Calls to dismantle joint taskforce rejected by Fijian government despite brutality allegations

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Fijian human rights activist Shamima Ali.

Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Kelvin Anthony

A human rights activist in Fiji is calling for the joint police-military taskforce on drugs to be disbanded, but the Fijian government says it does not support the call.

It comes as the military revealed more than 60 witnesses have been spoken to in an investigation into the death of Jone Vakarisi, The Fiji Times reported.

Police have classified Vakarisi's death as murder after the Republic of Fiji Military Forces had initially claimed that the notorious figure known to law enforcement had died of pre-existing conditions.

Exactly two months have passed since his death and so far no one has been charged, but the Policing Ministry released a statement over the weekend, saying that the investigation into Vakarisi's alleged murder was nearing completion.

It is also over a week since another man from a suburb about 15 minutes from the capital Suva, Sakiasi Ose Radravu, passed away following what his family says was a raid.

The raid resulted in an alleged severe beating and torture by police and military officers, which the family alleges led to Radravu's death weeks later, though police claim a post-mortem links the death to a pre-existing condition.

This raid took place around the same time as Vakarisi's alleged murder in a military cell. The official Fiji Police post-mortem report released on 6 June stated that Radravu's death was linked to a pre-existing medical condition.

"The independent investigation into the death of Mr Jone Vakarisi is nearing completion, while investigations into the death of Mr Sakiasi Radravu remain ongoing. These investigations must be allowed to proceed thoroughly, independently, and without prejudice," Fiji's Ministry of Policing and Communications said in a statement on Saturday, 13 June.

The ministry said the joint police-military operations are making a real difference in disrupting illicit drug networks.

"Government does not support calls to terminate the Joint Police-Military Operations. However, operational success can never excuse human rights violations. Joint operations must continue lawfully, professionally, and with full accountability."

Jone Vakarisi

Photo: Screengrab / Facebook/The Fiji Times

Sakiasi Ose Radravu

Photo: Supplied

Four police officers have been placed on leave while eight others are being investigated.

Police also confirmed over the weekend the Radravu family's allegation that a military officer had instigated the raid.

Fiji Women's Crisis Centre (FWCC) boss Shamima Ali claims that the security forces may be responsible - this year alone - for two deaths and countless more injuries.

"This [is] a historic pattern that is being repeated, whether it's the police [or] the military," she told RNZ Pacific.

"We need to know who are the people doing the investigations - we actually call for an independent investigation," Ali said.

"Two people have died, and where and what seems to be quite clear, so it's not that hard to find out who [the perpetrators] are."

Last week, Amnesty International also called for the suspension of implicated officers and the dismantling of the joint taskforce.

Amnesty International says allegations of police and military brutality in Fiji consistent with past patterns.

Photo: Facebook / Fiji Police Force

Ali said as a result of increased military involvement, and a diminishing degree of police transparency, it has become harder to advocate and protect the most vulnerable.

"Even with us at the Crisis Centre, we are having so many difficulties in bringing to light cases of rape, wife assault ... [due to] the lack of knowledge, the lack of transparency, and so on.

"If Fiji had a robust, well-trained police force - that is what they are there for - we would not need the military to interfere."

But unlike in the past, Ali noted the role of social media, where both the Vakarisi and Radravu cases emerged in the public consciousness.

"People are talking a lot more, and people are becoming a lot more aware of when a young, particularly Fijian, is being taken into custody."