Fiji Army

Keyword: Fiji Army Keyword Density: /x=.% MyOwnArticles.com

Fiji Army Profile and Issues

The Fiji Army or the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) is one of the smallest armies in the world with , men, , of whom are in active duty serving in six infantry battalions and one engineer battalion. The Fiji Army has three battalions comprising reserves.

The Fiji Infantry Regiments first two regular battalions are usually sent on peacekeeping duties with the st Battalion stationed in Iraq, Lebanon and East Timor following United Nations order. Meanwhile, the nd Battalion is sent to the Sinai with the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO), an independent global organization overseeing the implementation of security as outlined in the Treaty of Peace between the countries of Israel and Egypt. The rd Battalion of the Fiji Army is stationed in Fijis capital city of Suva. The remaining three battalions are in different parts of the Fiji islands.

Additionally, the Fiji Army includes Navy men. The Military Navy was founded about thirty years ago in after the Fiji government ratified the United Nations Law of the Sea convention. The Navy has responsibility for the countrys maritime border control and protecting Fiji's economic zone. It also organizes rescue missions. The Navy operates nine patrol boats. Australia, China and the United Kingdom are the primary source of military aid. However, UK has suspended its aid due to the recent military coup in the country.

The Fiji Army has decades of history of political tensions. In the year alone, military men staged two coup d'tats and then again in , soldiers were responsible for a countercoup against the civilian group of George Speight. Since the start of the millennium, the Fiji Army has had a tumultuous relationship with the government of Laisenia Qarase, Fijis Prime Minister. The Fiji Army has objected to Qarases plans of forming a Commision with the authority to pardon coup perpetrators.

The Fiji Government has announced its intention of reducing the size of the Fiji Army and at the same time increasing the size of the countrys police force. To cut down costs, the Fiji Army has limited some of its operations such as maritime patrols, school cadet trainings, search and rescues and others diverting priority to peacekeeping operations in Iraq and Sinai, officer cadet training with the Defence Forces of New Zealand and other priority activities.

On December th , the Fiji Army staged another coup d'tat, which is a result of ongoing tensions between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians.