9 Mar 2007

Fiji interim PM comments on US State Department Human Rights report

10:34 am on 9 March 2007

Fiji's military commander and interim prime minister says Fiji can learn from this week's US State Department Report to make the country a better one.

But Commodore Bainimarama has told Fiji TV there is nothing they can do about the report.

The report highlighted a growing number of cases of human rights violations since the military takeover in December.

Commodore Bainimarama says the interim administration and the military do not condone the use of violence and any abuse of human rights.

But, he says, people will continue to be taken to the military camp for investigative purposes, adding that power is only corrupt if it is abused.

Commodore Bainimarama says people with complaints about the military should take them to the police.

The US ambassador in Suva, Larry Dinger, insists that because America is a major power in the world, the State Department report will be listened to.

Meanwhile, Commodore Bainimarama also says that they uphold media freedom because it not only lends credibility to the interim administration but also to the military.

But he says they will not allow irresponsible reporting.