ABC Radio Australia, 29 February 2008
  8. ↑ "Fiji gets spy agency", ABC Radio Australia, 4 May 2010
  9. ↑ "Fiji to set up National Intelligence Agency", Indian Weekender, 4 May 2010
  10. ↑ "Intelligence officers are not spies, says Ganilau", Fiji Times, 11 May 2010
  11. ↑ "Regime revives Fiji spy agency", Fiji Times, 28 February 2008
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