Justice Pacific concerned about recent detentions and arrests

Youth led human rights NGO, Justice Pacific has expressed grave concern at the information they have received about the way the Fiji Police Force has recently handled cases, including recent detentions and arrests.

Following the arrest of retired Fiji Link CEO, Shaenaz Voss, Justice Pacific CEO and former FijiFirst Party candidate, Eliane Chandra says the recent spate of arrests, detentions and brutality sends a very dangerous message not just to Fijians but to the rest of the world that Fiji is not a safe democratic country where the rights of all are protected.

Chandra says deeply concerning news has reached us that the manner of the arrests and detentions were inhumane and undignified.

She says some of these incidents seem to be an attack on women and political persecutions, breaching several rights, including the right to freedom of association, the right to equality and freedom from discrimination, and due process.

Chandra says section 26(3)(a) of the Constitution ensures the right to equality and freedom from discrimination, and the Bill of Rights of the 2013 Constitution promotes and protects the rights and freedom of all individuals in Fiji.

She says some of these are also in breach of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

Chandra says they have noticed that women's rights groups have remained silent throughout these incidents.

Justice Pacific is writing to various human rights organizations, including the United Nations and the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, and members of the international community on what they plan to do about these and other breaches of fundamental human and women's rights.

We have sought a response from Police. They are yet to comment.