By Sarah C. LaBelle
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania
For more on the arrests, please see the Impunity Watch report here.
SUVA, Fiji – Among those swept up in the arrests for an alleged assassination plot in Fiji were two New Zealanders, IT developer Ballu Khan and Sivaniolo Naulago, an executive in Khan’s company. Khan is currently in hospital in Fiji for beatings he received while in police custody. New Zealand claimed that Fiji was breaching the Geneva Conventions by not allowing New Zealand’s High Commission in Fiji to visit Khan; Fiji allowed the visit to happen after this protest. However, New Zealand has not been able to access Naulago and has not been allowed to see Khan since the first visit.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark told reporters: “I’m absolutely appalled at what happened to that New Zealand citizen and of course, the New Zealand High Commission was prevented from seeing him on the Saturday and he was prevented from getting proper medical care while they kept him in detention. When our High Commission staff did get to see him [November 05], he had difficulty talking because his face was so beaten up. He’s been surrounded by guards at the hospital at night — including one who had been part of the assault on him. It’s absolutely terrifying, no person should be treated like this.”
Khan’s partner, Agnes Bulatiko, observed the beating and said that, while she fears for her own safety, she will not stop fighting on Khan’s behalf. She has been prevented from seeing him for the duration of his arrest on November 03. Bulatiko denies that Khan resisted arrest, and says that he simply asked why he was being arrested. Bulatiko says that all the men in their group who were stopped at the checkpoint were beaten and arrested, while the women were strip-searched before being let free. The women were not questioned, and those under the age of 18 were not forced to strip. Bulatiko’s brother is also among those who were beaten and arrested.
Tevita Fa, Khan’s lawyer, reports today that Khan has stopped eating. Fa is also seeking for an independent team of doctor to examine Khan, since his request that Khan be allowed to seek medical treatment in New Zealand was denied.
For more information, please see:
Fiji Times – NZ: Voreqe looking for excuses – 06 November 2007
Fiji Times – NZ stopped from visiting Khan – 06 November 2007
Fiji Times – Khan’s partner denies claims – 07 November 2007
Radio New Zealand International – Suspect in Fiji alleged assassination case to seek medical treatment in New Zealand – 07 November 2007
Pacific Islands Report (Radio Australia) – Fiji Denies New Zealand Access to Arrested Citizen – 07 November 2007
Pacific Islands Report (Fiji Times) – Fiji ‘Plot’ Suspect Khan Still in Hospital – 08 November 2007
Islands Business – Second Kiwi in Fiji ‘murder plot’ identified – 08 November 2007
Islands Business – Weapons found, Fiji authorities allow access to detained New Zealand citizen – 08 November 2007
Radio New Zealand International – NZ conspiracy suspect stops eating in Fiji hospital – 11 November 2007
Fiji Times – Bulatiko fears for her life but will fight for partner – 12 November 2007
