By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SUVA, Fiji – Amnesty International is calling on New Zealand and other countries in the region to speak out and intensify calls for Fiji to cease human rights abuses, including arbitrary arrests, intimidation, threats, assaults, and detention.

In its call for New Zealand and other countries to speak out against repression in Fiji, Amnesty urges that the topic of human rights are included in any dialogue with Fiji.

Human rights violations have been increasing in Fiji ever since Public Emergency Regulations (PER) were imposed in April of 2008, when ex-President Ratu Josefa Iloilo abrogated Fiji’s constitution and reappointed Commodore Frank Bainimarama as Prime Minister.

Under the PER, Fiji’s military and security forces retain absolute control over the country’s population, and soldiers and police enjoy complete immunity from prosecution for their actions, including serious violations of human rights.

Not only does the PER encourage violations of human rights, the Fiji regime is continually bringing in more measures to stifle dissent.

Amnesty’s Pacific Researcher, Apolosi Bose, stated that the Fiji regime has become “comfortable with getting away with human rights abuses, because they are shutting down their opponents one by one.” Amnesty urges New Zealand and other countries to maintain a strong stance against the Fiji regime.

Last week, Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced that New Zealand and Fiji had agreed to improve diplomatic relations. Amnesty believes that this “provides an increased opportunity to raise concerns about the recent intensified crackdown on opponents of the Fijian regime.”

Apolosi Bose further stated: “Fiji’s neighbors must urge the regime to restore the independence of the judiciary and cooperate with the United Nations in ending human rights abuses.”

For more information, please see:
Amnesty International – NZ-Fiji re-engagement must consider human rights – 21 January 2010

Radio New Zealand International – Amnesty calls on region to speak out against repression in Fiji – 21 January 2010

Silobreaker – Amnesty calls on region to speak out against repression in Fiji – 21 January 2010