An opposition politician in Fiji is calling for an independent parliamentary committee to investigate the state's responses to police brutality.
The police force has been plagued by regular cases of brutality and torture, most recently involving a teenager who died in a police custody nearly two weeks ago.
But the leader of the National Federation Party, Biman Prasad, says many investigations are often mishandled and the public is losing faith in the police force.
He told Jamie Tahana that an independent inquiry can call witnesses, establish whether abuses have been dealt with fairly, and work out an appropriate action plan.
Fiji police.
Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades
Transcript
BIMAN PRASAD: We haven't promulgated the motion yet but we are planning to move a motion in the March sitting of parliament for a special committee of parliament to independently investigate cases of alleged police brutality, breaches of human rights, because we believe that the current practice and procedures for investigation may have been compromised and we believe that a parliamentary committee will be the best way to independently, or independent of the police and the victims to investigate and report to parliament for further action.
JAMIE TAHANA: It is well known that these abuse cases go on. What would this parliamentary inquiry achieve?
BP: Well at least it would bring out the public submission. People would have the opportunity to be at the [inaudible] committee, as the parliamentary committee would have the powers to call witnesses and others involved in this, and the stake holders, including the police and the victims. So that the parliamentary committee can correctly establish if the alleged abuses have been dealt with fairly and independently and the victims, the alleged victims have had the appropriate treatment.
JT: To be suggesting this would indicate that you don't think this has happened or that justice has been served, or people aren't being treated fairly and equally.
BP: Well that is the perception and as I said the way in which the victims have been made to run around and many of them have come to us and given us the appropriate information, we believe that the victims as well as the public seem to be losing the confidence in the the current procedures for investigation that we see happening. You will also note that we do not have an Ombudsman. Previously an ombudsman was a retired judge, and under the 1997 constitution the ombudsman was also the chairman of Fiji Human Rights Commission. And so some of these institutions as provided for in the previous constitution are not there. And that is why we are saying that in light of the recent alleged cases,, and we believe that a parliamentary committee would be the best way to, not only get to the bottom of these allegations but also to ensure that the parliament then considers appropriate institutions to deal with this in the future.
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