26 Apr 2019

Amnesty calls for transparency of Fiji military and torture cases

6:24 am on 26 April 2019

Amnesty International says the Fiji military has not been held fully accountable for cases of torture and has played a role in obstructing justice.

Fiji's Military has been facing questions from a parliamentary committee over torture as the country looks to comply with the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

The FBC News reports a senior military member confirmed those involved in any kind of torture during past political events has been dealt with accordingly and continuous training is done to educate officers about laws and rights.

However Amnesty's Fiji based Pacific Researcher, Roshika Deo, said these claims are misleading and lack transparency, with members of the military investigating each other.

"One of the things we want to emphasise; a lot of the military officers, including other security officers, that have been involved in cases of torture and brutality and some of which have resulted in the deaths of the young men that have been victims of this, there has not been full accountability."

"In fact the military has interfered in many different ways to circumvent justice or to obstruct justice," she said.

Roshika Deo said Amnesty was calling for repeal of the constitution and other legislation that offers immunity to security forces relating to torture, and prevents victims from bringing forth cases and pursuing accountability.