The NGO Coalition on Human Rights strongly condemns acts of brutality by the police on people that they are supposed to protect following the emergence of two latest reports.
The NGOs are reminding the Minister for Defence and National Security, Pio Tikoduadua, Acting Police Commissioner, Juki Fong Chew and the Fiji Police Force that section 11 of the Constitution of Fiji, Bill of Rights, protects Fiji citizens from disproportionate severe treatment, torture, cruelty and degrading treatment or punishment - a right that is afforded to all citizens.
The NGO Coalition says on 21st September 2023, a video that shows what appears to be a violent arrest made by members of the Fiji Police Force surfaced online.
It says in the video, two police officers were seen stomping on a man while he was already held to the ground by 2 other Police officers.
The NGO Coalition on Human Rights says this is totally unacceptable in any democracy.
It says the alleged extreme use of force used in the arrest is a gross violation of human rights.
It further says another concerning case was that of Apenisa Buliyawa, which was reported on 21st September 2023. It was alleged that he was assaulted by three Police Officers at the Lautoka Market Police Post.
The NGO Coalition says after the alleged assault, Buliyawa’s plea for medical treatment was refused and he was left near a mall.
He was later admitted at the Lautoka hospital and it was reported that he suffered a cracked rib and a decreased lung size. The NGO Coalition on Human Rights asks how many more law enforcers will be allowed to get away with abusing the law at the expense of someone’s life, dignity and physical integrity.
The NGOs say every year, this country faces serious cases of human rights violations where those who are mandated to enforce the law, end up using excessive force on citizens.
According to the statistics released by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, 225 Police Officers were charged with serious crime offences for the period 2019 to 2022.
The NGOs say the rights of all people must be upheld regardless of who they are.
The NGO Coalition is appalled at the unchanged mindset of the Force despite numerous outcries by the NGO Coalition, the public and international bodies in the past.
They say this latest viral video is yet another display of the lack of commitment by the Fiji Police Force in upholding and respecting the human rights of all Fijians.
The NGOs say the Police and law enforcement agencies should respect human rights while advancing the objective of the law.
They say only then will they contribute to building a credible institution that upholds professionalism, ethics, non-discrimination and the rule of law.
The NGO Coalition is also very concerned with the leadership commending the manner of the arrest and minimising the alleged extreme force used.
It says this sends a dangerous message that the Police have the right to use unlawful force on a person of interest.
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