22 Jun 2005

Fiji NGO calls for resignation of prisons commissioner

9:36 am on 22 June 2005

The Citizens Constitutional Forum has called on Fiji's commissioner of prisons to resign following the early release of nine soldiers court martialled and jailed for their part in the Labasa army mutiny at the height of the coup.

The soldiers will now serve the rest of their sentences extramurally.

The CCF's spokesman, Jone Dakuvula, says the early releases show prisoners involved in the coup are being granted special favours because other applicants for release as extra-mural prisoners are being refused.

Mr Dakuvula says this shows the attorney general, Qoriniasi Bale, is working in cahoots with the commissioner of prisons, Aisea Taoka, to promote its agenda to release all those involved in the coup and grant them amnesty through the Reconciliation and Unity Bill.

Mr Dakuvula says the commissioner is acting as a political agent of the government and should resign.

But the deputy commissioner, Opeti Laladidi, was yesterday quoted as saying prisoners have the right to apply for early release if they believe they meet the criteria laid down in the Prisons Act.

He said he expected more applications for extra-mural release from soldiers jailed for coup and mutiny related offences.