Jale Daucakacaka 
A human rights group has expressed concern at the way the Fiji Police Force has handled several recent cases, including detentions and arrests.
Justice Pacific Chief Executive, Eliane Chandra says the recent spate of arrests, detentions and brutality sends a dangerous message not just to Fijians but also to the rest of the world that Fiji is not a safe and democratic country where the rights of all is protected.
She says deeply concerning news is that the manner of the arrests and detentions were inhumane and undignified.
Chandra says some of these incidents are seen 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”.
She says Section 26(3)(a) of the Constitution ensures the rights to equality and freedom from discrimination, and the Bill of Rights of the 2013 Constitution promotes and protects the rights and freedoms of all individuals in Fiji.
According the Chandra, some of these arrests and detentions are also in breach of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), to which Fiji is a party.
The Justice Pacific CEO says it has noticed that women’s rights groups have remained silent throughout these incidents and is concerned with the atmosphere of growing fear created by those who wield ultimate power in our country.
FBC News has sent questions to the Fiji Police Force for a response.
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