Speeches - Fiji Government Online (www.fiji.gov.fj)
26/2/08 - Govt revives National Security Council
An enabling legislation will be drawn up to revive the National Security Council (NSC) and the Fiji Intelligence Services (FIS) to ensure a safe and secured Fiji from increasing terrorism threats.
This follows CabinetÕs endorsement of the revival of the NSC based on a submission by the Minister for Defence, National Security and Immigration, Ratu Epeli Ganilau.
Ratu Epeli said that the national security landscape both internally and externally, is evolving and changing at a very fast pace.
ÒGiven this unpredictable future national security landscape, the NSC is to be revived as soon as possible, to better safeguard FijiÕs national security matters in the medium to long term.Ó
The NSC was first established in 1990 for the purpose of protecting Fiji from various activities such as espionage, sabotage, seditious intentions, foreign interventions and terrorism, and was disbanded in 1999.
Ratu Epeli said the Defence White Paper of 1997 had recommended the establishment of the NSC to concentrate on national security matters like terrorism and clandestine operations instead of military operations.
ÒIt has also recommended that the NSC be assisted in its work through the provision of defence and intelligence policy advices by an Intelligence Advisory Committee or a Fiji Defence Council.Ó
Ratu Epeli said that following the events of 9/11 in 2001 in the USA and recently in Bali, the focus of national security agencies the world over, is to combat rising terrorism worldwide.
ÒBecause of the invisible nature of this terrorism threats and activities across national borders, it is now timely for Fiji to revive and re-energise its national security agencies to better prepare the country for any eventualities in the future.Ó
He said that the NSC will be the highest forum to discuss and oversee security matters of the State.
Its membership will comprise the Prime Minister (Chairman), Commander of RFMF, Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Minister responsible for Defence, Minister for Finance and Commissioner of Police.
The Permanent Secretary of Defence will provide Secretariat support to the work of the NSC.
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