By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – After a Fiji court convicted eight soldiers and a policeman of manslaughter last week, the Human Rights Commission in Fiji says the decision shows the country’s legal system has remained independent.

Last week, Justice Daniel Goundar found nine members of the military and a police officer guilty of manslaughter for the death of a 19-year-old man.

In 2007, the nine assaulted and beat Sakiusa Rabaka to death during an interrogation at a military training site called Black Rock.

“They were made to strip and do military type physical exercises. During the exercises they were continuously kicked, punched and hit,” Justice Goundar said. He added that Rabaka was subjected to“degrading and inhumane treatment as a form of punishment.”

Justice Goundar sentenced the nine men in Lautoka High Court to 4 years in prison.

Human Right’s Commission chairperson, Shaista Shameem, says this decision demonstrates that Fiji military and police are not immune from punishment.

“One of the important that Judge Goundar said in his judgement was that no one can take, no officers even if there law and order can not take the law into their own hands because we have separation of power in the country. You know, the Police and the Military do the arrests and it is the court that decides on the appropriate punishment,” Shameem said.

The Fiji Military Force plans on appealing the conviction later today.

For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand International – Fiji’s law system is independent, says Human Rights Commission – 18 March 2009

FijiVillage – Military to appeal sentence – 18 March 2009

Fiji Daily Post – FOUR YEARS – 18 March 2009