Croz Walsh's Blog -- New Zealand and Fiji: How Much Fairer They Could Be

(o) Brutal Assault on Fellow Police Officer
In what looks like an initial revenge assault followed up by sheer police brutality, Police Officer Raj Shavendra Prasad was so badly beaten up by assailants, including senior police officers, during the weekend of 16-17 May, that he spent six days in hospital. Coupfourpointfive understands that he has received a letter terminating his police appointment and, despite a magistrate ordering the assault be investigated, no investigation has yet been made by the police. For a full account and disturbing photos of Prasad's injuries, click here.

The incident has nothing to do with the political situation or with race (both Fijian and Indo-Fijian officers were involved in the assault) but in not insisting the incident be made public and in abolishing the Fiji Human Rights Commission, Government must assume some responsibility. The abolition of the FHRC means there is now no avenue for complaint against government servants unless a complainant ca…

Several Presidential decrees gazetted since the Abrogation of the 1997 Constitution are causing concern to human rights organizations in Fiji.

The decrees include the assumption of Executive Authority by the President in which he appointed himself Head of State until a Parliament is elected in accordance with a Constitution yet to be adopted (by the people of Fiji in such manner as the Government of Fiji may in the future determine); his powers to appoint a Prime Minister by decree, appoint other ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister, make laws “for the peace, order and good government of Fiji by decree in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet; the Emergency Regulations, and the revocation of all appointments to the country’s judiciary.

The most recent decree is on the Fiji Human Rights Commission.Under this decree the commission is to educate the public about human rights, but is not to receive complaints to investigate or question the legality of the ab…

The 2008 Human Rights report released by the US Department of State is not fair or balanced, says FHRC Chairperson, Shaista Shameem. She said it was a picture of what some people have told the Americans. The FHRC was not consulted. Dr Shameem noted that that the USA report did not deal with Israel's war on Gaza -- another gap for political expediency. "Human rights reports done by the USA are not known for their fairness or balance," she said. "Hopefully under Obama's administration this state of affairs will change."

The 2008 Human Rights report released by the US Department of State is not fair or balanced, says FHRC Chairperson, Shaista Shameem. She said it was a picture of what some people have told the Americans.
The FHRC was not consulted. Dr Shameem noted that that the USA report did not deal with Israel's war on Gaza -- another gap for
political expediency. "Human rights reports done by the USA are not known for their fairness or balance," she said. "Hopefully under
Obama's administration this state of affairs will change."