The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission confirms the two inmates who were protesting through a hunger strike, at the Naboro Maximum Corrections facility, have ended their strike.
Commission Chair, Pravesh Sharma says they have been advised by the Fiji Corrections Service this morning that the two inmates had ended their hunger strike last night.
Sharma says they are investigating the case and a team from the Commission has visited the inmates, and they have taken note of their concerns.
The Commission can confirm that the inmates have been visited by a medical doctor to assess their health status.
The two inmates were on a hunger strike since Friday.
The Corrections Service says the individuals involved had previously been employed in the facility’s kitchen.
They say following an incident involving a dispute over the handling of food supplies, an internal investigation was launched, resulting in their temporary removal from kitchen duties.
They say inmates have since expressed their dissatisfaction with this decision, demanding reinstatement to their previous roles.
Minister for Justice, Siromi Turaga says in essence, inmates do not select or choose what duties they want to perform and that is the role of the officer in charge and the supervisor.
Turaga says that accommodating the demands of inmates sets a dangerous precedent for any Corrections administration.
The Minister says the status of inmates is such that they have no right to make unreasonable requests or demands to the Commissioner, for that matter.
Turaga says the health status of the inmates is frequently monitored by the health personnel in the FCS.
