Fiji human rights worsening under new military regime
<http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/fiji-human-rights-worsening-under-new-military-regime-20090420>
20 April 2009
The human rights situation in Fiji is getting worse by the day under the newly
reappointed military regime, according to an Amnesty International
fact-finding mission.
The population is living in fear as a result of draconian measures implemented
by the regime. These followed the abrogation of the constitution and the
subsequent sacking of all judicial officers and all constitutionally appointed
office-holders.
Elections have been deferred for five years and martial law has been declared
for a period of 30 days, during which time journalists have been forbidden
from writing anything negative about Fiji or about the military regime.
Judges, lawyers and judicial officers have been blocked from entering court
buildings since 14 April and a number of judges and judicial officers,
including the Director of Public Prosecutions and the head of the Fiji Law
Society, have been placed under house-arrest.
Amnesty International has condemned the censorship of media and detention of
journalists, severe limitations on freedom of association, and threats to
human rights defenders and critics of the regime.
The organization has also condemned the new "public emergency" regulations
which protect police and military personnel from being held responsible for
their actions even when their conduct results in death or injury of a person.
"What is developing is a culture of extreme fear and intimidation," said
Amnesty International's Pacific researcher Apolosi Bose, who has just
completed the mission in Fiji.
"The rule of law must be restored in Fiji immediately and the independence of
the judiciary respected to ensure people's rights to freedom of expression and
association."
"There is a very strong military and police presence on the streets,
particularly around strategic locations such as government offices, and in the
nation's newsrooms. That is a constant and intimidating reminder that the new
military regime will not tolerate dissent and will follow through on the
warnings it has issued to critics."
Further to the crackdown on journalists and any critics of the military or the
interim government, it is now believed that the regime is monitoring email
traffic and blogs as an additional means of suppressing any criticism.
"As a result, people are being forced to self-censor and important human
rights groups in Fiji are unable to go about their work properly," said
Apolosi Bose. "There has been a major chilling effect on a once-robust NGO and
human rights defender community.
"In the absence of a free press to hold the military to account for their
actions and a judiciary to provide a balance of power, the work of these human
rights organisations is crucial. But they are being crippled by repression.
"With no-one to stand up on behalf of the abused and the vulnerable, there is
a real risk of further grave human rights abuses occurring against civilians."
According to media reports, military chief Frank Bainimarama was reinstated as
Fiji's Prime Minister in spite of a court ruling that his regime was illegal.
The Court of Appeal - Fiji's second highest court – had ruled that the
military government was illegally appointed after a 2006 coup.
President Ratu Josefa Iloilo responded by abolishing the constitution and
sacking the judiciary before reinstating Mr Bainimarama a day later.
According to recent media reports, The Fiji Times, the country's main daily
newspaper, published its Sunday and Monday editions with several blank spaces
where stories about the crisis would have appeared. "The stories on this page
could not be published because of Government restrictions," read the only
words that appeared on Sunday's page two.
Reports also indicate that Fiji's main television station, Fiji One, refused
to broadcast its nightly news bulletin on Sunday. Instead it showed a simple
message written across a black screen: "Viewers please be advised that there
will be no 6pm news tonight."
"Except for what the military want them to hear, the people of Fiji have no
access to information about what is happening in their country," said Apolosi
Bose. "There is a real sense of confusion because people lack the information
they need to make decisions in their daily lives."
See Also
Amnesty International warns of deteriorating human rights situation in Fiji
<http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/amnesty-international-warns-deteriorating-human-rights-situation-fiji-20>
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