Amnesty irked by Fiji actions

Transcript

Amnesty International has expressed concern about the lack of accountability for serious human rights abuses in Fiji.

This comes after Fiji police closed an investigation into a video released last year which showed the torture and beating of two prison escapees by Fiji security personnel.

Amnesty International's Grant Bayldon spoke to Amelia Langford.

GRANT BAYLDON: Well, if closing the investigation means that noone is being held to account for the evidence - we have seen very strong evidence of appalling beatings going on - really amounting to torture - then I think that is really another black mark in terms of accountability and the rule of law in Fiji.

AMELIA LANGFORD: And it's not clear but there are no signs of any investigation actually taking place. What does Amnesty believe has happened here?

GB: Well, Amnesty International hasn't seen any sign of an investigation taking place and really this isn't an isolated incident which is really what troubles us even more about it. It seems to be part of a pattern of evidence of terrible crimes by security forces either not being investigated properly or being investigated but then there being no justice for the victims of crimes. Really the people of Fiji need to see that justice is being done. They need to be able to trust their security forces.

AL: One man had to have his leg amputated after the attack. We are talking a serious incident here.

GB: Yes, the leg amputation, I believe, was a separate incident involving the recapture of prisoners. But as you say it is another example of evidence of appalling actions taking place. Just a couple of days after the video of this incident came out, Bainimarama came out and said he would stand by his men. What Amnesty International has called all along for is the Fiji Government to stand by the rule of law, rather than stand by their men come what may. That is what the people of Fiji need to see.

AL: What would you like to see the Fiji Government do here?

GB: Clearly we need a proper, full investigation into this matter and if the Fiji government isn't prepared to do it then it needs to be done independently. It is easy to forget with the transfer to elections coming up in Fiji, just how much more there is to real democracy that just elections. Media, the courts, rule of law, and issues like this with security forces - those are all essential things for true democracy to flourish and if the Fiji Government is serious about democracy they need to take issues like this seriously too.

AL: Is there anything you think the international community should be doing here?

GB: We are calling on the international community particularly the New Zealand and Australian governments to speak out very strongly on these matters. Again, we have seen a lot of support from the NZ Government for returning to democracy in Fiji for elections but really for those to be truly democratic we need to see the rule of law, we need to see that security forces are held accountable as well as all the other human rights issues that are still ongoing in the Fiji around the media, and the courts, and even the right to gather peacefully for there to be true democracy.