Acting Police Commissioner, Rusiate Tudravu has refuted claims made by the Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation regarding alleged brutality of people living with disabilities on the streets by some police officers.
The Chairperson of the Disability COVID-19 Disaster Response Committee, Mere Roden says the committee has received complaints from their representatives who work with persons with disabilities living on the streets that persons with psychosocial disabilities have been allegedly treated cruelly by some police officers during the lockdown and curfew hours.
The committee says an alleged incident saw five people with psychological disabilities being made to jump over the seawall at the Bowling Club on the weekend of the 24th of April 2021 and one was allegedly forced to take off his pants as it was assumed that he was wearing Corrections Service pants.
They say there were also complaints of police officers allegedly taking photographs without getting consent.
The committee says in addition, during the Suva lockdown weekend on the 30th of April to 3rd May, Police continued to allegedly force these persons to remain in their location which prevented them from accessing bathing and drinking water and other public hygiene and sanitation facilities.
They claim emails to the Acting Police Commissioner from the committee requesting for a meeting remain unanswered.
Roden says they condemn these actions, and they call on the Acting Police Commissioner to address these alleged intolerable and cruel behaviour displayed by some members of the Force.
Roden says persons with disabilities do not want to be on the streets, but circumstances have forced them to leave their homes and be on the streets and the least they request that persons with disabilities on the streets are treated with respect as we go through another lockdown.
Spokesperson for the Fiji Disabled Persons Federation, Lanieta Tuimabu says that police brutality is a gross violation of human rights and it is important that members of the Police Force relook at their approach when serving the members of the public.
The Committee is willing to work with the Fiji Police Force and all frontliners in addressing the protection of persons with disabilities during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Acting Police Commissioner Tudravu says nothing concerning these issues have been reported at any of their stations.
Tudravu says the Federation has mentioned in their release that numerous emails sent to him remain unanswered. However according to him, nothing has been received by him from the Federation.
He says maybe they should recheck the email address and the Acting Commissioner says he is always available on 9905334.
Tudravu says definitely, if they want to meet him, he will not hesitate to do so and that can be done after the COVID-19 operation.
Meanwhile the Director of the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, Ashwin Raj says they stand in solidarity with the Fiji Disabled People’s Federation and emphatically states that police brutality and other forms of cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment meted out by the law enforcement agencies constitutes a violation of human rights and inherent human dignity.
Raj says such acts of violation must be investigated and the perpetrators must face the full brunt of the law. He says law enforcement agencies dealing with persons with disabilities including those with psychosocial disability need to show compassion and be sensitive to their specific vulnerabilities even if they may be in conflict with the law.
The Fiji Disabled Persons Federation is encouraged to contact the Commission when such violations are brought to their attention.
The Commission will conduct independent investigations into such matters.
They can be contacted on 9142539 or info@fhradc.org.fj
Raj says it is important that those who are inflicting violence on these vulnerable groups are held accountable.
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