Four people have died in Fijian military or police custody
since the 2006 coup and dozens have been intimidated, beaten,
sexually assaulted, or subjected to cruel and degrading
treatment, the international Human Rights Watch group said
today.
"Security personnel implicated in three of the custodial
deaths remain free," the group said in a statement from
Geneva, where the United Nations' Human Rights Council will
tomorrow review Fiji.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) said UN members should press Fiji's
military government to end arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment
in detention, and interference with judicial independence,
and to ensure a swift return to democratic rule.
The Human Rights Council's review of Fiji is one of a series
it conducts of every UN member country every four years, so
is the first of the Pacific nation since Commodore Voreqe
(Frank) Bainimarama grabbed power on December 5, 2006.
"The military government's attempts to justify its seizure of
political power as necessary for good governance and racial
harmony ring hollow when it continues to abuse the rights of
its people," HRW deputy Asia director Phil Robertson said.
Fiji's military and police arbitrarily arrested and detained
human rights defenders, journalists, and others perceived as
critical of the military government. Human rights abusers in
the army and police felt protected from prosecution or any
other punishment, HRW said.
"Because Fiji contributes many troops to global UN
peacekeeping efforts, both the UN and member countries should
be concerned about the deployment of abusive Fijian troops to
UN operations."
HRW said human rights in Fiji were likely to deteriorate
further. Fiji's land force commander, Brigadier General Pita
Driti, warned government critics in a January 5 interview
with the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation that "I would like to
tell [our adversaries] to keep low and try to cooperate with
us … otherwise they will be in for something really hard in
terms of how we will treat them this year."
The wide-ranging powers and immunity provided in the Public
Emergency Regulations adopted last April contributed to a
climate of impunity for members of the security forces, HRW
said.
These regulations, which are extended every 30 days,
empowered security forces to prohibit processions and
meetings; to use lethal force as they deem necessary; to
enter and remain in any building where there is reason to
believe three or more people are meeting; and to regulate the
use of any public place.
