Few people with access to the Internet can have failed to be shocked and distressed at the extraordinary video that emerged this week of two recaptured Fijian prison escapees being ill-treated by their captors. The clip that has appeared on local television is a sanitised version of the original, which at the time of writing has been viewed almost 60,000 times on YouTube. It isn’t just the violence unleashed on the escapees and the degrading treatment to which they were subjected. Many people have been equally disturbed that their captors were taunting them, laughing at them and recording their ordeal on their mobile phones.
Yes, these individuals are violent, hardened criminals who had escaped from lawful custody and can hardly have expected to be garlanded when they were eventually tracked down. Some comments left on Facebook and certain blog sites express the sentiment that they were simply getting what they deserve. Doubtless many ordinary Fijians are fed up with the kind of lawlessness that saw much of Suva terrorised during the Naboro Prison mass breakout last September. They want a tough response against law-breakers and especially home invaders. Yet, equally, nothing can justify the abuse these recaptured prisoners suffered – something that the police themselves have acknowledged by expressing their own disquiet and announcing an investigation. It may not have been as bad as some human rights abuses in other parts of the world but that’s not the point. This is Fiji and we generally don’t see ourselves in this way. That’s why there has been such shock and revulsion across the community – people saying that it made them cry and they couldn’t sleep – which is an encouraging sign of the moral state of the nation in itself.
Yet the fact is that police brutality occurs the world over. Bad things happen in good countries. This week, the Sydney police have been under fire for using excessive force as they made drug-related arrests during the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. In South Africa in recent days, there’s been an outcry after a man was killed when police allegedly dragged him behind a car. The shock of these incidents is understandably heightened when they are recorded, especially in this age of instant postings on Facebook or YouTube. Yet even before this, there was global outrage when vision was released in 1991 of Los Angeles police beating the black American Rodney King. That incident is still etched in many memories 22 years later. Will it be the same in Fiji with this video?
Only those with their heads in the sand can ignore the damage done to the reputation of our law enforcement agencies and Fiji’s general reputation abroad. Tourism Fiji is current running a social media campaign built around its new slogan “Fiji – where happiness finds you”. What happens to that now that the prisoner abuse clip has gone viral on the same platforms? How does it affect general perceptions of Fiji? Will it affect tourism numbers? The point is that perception is a fragile thing and international perceptions about any place and its people can shift in an instant. Talk to anyone in PR and they’ll tell you that reputations can take years to build and seconds to destroy. Even one human rights violation can destroy years of hard work. That said, has Australia’s image been unduly damaged by recent images of police brutality there, the deaths of aborigines in custody or the murder of foreign students by racist gangs? Countries are generally judged on their response to these incidents, not on the unfortunate fact that they took place.
Yet it’s also time for a wider debate about the general culture of violence that has always existed in Fiji and how to break it. Because one thing links both the victims and the perpetrators in the video in question. And that is that they’ve grown up in a country in which summary violence is often the norm rather than the exception. And, as we all know, violence invariably begets violence.
It’s a fair bet that everyone in that clip was raised as a child to expect a “hiding” – the traditional form of discipline in most Fijian homes for even relatively minor infractions. We’ve all copped it pretty much irrespective of background. Did we harbor resentment against our parents for getting a belting or a cuffing? Usually not. And at school, corporal punishment was routine until relatively recently – the strap or the cane on the hand or the backside the traditional means of enforcing discipline. It was all designed to instill fear and deter us from repeating the particular offence. Did it work? Only sometimes. But it’s inarguable that it instilled in many of us the notion that violence is an acceptable way of keeping social order. And it also made us – to a lesser or greater extent – inured to violence and more likely to resort to it ourselves. Children were beaten, wives were beaten, fists used whenever disputes arose. Indeed violence has been distressingly routine in some families and unfortunately it still occurs in far too many Fijian homes. The Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, has acknowledged as much by waging a personal campaign against the mistreatment of women by the men in their lives.
In the Vanua – in traditional i’Taukei society – it can be even more prevalent than in our towns and cities. The buturaki – the premeditated beating – has always been the traditional method of enforcing order at village level. Never mind the use of violence in family settings. These were targeted punishments – sanctioned by the village hierarchy – of wayward youths who would quite literally be bashed in the cause of the common good. It was all designed to be the ultimate deterrent, to teach them a lesson they would never forget.
The point is that it’s no stretch of the imagination to see echoes of this – albeit in extreme form – in the video that has surfaced this week. Because there’s little doubt that this concept of summary justice – of terrifying violence, of making an example of someone in the interests of deterrence – will have taken hold at other levels in Fiji, including the agencies that are charged with keeping order at a national level. There’s little doubt that the police motive is to send the strongest possible message to the prison community that hardened criminals can expect the direst of consequences should they be tempted to escape. The spectre of escapees returning to their cells broken in limb as well as spirit must have a big impact on any prisoner.
Let’s face it. Maintaining law and order in Fiji has been a big challenge in the context of the coup culture of the past 25 years. Violence has often been just below the surface, erupting at times with terrible consequences on both sides. In the mutiny of 2000, innocent troops were murdered by traitors and some of the mutineers were subsequently beaten to death. It left an indelible impact on the psyche of the entire establishment and especially the Prime Minister, the ultimate target of the mutineers, who barely escaped with his life. So it’s to be expected that official attitudes to law breakers generally are harsh and unforgiving.
In truth, many law abiding Fijians actually like being ruled with an iron fist if it means being able to sleep soundly in their beds at night. It doubtless explains why some correspondents to the newspapers this week have wanted more emphasis placed on their human rights in this debate than on the rights of those who violated theirs by committing robbery and rape. A few weeks back, Grubsheet was at Baulevu chatting to a young Indo-Fijian farmer about how much better he felt his life has been under the Bainimarama Government. “I feel safe for the first time in my life”, he exclaimed. He went on to recount a tale of abject horror during the 2000 coup. Marauding gangs of i’Taukei extremists terrorised his community, bashing residents at will and helping themselves to his cattle and meager personal effects. “It was so bad, we slept for weeks in the bush because we were too scared to stay in our homes at night. They would look for us but because we had grown up here, we knew the best hiding places”, he said. By this man’s account, it was only when the coup was put down that life returned to normal.
This is not an apologia for excessive use of force on the part of the police, as doubtless some of Grubsheet’s critics will argue. Yet there seems little doubt that certain elements of the criminal class in Fiji have a sense of entitlement that poses a very real threat – even in relatively peaceful times – to the rights of all citizens to not only feel, but be, secure and unmolested. This demands a particular resolve on the part of the authorities and some excesses are doubtless inevitable. They can’t be condoned but they can at least be understood, set against a social background in which violence has been an accepted feature for so long.
There are some encouraging signs of change, not least in the official attitudes to punishment in our schools. Corporal punishment has now been banned, the cane and the strap put away. As they are subjected to less and less violence, will current and future generations, in turn, be less prone to tacitly accept violence themselves? We can only hope so. As a nation, we need to do a lot more to prevent violence – to instill the notion in our children that it is unacceptable – just as we need to tackle the associated scourges of rape and child abuse, which have reached frightening levels in Fiji. Because it’s an uncomfortable fact that when we were watching that video of those prisoners being degraded and were appalled, we were also watching something of ourselves.
This article has subsequently appeared on Pacific Scoop NZ.
Graham
As much as I agree with you, if you choose to join the police, you are joining to uphold the law – once these two thugs were captured, hand-cuffed and put in the van, it should have been over. There is also a culture of theft and robbery – does that mean, we police should also join with the robbers, if and when, we see a robber busy at work, NO. I am an Ino-Fijian policeman – grew up in a peaceful home and yet was victim of Speight’s violence – but that does not mean that whenever I see a violent man or a woman or even a drunken tourist, I should beat the shit out of him or hear. Anyway, your piece will be reproduced in the Fiji Sun – which did not even run the story – its nothing sort of apologia. We are supposed to uphold the law, not to take it in our own hands.
This is a very emotive issue, and rightfully so. I, like most others who have seen this video, was horrified, but I was not surprised.
Thank you for providing the necessary context, Graham. I expect many readers will accuse you of prevarication, where decisive condemnation is expected. However, I believe that it is important, especially for the international community, to understand that this video – as stark and compelling as it is – is part of a much larger culture.
It is hard to keep a clear head after watching this video, but I hope this piece starts a larger debate about violence – of all sorts – in Fiji.
I have been waiting to see what you would post in relation to the shocking video hoping that you would address this issue as it should be addressed – making no apology for the cruelty and thuggery shown in the video, and calling for those involved to be dealt with properly. You disappointed by widening the discussion and in doing so, and somehow diminished the sheer criminality of what was depicted.
The truth is we want criminals dealt with sternly. We want them to understand that the “law of the jungle” is not acceptable, but we dont want them dehumanised in the process – because even the most hardened criminal is capable of change.
Those in authority in the video dehumanised their captives in the most horrific way.
I really hope that the authorities respond appropriately in this case. For as you put it, the video is now gone viral, our reputation has been dealt a blow, the view that we are ruled by thugs has been reinforced. How the Government responds now will speak volumes. We are all waiting…..
Tevita, I don’t make any apology for this appalling behaviour, as you’ve suggested, and can only suggest that you re-read precisely what I’ve said. Every issue bar none has context and if my crime is to put this in context, then I plead guilty.
Merely condemning this incident in the strongest terms without examining the possible roots causes is something that I will leave to my more excitable and indignant critics. But surely all that does is set the stage for a repeat performance, quite apart from merely generating hot air.
I notice that the Methodist Church is calling for an investigation into the wider causes as well, which I welcome. We have to address the whole issue of violence in Fijian society and its root causes, not just fulminate about its outward manifestations. I don’t like any of this one bit but that is not enough.
If you make no apology for it, why did you then go on (and on, and on) about police brutality in other countries, the nabolo prison break, the butulaki in the vanua, the views of people who say they deserved what they got, indo-fijian farmers saying they feel safe and the obligatory hug to Bainimarama’s illegal regime and how everyone feels safe under the iron fist, and how the criminal class feel a sense of entitlement. I could go on, but I don’t have 24 hrs to write here.
If you make no apology for it, you should’ve ended your speel after paragraph 4. Wider debate? the only debate that is needed is how many years in jail these police/prison service thugs should get.
Certainly an issue that’s worth reflecting on. Here’s one one local’s perspective on it.
Yes – I agree GD that there are encouraging signs of change in Fiji.
And I agree that as a nation we need to prevent violence.
But there are exceptional times that reasonable force (not excessive force) has to be used by the Police.
As with the video – well – I’ll reserve my comments till things are much clearer as there are a lot of factors surrounding the case which I do not wish to speculate on.
Hope Police will be complete their investigations soon.And may God guide them.
Fiji Soldiers are known around the world for peacekeeping. With this experience comes, skills of diplomacy, patience, and most importantly professionalism add to that our traditional manners of respect and politeness etc etc. With all this traits I’m sure the forces training establishments have already got the necessary tools to up skill our law officers, police and prison officers. Perhaps this incident is the start to a better trained police force in Fiji. One can only hope the ball has started rolling to the modernisation of our forces which has been long overdue. A great start would be reviewing the police academy training manuals and perhaps adding a few sections of people management would be a good starting point.
We all have a good idea of the roots of violence culture in Fiji, education is a tool we could use to tackle it in the long run. Our law enforcement agency would be a good place to start. Their examples after being up skilled or trained differently in regards to those in the academy could be an example that sets the change in the national mentality of accepted action in regards to tackling situation that would otherwise have been previously dealt with unaccepted violence and brutality.
Yeah, I guess you’re right Moto Bitu. So far the military has not been fingered in this incident. It seems that it was police and corrections officers who were involved.
I have deep reservations about the current Commissioner of Police. When the going gets tough he ducks out of sight. But when it is all good he takes the center stage. When is he going to front up and explain the actions of these men to the Fiji public?
When he was Commissioner of Prisons he changed the dress code of prison officers…all of a sudden they are wearing maroon berets that only elite paratroopers are entitled to wear. Then they got this mis-guided “Gung Ho” attitude that they are elite and that they can treat everyone like shit!
Its time these corrections officers were de-militarized. They should revert to their proper Corrections role instead of parading around as if they are a third militarized force that is available to smash Fiji citizens and escapoed prisoners.
Soldiers can also retaliate with deadly force if cornered!! They are not trained to killed. Things would be simpler if the Police are trained to kill and the prisoners understood this! Very few would stand up against a military officer but a lot would punch a police officer anyday! So what would you want the police to do??
If only someone had shot a video of these two thugs terrorising people in tjeir own homes. One of them even tried to sodomise a woman so they got what they deserved. When you play with fire you will get burnt period.
Brilliant summary of the situation and an honest take that few would dare to post at this time of revulsion of what’s in the video. But it’s true, and only an honest attitude like this can lead to people facing up to the problem. I guess the bottom line is that the police need to take the moral high ground and not descend to the level of the violent – and yes, police in all nations, not just Fiji.
Those cops in the Mardi Gras video in Sydney were clearly out of their depth. They had no idea of the law (which has been the case over and over again), and they let the intensity of the situation get to them. Why didn’t they just take the guy away from the crowds and calm him down instead of letting the crowds and passers-by work them up with cameras and accusations?
I was told by another source this week that many people watching the video, while ashamed of the content, nevertheless feel safe that these guys are now again behind bars – and this is why they like Bainimarama. He is a strong leader that the country has been lacking for so long. Again, not condoning the violence in any way, but a good understanding of the history and societal norms does give a bit of context – thanks Graham.
What does the world expect the law enforcement agencies to do in this scenario??? Give those morons a pice of cake, a glass of wai ni moli and taralala with them?
They deserve every bit of what they got.
Full stop!!!!!!!!
Thank you Graham for giving us context, relativity and hope. Here in New Zealand, police brutality happens on a daily basis and is normally swept under the carpet. If some minor incident happens in Fiji, video footage goes viral in a matter of seconds. I hope that the authorities do not budge and continue to assert their rule with a firm hand.
Graham,
On September 25th 2012 Sharon Smith Johns issued a media release in relation to “alleged” brutality meted out on the escaped prisoners. We now know it is no longer alleged.
I quote from the release.
“The Fijian Government does not condone the excessive force used in the apprehension of recaptured prisoners who escaped from Naboro Prison on Monday night.
Permanent Secretary Sharon Smith Johns says such incidents are unfortunate and the government makes it clear that behavior of this nature is unacceptable and it is investigating the circumstances.”
As you see the Permanent Secretary of Information on a near daily basis perhaps you could ask her to release an update on the investigation that was ordered over 5 months ago.
And please let me know if you think the progress or lack in the first investigation will show how seriously the people can take the news of a second police investigation?
Very good piece, Mr Davis. It puts things in context.
Mr Policeman, if you are really one you are not very observant one.
It was on the front page of the Fiji Sun as well as a photo from the video.
Mr Davis, please keep up your column writing and do not take any notice of those who try to stop you or attack you. We need your columns to help understand things properly.
@Fijian at Heart
Please tell me what the Fiji Sun said about the investigation started over 5 months ago into the brutal treatment of the escaped prisoners? I did not see anything at all on this issue.
And obviously I am not a policeman with a name like mine. Although I have been a boxer I am probably too gentle to go far as a Fiji Policeman.
Totally unacceptable the torture, but if we are to fix this problem, we cannot ignore the context. In Fiji, hardened criminals do not fear jail. Many see jail as a rest house.
They will commit crimes like home invasions, threaten to kill little children, rape young, old and married women alike. They are not deterred by the thought of jail. Can you imagine the havoc and terror these people cause once they forcefully enter homes in th dead of night, when people are in deep sleep. In the Fiji of today, people fear for their wives, daughters, mothers, sisters and grandmothers, even in their own homes. The burglar bars and guard dogs are not enough.
Having said that, I believe violence begets violence. I do not think any human, or animal for that matter, should be subjected to what we have witnessed. It is unconscionable. It will simply make tings worse. People who applaud these acts make me sick.
I support Graham’s call for a proper investigation and study. The tourism, church, happy go lucky image masks some real problems that have not been dealt with. We are not as churchifed (to use a local jargon) or as happy as we pretend to be. Something is rotten in Fiji.
Graham, Good background into the culture of violence in Fiji but this incident so clearly unacceptabe to society.
The sadest thing is that a simple statement updating on the progress of investigations would go one hell of a long way to saving face. The incident and its video evidence must have surely by this time provided some confirmed ‘facts’ that the people could have been informed of without jepordizing investigations
The silence and lack of updating the Fiji public and the watching world may unfortunately do far more harm than has already been caused by the actual content within the video.
Where is the Police Commissioner?
He needs to front up and publicly explain. Thats what he is paid to do.
What about all his fancy ‘KPI’s (key performance indicators) that he publicly demands of his men at early morning parades along the Nasese seawall? All out the window now
Perhaps its because the investigations have yet to be completed.
Thats not the point Lighthouse. If we wait until investigations are complete it could months ..even years….then the whole issue will be swept under the carpet.
Its time for Naivalurua to assert some courage and leadership by stepping up to the microphone and assuring the people of Fiji that the issue will be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators ‘taken to task’ (to use a favourite phrase used by Fiji officialdom).
He has a propensity to ‘disappear’ and duck for cover everytime things go pear shaped.
Sure, let the investigation take its course, but he should there out in front providing the necessary assurances to the public that this sort of brutal and thuggish behaviour by anyone for that matter, will be investigated and perpetrators fronted up to a Court of Law.
Thats all we are asking of him. Stand Up and show some leadership Naivalurua!
GD ,
your take on the situation is spot on, especially regarding Fijian culture. These were Fijians meting out punishment to fellow Fijians who are supposed to know, what is acceptable and unacceptable according to their culture, and the consequences, also according to culture.
As far as going over the top, this can be easily understood in these circumstances, where de- individuation thrives.
To mitigate this situation in the future I think Prisons, Police and Army should have a special unit of officers who are brought together specifically for handling prison escapees. This group should be given special training in psychology and the use of non lethal weapons such as pepper sprays, tazzers and more. Ten officers from each branch would be adequate, with these officer being squad leaders if there is a need for more boots on the ground.
Given that escapees will be treated with respect in the future, what does society do about these individuals once captured? They get additional time, that’s a given.
Will there be any consequences other than this? Will solitary confinement be allowed or strokes of the birch?
I think without some deterrent for escapees, then breaking out will simply become an “adventure” to the tedium of prison life, in addition to garnering “mana” and prestige of being known in a prison population for being a “breakout kid”. A rough boisterous re-capture will only add to mana.
Does anyone consider what this does to the psyche of wardens.
Society has legitimate concerns and they should be debated, in a less shrill atmosphere, but lets not put it off till the next time, when more lives, from both sides, will be put through trauma, due to circumstances of the human condition.
Deindividuation;
Psychology The loss of a sense of selfness and acquisition of a herd mentality and/or group norms, when one is incorporated into a group and confronted with arousing external stimulation
Ian,
Not so sure about your ideas to mitigate this situation in the future. The situation was (as was seen on the video) that the escapees had been caught which confirms the capturers had accomplised what they were supposed to do.
The concerns are, and will remain, as to what then happened.
Very simply the escapees were barbarically tortured whilst in custody (handcuffed and of no threat to anyone). This was not a case of an indavidual or group venting thier frustation and losing control. It was a slow systematic very ‘controlled’ act of sadistic treatment done with the aim of causing bodily injury. This backed up by the watchers hanging around laughing and filming the 9 minutes we have seen of this video.
It was also obvious that there was more than one video being made, I wonder what we are going to see when that is released.
Escaped prisoners have always been beaten in Fiji, few were even killed.I am not saying it is right, but to blame present government for this incident and say there is no law and order in Fiji is not correct.
Alby,
‘Police must also know how to effectively intervene in a crisis situation with a person who may, for example, be experiencing paranoid delusions or who has just attempted suicide. Traditional training offers police very few practical strategies to safely handle mental health situations until appropriate psychiatric services can be accessed. ”
This is a snippet in regard to police not being resourced in Canada. The Canadians have gone a long way to mitigating their deficiencies.
I recall reading an article about Australian police gunning down (killed) 10-15 people over the same number of years who were suffering mental problems.
The Canadians were referred to as having made good progress in dealing with these situations.
The Canadians recognised a problem and set out to eliminate it.
Australians have identified a problem and are no doubt searching for solutions.
I am throwing in my 2 cents worth in regard to recapture of prison escapees a la Viti.
Alby,
RE: DEINDIVIDUATION
One of many links on the subject.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deindividuation
We have seen and suffered, as a nation, since 87, the effects of this phenomena .
talo
Tomasi
You are right they have always been beaten, remember David Wise? I think that being beaten with a democratic govt in power is right. Many people here dont give a rats ass abou the beating of these two assholes, its their chance to get a cheapshot at the govt.
Thanks for this article GD and all you guys for your interesting and enlightening comments.
As for me – Yes I agree excessive force is not on. But then when Prisoners escape and when they know that such Police brutality will not be permitted against them …………… God help us …………… only hope not too many of them will want to escape and become famous because of their escape …………….. whatever!!!
I have two questions and perhaps GD and you guys can assist me on one of those:
a) Why in the world did these Police Officers record the incident? I just can’t understand it given they knew that it can be used against them as evidence to what had happened. Interesting to know how the recording ended up on the web.
b) I do note that NZ and other organizations have condemned the incident. While I agree that such incidents should be spoken out against I’m just wondering whether these people also did the same to Australia and South Africa and every where else when such incidents do happen or is it just done against Fiji?
Really nice to be enlightened on this.
The pigs got what they deserved! Respect my human rights before I respect yours… mess with mine and get the pain that you deserve! Security is paramount.. I am quite safe at night now, no teenage natives running lose in the city! Crime is present everywhere, the difference is the local thugs think they are above the law! Fiji’s reputation was screwed when Rambo did the 1987 Coup! Nothing new there.. as for this video.. it is just that!! What are you going to invade us to free these thugs! Violence.. rubbish.. this is prisoners being taken to the cages they belong! If foreigners are so worried about these hardened waste of society.. they can have them in OZ and NZ!! Fiji is my land, do crime and feel the pain… if you dont like it.. take them with you! The police force worked very hard to get these angels.. I will back the cops anyday… they put their lifes in harms way for my safety! They have to work under a lot of stress and pressure. Human rights is down the rubbish can if my family is threatened by these thugs…They got what they deserved!
Thank you Mr Davis. I am an expatriate living in Fiji and me and my family has been terrified many times when locals tried to break into our house our car and our yacht. Only since the takeover of a totally incompetent and corrupt government in 2006 by the military, the situation has improved. We can relax now knowing that criminals get what they deserve, not in lengthy court cases but straight away from the police and the military once they are caught. This will greatly improve the climate for foreign investment as most investors rate safety very highly. I suggest that the forces go a step further and do the punishment publicly or perhaps broadcast it on TV as a warning for all those who want to steal from us.
Bula Peter,
You’re making the same mistake that almost everyone else is making… and that is to assume that the men were tortured for their crimes.
The men were tortured because police and prison officers were embarrassed to have been shown up and annoyed at having to work for once.
First they came for the criminals, but I did nothing because I was not a criminal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_they_came…
Spot On These two prisoners showed up the ineptness of the Correction Officers and their security system.
The Corrections Service were humiliated by these men.
Thats why they got beaten up in the way they did….not because of their original crime/s but because they showed up these maroon-berets, wanna be elite paratroopers, that they were caught with their pants down. And the whole of Fiji is now laughing at them.
Kathy
What do you want the PC to do, present a tabua to the two thugs or liumuri his men.
Hey Jeffrey
I just saw your response. You poor soul….you may not have one.
All I am asking is for the ComPol to make a statement reassuring the Fii public that he will take action! PERIOD.
Its for him to exercise some leadership and provide us the assurances we need that the actions of those who tortured the prisoners are unlawful!
Christ, a few years ago I read a Remembrance Day article in the Fiji Times about a battle that our soldiers engaged in Lebanon – the Battle of Charlie Checkpoint” in August 1979 – and the Fijian Battalion Commander at the time issued orders at the time that the human rights of the local Lebanese civilian population should be respected. That is why Fijian soldiers at the time were respected internationally…because they respected the rights of fellow human beings!
Fast forward to May 1987 when a third-rate ambitious Army officer thought he was God’s gift to Fiji and introduced the coup culture based on the exercise of both physical and psychological violence against the Fiji population, and I guess people like you agreed with it, in the same way you are agreeing with this travesty!
Up to this moment the guy (Naivalurua) has ducked for cover! Like when he was involved with Rabuka’s coup in 1987, arresting Bavadra and Co and remaining silent ever since, hoping that the Fiji public will forget his role in 1987!!!!
All I am asking is for him to stand up and show some leadership at this time! A simple statement of what the Police will do. Isn’t that too much to ask?
It seems that ta variation of that old saying is true here” “When the going gets tough. the tough get going”!
O dro tiko evei Ioane. Keimami kilai iko vinaka. Vosa mai me keimami rogoca na domomu e na gauna dredre oqo. Kakua ni dro tiko.
Bula Kathy. I guess there has been whispering around the traps that soldiers were involved. How definite are you with their involvement with the latest incident? If they were involved, how reliable are your sources? Am sick and tired of “coconut wireless”, need some facts. Vinaka.
‘Nothing can justify the abuse these recaptured prisoners suffered … That’s why there has been such shock and revulsion across the community – people saying that it made them cry and they couldn’t sleep – which is an encouraging sign of the moral state of the nation in itself.’ Graham Davis.
‘I will stick by my men, by the police officers or anyone else that might be named in this investigation. We cannot discard them just because they’ve done their duty in looking after the security of this nation and making sure we sleep peacefully at night.’ Frank Bainimarama (as quoted by FijiVillage.com)
Charters
My family have been a victim of home invasion by these thugs. What you see in the video is nothing compared to what they did to me and my family.
No one cried or couldnt sleep when we went through that ordeal. You better shut up because you will never know the pain and suffering caused by these scoundrels.
Singh, read my post. Read it. Now read it again. Now please tell me what I said (me, my words) that gives you any basis for criticising me for what happened to your family.
Singh,
My humble pranam to you and your family and pray that you all will overcome the tragedies and sorrows.
Go out and mingle with the i-Taukeis and there you will find the best therapy for happiness and love…..show love and receive love and leave those conniving neo-colonialist with a cunning and condescending attitude towards the mostly Indo population to yours truly. Please read this again.
Charlie,
Oh boy….where do I begin with you….living (amongst or close by) with the Fijians serving in the British army!!!…ok now let me see…..
Fijians in the British army….the most sought after and prized military personnel…and you Charlie boy, want to hijack the brand name through “association”……read this.
Now read it again…..taking advantage of the generosity and humbleness of the Fijians… eh Charlie…runs in the family!!!!…no?
Read this: Association Charlie, association……don’t get it…now read this. Mamma feeds rapists and thugs, hates Indians and patronizes Fijians.
Don’t get it, than read again.
Charlie. Charters
Vete a la mierda cerdo gordo.
Mr Singh, this Mr Charters fellow was educated in England and lives in England. He is out of touch with Fiji.
Methinks Charlie Chaplin, the comedian, is a mouthpiece for his beloved mother in law.
Good to know that Grubsheet’s genuine attempt to point out the inherent contradictions between who we want to be, and what we are conditioned to be, has ended up with abuse. (‘Verminous, cretinous cowards’ – Graham Davis.)
My own small observation was that there is another contradiction that we have to grapple with: Graham says in his opening sentence that few people can have failed to be shocked and distressed by the video. Yet one of those who was obviously neither shocked nor distressed was the prime minister.
We were told in a police statement not to prejudge anything that we saw until the completion of the (second) investigation, yet the PM appears to have made up his own mind on the rights and wrongs of the incident and is happy to pass his conclusions on to the people of Fiji. His assessment is that anything and everything we saw in the video was ultimately justified by the greater cause of Fiji’s national security.
Is that true? Graham says nothing justifies what appears on the video. The PM says in fact everything you see on that video is justified.
Both of them can’t be right. And abusing me or trying to pretend my education, residency or mother in law disqualifies me from contributing is nothing more than trying to avoid confronting the question.
Poor Charlie. Forever defined by your mother-in-law. I accept what you say about the contradiction. I have my view. He has his. We disagree. I’d venture to say that as a military commander, he thinks he has to back his men every time. I don’t think that should extend to those who bring the government and the country into disrepute. But we soldier on, so to speak.
BTW, you are always welcome here, Charlie. I may be wrong in assuming that you married your wife for qualities other than her mother but I do think it’s rather unfair that the perceived sins of your mother-in-law be visited on you. Having once lived in England myself, it’s patently a long way from Lami or the Cakobau Apartments and I can’t imagine you conspiring all that often, if at all. But perhaps I’m wrong on that too.
Graham, I am fortunate to live surrounded by Fijians. We are less than an hour from four barracks including Catterick that house the majority of Fijians in the British Army. In addition, as well as my own Fijian children, we are guardians to three Fijians who are over here on primary school rugby scholarships provided in consultation with the FRU. Two of them will be playing tomorrow at Rugby School trying to get into the England Schools’ Barbarians team, and tonight myself and one of the boys’ Dad and some Army friends will be having a baby mix, while watching the Super Rugby live from RSA. As usual we will be in Fiji for just under two months on holiday, and to complete the formalities for another two Fijian lads who have accepted primary school rugby scholarships in the UK.
I am not in Fiji but I am of Fiji. Always will be. Just like the other Fijians who live hereabouts. I am not a politician so do not have access to the great levers of state but all of us on this side of the world do what we can, little by little, to make Fiji a better place.
With regard my mother-in-law: pending the resolution of her court case, she has had her mobile phone and computer taken away for examination on a relatively frequent basis. She has suggested these are not reliable channels of communication so we are not in regular contact, even by means of the fabled Jungle Drums of the Phantom’s Bandar tribesmen.
I know she is looking forward to her day in court, hence her return twice from Brisbane for medical treatment, and I am sure you would join her and us in hoping that justice prevails, and it prevails quickly. One of her co-accused has already passed away before being in a position to test the allegations against him. Which is a pretty sorry state of affairs.
What’s this post got to do with the price of fish?
I don’t agree with Graham on a great deal but I do agree that the issues confronting Fiji have to be debated. So Fark, Castro, Fijian at Heart etc debate them.
It’s a complete giveaway when you make personal attacks that have nothing to do with what is being discussed, or when you try to disqualify or prejudice an argument because of some completely extraneous point (you’re not alone in trying this, five hundred years ago Catholic Church policy was that left-handedness was a mark of Satan).
I don’t fear being shown to be wrong because of what I say – just tell me why what I am saying is wrong. Convince me of your argument.
If, instead of debating the issue like Ian Simpson, Alby, MS Lautoka and others, you’re going to accuse me of something – being out of touch because of where I live – I will explain to you how my life continues to be completely dominated and enriched by Fiji and the Fijians around me.
If you’re going to bang on about my mother-in-law, then I am going to acquaint you with the sorry facts of her situation.
So if you don’t what to hear about these things, then debate the issues, join the conversation. That’s what the blog is all about.
I have followed this ‘topic’ very closely since the start through the content of a number of media outlets. There has been some sensible debate and views from both sides and of course the not so sensible.
It is always sad to see the idiots jump in with their totally off topic personal attacks, unsubstantiated accusations and at times vile language assuming that this sort of comment helps their cause. Unfortunately it puts a lot of people off from wanting to even listen to ‘that side’ of the debate.
Interestingly I noticed that the Daily Mail UK online site ran the story with visuals but this dissapeared the next day. Seemed a bit strange when they run articles like “boy gets finger bitten by goldfish” for days on end.
This week I have for the first time been witness to crime and now can fully appreciate the argument regarding the trauma and fear that the victims can suffer that can also be long lasting. Just demonstrates how views can change so easily.
As for my latest thoughts on how we deal with crime as a society in Fiji I’m moving toward greater and more severe detterents and these MUST be clearly known to all. We have to get away from the deterrents being so widely varied depending upon how the judge feels that day.
As a simple example, there should be a law in place that clearly states that any convicted rapist will be sentenced for a minimum of 15 years and this can not be reduced by any judge. I believe the answer is for the criminal to know before he comits the crime what the sentence will be and fear it. Similar rules for all crimes that cause fear and trauma to victims.
It was only a few weeks ago that here in Fiji a rapist was sentenced to 4 years, where’s the deterrent ?
Do you know anything about the Say Nothing Video Everything (SNVE)
Program mentioned on FijiToday?
Now the NZ Parliament will debate this video next week. Fiji will suffer if this entire story is not laid to rest soon. Media around the world have reported the incident in a totally unfair and biased way. We cannot allow this to happen. Please Mr Davis help us to set the records straight.
NZ Parliament debating the incident; so what? They should be the last people trying to tell Fiji what to do in terms of violence. They should try and resolve our issues here first. For example, NZ has one of the worst track record in terms of child abuse. Children have died at the hands of adults whom they were entrusted with. Secondly, why didn’t the NZ Parliament debate on the South African and Australian cases? Plain and simple, double standards and it all boils down to trading partners, nothing to do with human rights “powderpuff” crap they go on about.
In saying that, I do not condone what happened in Fiji period.
@Peter – Set the record straight? Police, Military and Prison officers have been found out – this has been the treatment of prisoners, escapees – whenever they get caught. Not just now with the illegal govt but during the reign of previous democratically elected governments. They just got caught doing what they do best – being absolute thugs.
@Peter again and I am assuming you are the same expat who commented earlier – you spoke like a true expat when you want to locals to be taught a lesson by showing these images on local TV – As if there is no armed robbery, rape or any other crime from where you come from. If you find it hard to live in Fiji and feel insecure – bugger off to the safe surburbia you have left the comforts of to come and live in unsafe Fiji. tell your own government to show images of torture to the locals to deter them from crime. Hope the expat salary you are on has hardship allowance – if it does then shut the hell up. You are getting paid for your miserable existance in Fiji.
Anyway lets focus on the links of these horrific crimes – glorification of taking things by force aka the Fiji Military, increase in poverty, corruption etc etc …spin doctors will deny deny deny that the glorious country is moving forward but the truth is far from it.
Yes my dear I do receive a hardship allowance due to the classification of the country in the EU system. And yes, the locals should watch criminals being punished. Look at China, the most successful economy in the world. They hand out the death penalty 500 times every year and the population can watch the executions on prime time TV. So there is a lot to say for a firm handed government when it comes to rule the peasants.
Peasants!? Really! Why don’t you tell us what you really think Peter!. And which member of the Royal family shat you out? Saying birth would be insulting the birthing process. Here is a thought – how about you look at China and take your sadistic morose self to China. You must be feeling really important living amongst us Fijian “peasants” you nobody from suburbia. I can only hope that you experience some Fijian sonaua justice, You know why – cause you’re worth it !
Isa fellow Fijians ! – What the hell is going on? We have expatriates in our country telling us which type of government we should have. Having an opinion on what we should see and what punishments we deserve. Reeks of neo-colonialism !.
@ Peter,
I agree with the current government’s strong stance against thugs and those who terrorise the population. I don’t agree with the methods used by whoever it was but I strongly take exception with you calling us peasants.
You can be on either side of the debate, that is you choice but watch your language when you address Fijians.
I don’t necessarily agree with Karia Kaluta but he is still my Fiji born blood…get it.
Tell me which country you come from and I will tell you who you are……
Prisoners have always been beaten when they are caught. The only problem here is this one was filmed and shown on line. More ammunition for anti govt people like fat charlie charters.
Momo Saisai,
Id rephrase that comment, maybe Fiji is one of the countries that is still living in 1930’s era? its 2013 and those sort of behaviour isn’t acceptable.
I am an ex military myself and those sort of attitude and mentality dosnt help Fiji to progress, it just makes Fiji take 20 years backwards.
During operation duties, As in desert war 2, iraq tours and Afghan duties bear in mind it is not peacekeeping! you get intensive training into how to treat and deal with POWs’, not torture but treat with humanity when captured or have surrendered.
The use of force,rules of engagement is imperative for soldiers to understand before been deployed to war torn countries, control measures are in place in order to act as a check list in order things are adhered to, also if not been followed and found guilty then due process takes its place and the guilty parties are dealt with according to the law of the land, Geneva convention etc etc.
bringing it back to your comment?
how can those been seen clearly on that video clip be brought to justice? when the top man on the top stating that he will stand by his man?
Now wheres the justice in that?
I do understand why Bainimarama says that as a military man. but yes in war time and operating theatres, commanders have to stand by there soldiers through tick and thin. but when quite obvious what was shown on the clip is utterly and morally wrong and un-christian then surely justice should have taken its course?
@moto saisai – You’re a retard !
The fact of the matter is, that what was shown on the 9 min video was illegal,the force used was way over board to suit the crime been committed. however, it isn’t an excuse and blatantly shows off the unprofessional, lack of awareness,lack or no humility and total disregard or dont even know what is there role. i.e. the Army,police and prison officers caught on the video clip.
It didn’t surprise me to see the brutality shown on the video, it just confirms to me that torture, intimidation and violence is deeply rooted and part of the culture in the security forces in Fiji.
I just saw the clip been shown on TV, and on a few papers in the UK(Daily mail) and around European News.
It saddens and makes me ashamed of the state FIJI has become through the current government and what is more disturbing, to hear Bainimarama making his statement and basically standing by his men?
Now that is beyond explaining and shows the mentality state of a guy who is supposed to be a leader and lead with good values, morals and examples.
I wonder whats Next…… they say patient is a virtue but at the moment? your’e scraping the barrel and running out of excuses.
a message to Bainimarama!,your’e loosing control of your man! get a grip and short it out!!I
I wonder whats next to be messed up? Election? no opposition??
Joe
Soldiers are not involved here its cops dude.
Erhhhhhh no have al ook again Moto saisai a few guys on video are in the military! Blue T Shirt? to point out a few!
No Joe…they were coppers and so called ‘Corrections officers’.
The soldiers merely provide the ‘cordon’ to allow the Police and Corrections officers to move in with their batons and dogs.
You as a military man will know that the military are not issued with batons and dogs…(only tracker & explosive sniffer dogs they have)…..if the military were there they would have used their weapons…short and sharp…a 5.56mm three x round burst would have finished them off….or a ‘double tap’ to each of them with a 9mm Glock! (Chinese one too are very efficeint)
You understand what I mean?
Some interesting comments here. Incidentally, there’s an academic recently departed from USP in dire circumstances who has taken all of my contextual comments – which he casts as defending the actions of the security personnel – and published a piece that leaves out any mention of the condemnation I’ve made, which is a central tenet of the above article. This is intellectual dishonesty of the first order and speaks volumes for why he was utterly unsuitable to teach journalism and was asked by the USP to resign.
This unfortunate individual also falsely claims that the Fiji Sun has not reported any of the story when it had identical front pages with the Fiji Times portraying the tearful mother of the principal victim. He rails against the alleged propaganda of others but uses the principal tool of the propagandist – the big lie.
Fortunately, this person has no discernible readership and has been reduced to pleading for “someone, anyone” to leave comments on his lamentable blog site. His only readership comes from piggybacking off “Peter Firkin”, the publisher of Fiji Today, but these are doubtless the misguided individuals he brainwashed at USP. Pathetic.
Karia kaluta
Chingar a su padre!
Graham,
I was wondering if you have been able to find out any updates on the first investigation ordered into beatings received by escaped prisoners.
That investigation was announced over 5 months ago and the people of Fiji have heard nothing further.
Did the investigation take place or was it just another lie spun by the Ministry of Information and Qorvis?
There is clearly a misunderstanding about Qorvis’s role in Fiji and I suggest you go to the Qorvis website, where our work for the government is clearly outlined. The general demonisation of the company by the regime’s criticis is absurd. It has no control whatsoever over the running of the country’s affairs. So it is patently false to say this was “a lie spun by Qorvis”.I suggest you direct your inquiry to the proper authorities rather than try to smear them, and by association, me as part of advancing your own political cause.
Graham really??? You widened the subject matter to provide some sort of justification on the law enforcers’ part for this horrific incident – of course that’s done in between the lines but that is directly your point…right?
No need to reply to this or try & justify where you stand…just ask yourself the question and for the benefit of your conscience answer yourself honestly.
My conscience is totally clear. I have not been party to torture, nor in its cover-up. I have placed it in the context of a general culture of violence in Fijian society. End of story
Graham,
That was a very defensive and unhelpful answer.
Brutality towards recaptured prisoners has just been shown to be real. As we all know it has been happening under this regime and others for some time. In September last year, the person you report to in the Fiji regime, Sharon Smith Johns, announced they were going to hold an investigation into the allegations of brutality towards recaptured prisoners.
In any country with a free press the media would be asking for progress on that 5 month old investigation as it pertains directly to the torture video and the investigation announced last week.
To date the people of Fiji have heard nothing about this first investigation other than its announcement. Therefore, I think it is fair to assume it never took place or the regime did not feel comfortable sharing the results of the investigation because it showed them in a very poor light.
I am asking you the question on this blog site because for someone who holds an opposing view to the regime there is no way to get an answer from the “Proper Authorities” without suffering some form of retribution.
You have constant access to the PS of the Ministry of Information and I know you can find out the answer to my question.
I have looked at the Qorvis website and one of the services you offer the Fiji Regime is Public Relations. That includes Writing and Editorial Services. That surely means that Qorvis has written and or edited media Releases put out by the Ministry of information.
Now if the investigation did not happen then I think I am quite justified for accusing Qorvis and the Ministry of Information for spinning a story.
If the investigation did happen and the Ministry of Information did not release the results then I accuse them of a cover up. As their media advisers I would suggest that Qorvis could very well have been involved in that decision.
Right On!
As taxpayers we are entitled to answers!
None is forthcoming, so far!
The Police Commissioner is shown up to be a lackey…..he should be pressed to explain his role in the 1987 coup!
E sa kune tiko mai
Just wondering whether this Graham Davis does pay tax to Fiji for his earnings writing for Qorvis?
Where do you pay your tax, Kathy? The impertinence is breathtaking.
Forgive my impertinence Graham. There is nothing wrong in asking, is there?
My gripe is not with you as the messenger, but the silence that seems to have overcome the Police Commissioner. This is the only issue that riles me..and many others…we look for leadership and an explanation and it it is not forthcoming. Our concern here is met with a deafening silence. Why?
BTW, I do pay tax to Fiji Govt.
For obvious reasons I cant quote my TIN number. But I am happy to give it to you privately.
Lighten up Bro!
On second thoughts, I maybe barking up the wrong tree Bro.
O sobo, some issues we feel very strong against, but I have to thank you for providing us the quorum that we can do so.
Peace Bro!
“The Police Commissioner is shown up to be a lackey…..he should be pressed to explain his role in the 1987 coup!”…
how does Naivalurua’s explanation of his role in 1987 relate to the topic in this strand?
Sorry but am tad confused.
Refer to previous,Bogus,and then eff off. Unlike your favourite websites, I don’t censor. But I don’t have to put up with your twisted propaganda either. Go complain somewhere else.
The column by Mr Davis in the Fiji Sun was the most complete and fair I have seen on this subject. Anybody who has grown up in Fiji knows this if they are honest with themselves and not just automatically against anything Mr Davis writes.
I also enjoyed the column on the next page by Mr Slater, the editor of the NZ Truth. He showed the hypocrisy of the politicians in New Zealand and my friend NZFijian at Heart gave some good examples of that as well.
Mr Slater and Mr Davis are journalists who understand Fiji much better than the very anti-Fiji Michael Field. Mr Field’s reports should be on Coup 4.5.
I am very concerned that the situation happening in Fiji been created by the present government will breed certain individuals and minority group that will act outside the law in order to vent out there frustration, anger in the name of freedom.
I am an individual that do not entertain violence and believe that diplomacy should be given a pass to try and resolve issues. I have seen first hand what caos can bring to a country and my only hope now is Hope itself, preventing history repeats itself in the Fiji Islands.
however lets look at history where government stood by knowingly they could have done much more and done nothing!
After the liberation of Baghdad in mid 2003, the people of Iraq were thankful for the Allied forces for downing a tyrant, however the Allied forces created a monster from within when they disbanded the Iraqi Army. the Yanks did nothing and just watch while Iraq blundered into Chaos, when clearly they could have stopped the looting and maintain peace in Iraq. This eventually created the Armad’i Army and allowed the extremist elements in applying there trade and practice there beliefs of violence against the Allied forces venting out there frustation in political decisions been made which was suicidal.
The scenario happening in Fiji is not even compared to what happened in war torn Iraq, but the mechanism is the same?
The present Government is creating a monster from within with continuing ruling of its people with an Iron fist, not allowing its people to openly express there views in the form of been vocal, and organisation or political parties or unions, to say what they think without the fear of getting punished.
A glass of water that overflows will spill out of the cup and its a matter of time if this government isn’t careful will allow that to happened in FIJI.
Mind you its been more then 6 years this has been happening and I personally believe that a solution is the return to democracy for FIJI with the help of the security forces in Fiji playing its role in allowing proper democracy in next year elections. Be fair and uphold the Law, I.e. what they swore Oath for. To serve and protect FIJI and its people.
The problem with your analysis is that you proceed from the idea that the military is the sole problem with the current security problem in Fiji.
You conveniently choose to ignore the role the Methodist Church, defeated political parties and the Great Council of Chiefs etc have played in destabilizing the situation in Fiji.
Wake up!
Well obviously the military top echelon with there personal or maybe selfish reason have caused this problem, yes the Methodist or the churches have played its part to the state that Fiji is in now however 1987,2000,2006 and present is obviously the doing of the Fiji security forces
Kormal,
My opinion on the top was to do with history repeating itself and not a blame game.
even though its quite obvious who created all this malarky however it is supposed to be a joint effort from every people that have an intrest, blood ties to Fiji to get it back to proper democracy.
I know we aint going to make everyone happy but every effort in geting things Fiji back into a proper run government and not military controlled.
Jo technically speaking the 2006 coup was the real first real military coup as it was led by the Commander RFMF. The first coup in 1987 was led by the then Lt Col Rabuka (with very strong methodist church backing) and 2000 was led by a civilian (again very strong methodist church backing and some element of military support CRW & 20-30 Engineers led by Maj Savua. 87 and 2000 coup were not conducted by the military in its entirity rather elements within the organisation for whatever gain they were after. Either way all three coups were illegal. But to categorically state that all 3 coups were military coups is factually wrong.
Well, well, if culture of violence is ingrained in the savage(my word) Fijians, as Graham Davis seems to be suggesting here – where did Frank Bainimarama get the culture of abusing (Father Kevin Barr) and beating up others (he whacked Felix Anthony around the ear causing rupture of the ear drum) – from his violent parents – is Frank victim of “buturaki” at home – come on, Graham, its insulting to us as a race – whether native Fijians or non-Fijians
*************************************************************************************************************
>>_ A personal response and opinion By Taitusi Savou.
>>_Taitusi Savou is a Freelance Writer/ Researcher and Advocate for Transparency in Social Issues/ Religion and Politics.
*************************************************************************************************************
A MATTER OF JUSTICE
I happened to glimpse through the scenes of the video recently posted on You Tube that has been a center of much controversy for the last few days, revealing the inhumane manner in which two supposedly escaped criminals were treated. The information surrounding the case seems unclear the but the fact that a fellow Fijian was treated in a most degrading manner as depicted in the video is so sickening and just unimaginable for a Pacific Nation like ours ”passed” as near Paradise. My heart pounded after the first minute of viewing, paused a while and then continued on, a fellow colleague of mine could not retain her tears as she trembled throughout the viewing session. I knew something was wrong by human instinct and humanity at heart…How could it have happened?. Torture in any form is unacceptable and any case as such demands Justice. Widespread police brutality exists in many countries, even those that prosecute it. It is one of several forms of police misconduct, which include: false arrest; intimidation; racial profiling; political repression; surveillance abuse; sexual abuse; and police corruption.It may involve physical force but never reaching death under police custody. I must remind the public that Police officers are allowed to use force only to apprehend suspects and protect themselves. However, they are supposed to use the least amount of force practicable to control the situation and accomplish the goal. Currently there is no precise definition of excessive force, but it seems to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. A possible solution for the problem of police brutality would be the establishment of initiatives like a ‘Citizens Review Boards’. These boards would allow citizens to inject their opinions and definitions of excessive force into the review of police conduct. The use of excess force on civilians is a criminal offense because it violates state laws, constitutional rights, and police laws as well. Brutality is a form of white collar, occupational crime because the offending officer is operating in the function of his legitimate occupation. Although the occurrence of police brutality is acknowledged by many as persistent problem, reasons for it are best qualified as theories. Some theories argue there are psychological factors inherent in the causes of police brutality. The stereotype of the bad apple or rogue cop has largely been disavowed but studies suggest some personality traits can lead to the use of excessive force. Personality disorders, personal problems, past job related trauma, and young inexperienced macho officers who learn inappropriate patrol styles all fit into this category, but they fail to completely explain police brutality. Statistics about police brutality may not always be completely accurate. Over the years many cases go unreported, while many that are reported are disputed. According to sources police officers often adhere to a “code of silence,” refusing to testify against fellow officers. This can skew the accuracy of statistics, because police testimony might solidify many brutality cases. Whatever the reasons maybe, one should not be deterred from having to cooperate and work together with security Authorities in keeping the peace and successfully strive together to end violence and misconduct by public servants namely the security Agencies. The Bainimarama Government strives to promote a corrupt free administration and has maintained an on-course record for the past few years and will continue to do so for the sake of ordinary Fijians. Therefore we are assured that any and all sorts of corrupt practices including violence and misconduct by authorities will not go unjustified. Personally I would recommend a Special Inquiry on all past cases of violence and brutality on civilians by security forces and an independent and transparent investigation into the brutal beating of the two men as shown on video. No one is above the Law, no one should dare step above the Law!!.
Joe
Remember that torture led to the capture of osama bin laden and other high profile al gaeda leaders. If we had read them their miranda rights and treat them like what you suggest we would still be looking now.
Mate you try to bring justification of this violence in the video by comparing to rest of the world incidents. This is Fiji and we don’t need to be like others. Full stop. Your mate Frank also needs to come out and say the same.
Now to investigate we simply go back to the day the 2 prisoners were put in jail. You then check who brought them in. Talk to those officers and ask who gave them the prisoners. It’s easy simply follow the chain. Oh even easier is to ask the prisoners. But that would mean Frank has to take action against his own goon mates. Now we don’t want too many secrets getting leaked.
Castro,
Torture and interrogation are completely two different things altogether however the methods are dictated by whatever organisation that is carrying out the interrogation under strict guidelines of that particular security organisation and most importantly if you do step out of line then the law takes its cause in carrying out its role and remember no one is above the law and that includes the Police, Army and prison officers.
Interpretation on the severity bordering on torture are best identified by human rights activists, lawyers and the legal system. also when interrogations are been seen by other parties as extreme and non compliance to standard regulations then it boarders on methods of torture.
however Bin landen wasn’t to do with the issue but since you brought it up, just to remind you it wasn’t to do with torture that Bin laden finally met his doom but intelligence been gathered through cooperation within Intel services, walk in confirmation by members of the public, patterns of Life been gathered, etc etc.
I thought with a famous name for the wrong reasons you have adopted for your ID name? you would have known better with the word torture lol.
or maybe just your lack of awareness and understanding of what torture is your’e confused it is normal practice in the Fiji security services?
Yes the Police use minimum force in apprehending criminals and that where it ends.
Once been restrained and the subject isn’t a threat anymore, then minimum force that meets or eliminates the threats ceases.
Legal process takes its place in getting the suspect or suspects in receiving the correct punishment and not punished by torture as you have seen on that 9 min clip.
Are you still with me or that has gone over your head?
Be very careful of what you are saying Joe, we all live in Glass houses, the Poms and the Yanks are worse……and you know it……domestic or non- domestic its in their Intel SOP.
Yacob
Graham,
You are very sensitive about any mention of Qorvis. So I won’t mention your employers any more.
On 25th September 2012 the Fiji Ministry of Information issued a media Release saying and I quote
“The Fijian Government does not condone the excessive force used in the apprehension of recaptured prisoners who escaped from Naboro Prison on Monday night.
Permanent Secretary Sharon Smith Johns says such incidents are unfortunate and the government makes it clear that behavior of this nature is unacceptable and it is investigating the circumstances.”
Since that date there has been no further mention of the investigation ordered by the Government.
As a result the people of Fiji are completely in the dark, which is surprising as the role of the Ministry of Information is to keep us, the people of Fiji, informed of relevant Government activities
There are 3 possible outcomes.
1- The Investigation never took place
2- The Investigation is ongoing
3- The Investigation has concluded and the regime decided not to share the results with the people of Fiji.
This first investigation is directly relevant and will share much with the investigation that was announced last week by the police into the torture video.
Do you not think that the people of Fiji should be informed about the first investigation?
Please Graham let us keep to the facts and keep your personal feelings out of this. Can you help the people of Fiji get the information about the first investigation? As a man who has direct access to the Ministry of Information you can get information. Or you could advise Sharon that it is her duty to the people of Fiji to inform them of the details of the first investigation.
I cannot understand the silence on the issue. I also cannot understand why my asking these questions is “Twisted Propaganda” to quote your previous comment.
Bogus, you really are being tedious. Again, you seem to fundamentally misunderstand the role of Qorvis in Fiji. We are not part of any investigation into what happened in this or any other instance. So if you want answers, I am clearly not in a position to provide them. I suggest that you direct your questions to the relevant authorities.
As to you exhorting me to stick to the facts and eschew opinion, the primary purpose of this blog is opinion – yes my opinion. I invite all but the racist, obscene and a particularly loathsome Canadian academic to comment here at will. My opinions can be embraced or rejected. But it seems rather odd for you to prescribe how my blog will be run. Why not start your own if you don’t like it?
Joe
Los delincuentes de merician lo que tengo. Se juega con fuego se quema.
Retard alert ! Castro we would rather you stop using the free translation service on the Internet. Now translate this – U L U K A U , Q A V O K A L A L A …. Capitalised so that is does not go over your head like the rest of the arguments made.
Castro, you are well aware of the rules here stipulating that any comment posted be in the English language. I’ve had cause to pull you up on this before. Your Spanish American seems competent enough but sorry, no cigar. This is a blog about Fiji and unless I am very much mistaken, the Latinos had nothing to do with the place.
Castro,
Bloody hell mucker Gee, now your’e speaking in tongues!!
come on be a realist and speak sense because now your’e just talking Gibberish
Graham we need more information on police brutality and violence in Australia and New Zealand. Could you please do a feature on this?
AFTER WATCHING THIS VIDEO- HOW DOES CLAIMS THAT INDIANS WILL TAKE TAUKEI LAND ONE DAY BY PASSING LAWS OR JUST TAKING IT SOUND?
This video will put to rest the phantom fear created to get votes
Peter No relevance. Australia is a Democratic Country whereas Fiji isn’t. There is no telling how the LAW is defined in Fiji.
@peter no relevance. I beg to differ. Those without sin, should throw the first stone.
That rational can be extended to the nations that are part of Global Echelon electronic communication interception programs, participants (indirectly or directly) extraordinary rendition, Gitmo gulags , Imperial wars of aggression in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria are in no position to lecture anybody on human rights.
Whats the use of all these blogsites namely grubsheet, c4.5 and manyothers. You guys insult each other and all the big talk. All end nowhere, just like a bamboo gun, plenty of sound.
Quit kakase like old ladies and do something useful, sitting behind a computer using fictious names and spewing out venom is the work of cowards.
After reading most comments in all the anti government blogsites, it seems that many people are hell bent on revenge at any opportunity. Fiji will be only a better place if there is genuine reconcilliation from all parties concerned. We dont want a Liberia or syrian situation in our country. Lets be fijian again, forgive our enemies and lets build our country for our childrens sake.
Graham,
All your comments to me have been a master class in spin.
I must congratulate you on how fast you have transformed yourself from a respected journalist uncovering the truth to a first rate spin doctor intent on hiding the truth
Bainimarama, the man you are paid to protect and promote, condones and encourages the torture of the defenseless.
You are happy to hide the truth in his defense.
I hope the checks are worth it.
Bainimarama has said what every self respecting commander would say: I’ll stand by my man. In case you have not noticed: He is not a gutless politician hiding behind fancy words. He is a loyal soldier and expects loyalty in return. And the hoohaa about torture is simply ridiculous. As Graham has put it, beating the defenceless is part of Fijian culture and tradition. The UN guy who is bleating noisily deserves a good buturaki himself!
Bogus, your use of the Americanism “check” instead of cheque leads me to suspect that you might be the Canadian oaf banished from these columns. No matter. Just another faceless person in the crowd. Simply because you don’t share my views, I’m spinning for Qorvis. Wrong. I’m a true believer, not a spin merchant. And I say what I think using my real name whereas you hide behind a mask of anonymity. Taunt on. It has no effect on me or the course of events in Fiji. You are both impotent and a coward.
Canadians use cheque, you moron. Only Yanks use check.
OK, Marc, calm down. Gosh, some Canadians are sensitive types.
Wow !!! And you were the Head of Journalism at USP (once upon a time). I only hear my 11 year old nephew calling his cousins “moron”.
Dear Brother Graham
We would be very grateful if you could load this excellent piece in your column in the Fiji Sun. For some unexplained reason, the Fiji Sun has not reproduced this wonderful column of yours in the paper for the people of Fiji. Warm regards, keep it coming, brother>
It was on Page 2 of the Fiji Sun last week soon after the story broke. Page 1 had an interview with the tearful mother of the principal victim and Page 3 had an opinion piece on the subject by Cameron Slater, the NZ blogger and editor of NZ Truth. So the notion that the Fiji Sun ignored the story altogether – which has been peddled by the Canadian oaf latterly of USP journalism – is a blatant fabrication, a lie. So much for ethics in journalism.
I showed my two teenage sons the video clip and told them that this is what you gonna get if you choose crime as career because crime doesnt pay. It never was and never will.
Thanks, brother – will check Fiji Sun. But again lawmakers must not take the law into their own hands
Graham
I read Slater’s piece – unfortunately Iowane Benedito was not among the five hardened criminals he talks about re the video and the brutal beatings
Graham,
You are so predictable.
Every time you lose a debate in this column you resort to the following phrase or similar:
“And I say what I think using my real name whereas you hide behind a mask of anonymity. Taunt on. It has no effect on me or the course of events in Fiji. You are both impotent and a coward.”
It is about as convincing as Goebbels in Berlin in 1941 saying this:
“I’m a true believer, not a spin merchant,” of a dictator, who supports the beating and maiming of the defenseless, by his security services. I am braver than people who write to the papers anonymously saying it is wrong. In future please show you are brave and leave your name and address clearly so the Gestapo know where to go to give you a beating”
You know perfectly well why people need to remain anonymous in this country. You have just told us it is in our culture to give beatings to each other and it is perfectly understandable because we have not been educated enough to know it is wrong.
Well I am quite educated, I know beatings are wrong and I certainly know I do not want a beating.
Bogus, I’m afraid you are quite deluded. I haven’t lost any debate. I have made assertions, backed up by evidence, that you have contested and contested poorly. And you have resorted to personal attacks to do so. No, you are the loser. And if you had any guts like the Akuila Yabakis or Shamima Alis or Virisila Buadromos of this world, you’d step out from behind your mask and contest your ideas in public.
Oh, and your Goebbels quote is a complete fabrication and you know it. What did he really say? The bigger the lie, the more believable. Bogus on every count.
New Zealand citizen Kali Fungavaka was assaulted in police custody in Nukualofa last month and died of his injuries. Just imagine if this had happened in Fiji.
Yes, did the NZ parliament pass a resolution condemning the brutal killing of one of their own policemen at the hands of the Tongan Police?
No one killed in Fiji, yet the NZ parliament chose to ignore the killing of one of their own.
The hypocrisy of the NZ parliament is appalling!
Something like that happened in Samoa.
Just recently, a mentally ill NZ citizen got locked up with another prisoner (upon the direction by their hospital) and ended up being killed. Samoa police first said that he committed “suicide by drowning himself in a bucket of water.” Apparently, this was not the first incident of its kind.
I guess if we end up doing the same, we would have gotten a far worse treatment by NZ than what they did to Samoa.
F#$% NZ, period.
Bula Bro Komai,
You back from LA…..??
This Phil Goff guy from the NZ Labour Party….well these Labour guys have nothing better to do….its just internal NZ politics…..the opposition wants to feel important…and lo, there you go……seek a motion in NZ parliament…make some noise on law and order issue, get noticed, then go home and count the sheep.
Well here’s what the NZ parliamentrians should really work on: counting in chorus.
“I have one sheep, I have two sheep,…………I have five sheep, I have sex sheep.” And count again.
Actually this should be their mantra before the parliament begins and leave the national anthem for the rugby guys.
Folks will have noticed the behaviour of ANZ and the pattern that has emerged: a lifetime of sucking.
Nz sucks up to Aus who then sucks up to the US. For their doing, these two nations expects the smaller pacific nations to suck up to them…….eh Petelo.
(comeon Petelo, you guys can do better in Samoa than to tell the world that the prisoner drowned in a bucket of water. My question is bugger the prisoner, bugger the death, bugger the water……where did you get the bucket from?)
Oh yes, and talking of sucking up: oh boy the quality of these esp. Labour party politicians in Aus (I guess the same with other countries)…union bullies and gangsters with a bit of English language spinning and some placard carrying lazy numb nuts in the mix…….
We will have to nip that attitude in Fiji….
@Graham,
You truly are dense sometimes.
Of course that was not a real quote from Goebbels nor would I expect anyone, who is capable of reading Grubsheet to believe it was.
In fact the first 8 words are a quote from one of your earlier comments to me yesterday.
“I’m a true believer, not a spin merchant,”
You should say that out loud and you will realize just how nutty you sound when the object of your belief condones torture videos.
I was using it illustrate the fact that Bainimarama’s spin doctor asking me to give my name was same as Hitler’s asking the same question. It simply lays me open to attack from the regime either physically, legally or financially.
Now you have mentioned 3 very brave people, Akuila Yabaki or Shamima Ali or Virisila Buadromo, who do speak out against the regime. I admire the 2 women greatly. Do you know what they all have in common? You should “The one in whom you believe” mentioned it only on Friday. “NGOs are paid by the international community to jump up and down every time we do something.”
Their income is safe from the reach of the Bainimarama Regime. My salary is somewhat more local and if my identity was known might well be in danger. I have a family to feed and children to educate so after careful consideration I am prepared for you to call me a coward and remain anonymous.
Now there is some dialogue going please let us go back to my first question.
What happened to the investigation into brutality your boss Sharon Smith Johns announced on the 25th September 2012?
It is now 5 months and the people of Fiji are being deafened by the silence surrounding this mystery investigation.
All your jibber jabber is just a spin doctor’s diversion away from answering a question that for some reason you want to avoid.
Please just answer that simple question which for you with you access to the 4th Floor of Government buildings and you access to the Ministry of Information is as easy as walking into Gloria Jeans and ordering a Latte.
Not only Bogus but a first rate bore. I am not avoiding anything. I have already told you. If you want a progress report on the investigation, ask the police. I have nothing to do with it and don’t see why I should do your sleuthing for you.
I don’t work for Sharon Smith Johns. I work for Qorvis. And I am not here to do your bidding, nor put up with your gratuitous insults. I am through with shadow boxing with phantoms and this correspondence is closed.
Bosso,
” i’taukei as official language ” ?
should that not be ” Bauan ” as official language.
Mr Charters,
I think violence against these prisoners is justified, “you reap what you sow”.
What is not ok is Mrs Samisoni and her actions for years which are viewed as nationalistic and outright everything anti-Indofijian..
Please tell me if this lady is an I-Taukei, she does not look like one.
You are right GD
Graham,
I apologise to you for referring to Sharon as your boss when in fact she is your primary client contact. It was a stupid mistake and a major one. I have rapped myself on the knuckles very hard and as a result I am typing one handed.
I am not asking you to do any sleuthing. I am simply asking you to ask Sharon, who you talk to on a daily basis, one simple question.
It is not just for me but for all the people of Fiji and the families of the recaptured prisoners who all required in patient care in CWM.
Stop not answering the question
Stop bringing up semantics to avoid the issue
Get the answer to one simple question.
So when you meet Sharon later today instead of saying “Gee what do you think of my new Bula Shirt?”
You could try this instead
“Sharon you remember that investigation you announced into police brutality last September, can you give me an update? The people of Fiji want to know.”
That’s not too hard for a professional communications man like you.
Ok Bogan…er Bogus..
Let’s see what we have here.
You can’t ask and do your own work…right?…hiding and no guts…a simple question to ask and a big …ceke??
Always been like that….eh…..last in the row and whimper whimper so the guys in front will pass on your message for you…..
And the little obly wobly in your brain tells you that the whole world is eagerly waiting for your message….
And then you run down to the local loo…..and because of the guilt and shame, knuckle down the wall…….no friends and just in the minority.
Things haven’t changed for you huh……Changing costume (read as blog id)but hiding in the same hole ….and you think Fiji is worried about some bugger bugger…
Oh boy…..
Ok Mongrel say it….come on..
“… uses hand too much, my bitches are better”
Eff off, Bogus. You’ve had you say. Harp on again and you’re out for the count in these columns. It’ll be on the grounds cited by that old radio show, My Word. Repetition.
Too true the stories about the New Zealand police officer being beaten and killed by Tongan policemen in the cells of the Nuku’alofa police station and the mentally disturbed New Zealand man being killed in “a bucket of water” in the prison in Apia.
Imagine the outcry in New Zealand if this had happened in Fiji. Mr Goff is a hypocrite and just trying to win some votes for the election he is about to face.
Fiji Sun had a very interesting front page today about more people supporting the Prime Minister and how much his government has done and how they had been ignored by previous governments. This time it was the leaders and people of Rabi. I bet this will never get reported in New Zealand.
No Mark, you suck this.
So deaperate and yet so pitiful…..I accidently clicked on yr site and just skimmed through…..guess what: all your posts have NO COMMENT.
And before that I happened to be reading the Hindustan Times (HT) site of India…and why is that Chand????
That is a foreign owned paper that supports the current Congress government, the most corrupt…possibly in the world.
It contains all government paid news…….remember advertorials.
And why is this relevant to this grub Mark…Mr Chand?
Well this news paper had a front page “news” by the recently appointed Congress VP (whose mother is the President of the party) Rahul Gandhi calling all state MPs and Chief ministers to do a “SELF APPRAISAL” to remain in government.
Oh boy…….self appraisal.
SELF APPRAISAL…eh Mark. Get it.
I have seen grubs in my life but you take the shit cake.
Even Shame seems to elude you. I was in Canada a couple of weeks ago and met normal Canadians…oh boy and you..
Well someday the pig will fly for you….oh boy.
Chand, Chand, calm down. I have banished “Not Marc Edge”, who is Marc Edge, into the outer realms of cyberspace once and for all. What he was trying to post was an article by one Bernard Lagan of the Australian news website, The Global Mail, repeating his lie that the Fiji Sun has “turned its back” on the torture video story. Guess who is quoted in the body of Lagan’s story in glowing terms? Yes, the perennially tortured Marc Edge.
Never mind that the Fiji Sun carried the torture video saga over its first three pages last week and had precisely the same cover as the Fiji Times – the weeping mother of the principal victim. In Edge’s account, this is totally ignoring the story.
This guy is a charlatan – branded a liar by the only journalism professor in the region – a man who portrays himself as a journalistic hero but, in truth, was forced to resign from USP for misconduct in relation to his students and other staff. Now he has tricked a mainstream Australian reporter into repeating his lies.
He posted that story here under “Not Marc Edge” with the comment “suck on this”, unable to contain his preening narcissism. Yet only the most malignant and unhinged would peddle such a falsehood in a web posting masquerading as an academic treatise. The fact is that Edge was made aware – when that article was republished on Fiji Today – that it was wrong. He offered in the comments columns there to correct it. He didn’t. Instead, he willfully spread the lie to others.
Yes, he has no comments whatsoever on his own website and even pleads for “someone, anyone” to leave one there. It hasn’t worked because really, what can one say? Except good riddance to a malignant journalistic force who blames others for his demise when the blame rests entirely with him and his failure to contain his Napoleonic ego.
Like the Black Knight in Monty Python, Marc Edge staggers around spurting blood and issuing idle threats. But he’ll eventually roll off the cliff into the abyss of anonymity so there’s no cause whatsoever for anyone to fret, least of all you.
The preposterous Marc Edge continues to spread false information about the circumstances of his departure from USP, where he was asked to resign after successive allegations of misconduct by students and staff. This is what he has told the Australian website, The Global Mail:
by Marc Edge
To correct The Ghost Who Walks, what he said about my former employment is false. The truth is that I was hounded out of Fiji by regime propagandists, including several bloggers and the Fiji Sun, which is a relentless and shameless mouthpiece for Fiji’s dictatorship and has conducted smear campaigns against numerous regime critics, including myself. Given the brutal and irrational nature of the regime, which has been amply demonstrated by recent events, I came to fear for my safety and left the country as a result.
This guy has no shame but neither does he have any credibility and will eventually be exposed for the fraud he is. As Professor David Robie has described him – a liar.
Graham: The following response was sent to Bernie Lagan and the Global Mail. It has not yet been published. Bias seems to run rampant.
To: Bernie Lagan/Global Mail
Your column on Fiji and the Fiji Sun is a long way from the truth. You rely too much on Marc Edge as an informant on Fiji (The Reel Fiji, 14 March).
FACT: After Edge left Fiji he tried to portray himself as some sort of victimised “freedom fighter”. Not so. Edge’s abrupt departure from the University of the South Pacific followed many complaints about him from both students and fellow academics. If you want verification ask David Robie, New Zealand’s first journalism professor. Professor Robie is amongst the many who criticised Edge.
FACT: We highlighted some of this in the Fiji Sun. Hence Edge’s hostility towards our paper.
FACT: The Fiji Sun had similar front page coverage of the ‘beating video’ to the Fiji Times, despite claims by you and Edge that it did not. The day you refer to we had coverage and comment on pages 1, 2, and 3. It included the mother’s tearful reaction and photo as the front page, just as the Fiji Times had. Anyone who makes claims such as you and Edge do is just plain wrong and out of touch on Fiji.
FACT: The Fiji Times editor was not sent to jail, he was given a suspended sentence. Prime Minister Bainimarama is a navy commodore not an army colonel. There are numerous other errors and distortions.
POINT IS: Edge might be an eloquent Canadian, as you claim. He is not a reliable or objective source about Fiji or the Fiji Sun. You yourself follow the trail of biased journalism against Fiji blazed by the likes of your fellow New Zealand journalist Michael Field.
Peter Lomas
Publisher/CEO
Fiji Sun
Suva, Fiji Islands
Yes, Peter, the hypocrisy is breathtaking. Edge howls like a wounded banshee about supposedly being “hounded” out of Fiji to deflect the credulous and gormless from the real reason for his departure. But as you know full well, he was the architect of his own demise and the USP hierarchy couldn’t wait to be rid of him and move on. He only managed to hang of for as long as he did because of his repeated threats of legal action. But these were as idle as every other utterance from this charlatan’s mouth.
Edge can only continue to lie about the circumstances of his removal from USP for so long. Too many people in Suva know the real story. The likes of David Robie have already sunk him with the rest of the academic establishment in the region. He is unemployable. It’s only natural that he continues to flay around in rage and frustration. But he doesn’t seem to realise that the more he stirs the pot, the more he damages himself.
What must really haunt him is that no-one takes any notice of what he says except the likes of the gullible Bernard Lagan, whose Global Mail piece is riddled with so many errors that it beggars belief that he once had the solid reputation he did. Take a look at Edge’s pathetic blogsite. He has no discernible readership whatsoever and is reduced to pleading for comments like some roadside beggar on the information highway. He has to leech off Peter Firkin at Fiji Today to gain any traction whatsoever.
So he is essentially writing for himself and using what skills he has to self medicate as he tries to make sense of what happened to him among the savages in Suva. A pathetically inadequate individual in his death throes. In the meantime, my information is that his replacement at USP is already proving how grossly unsuitable Edge was by steadying the journalism school and setting a new course. Edge is gone but hopefully not forgotten. The dread needs to linger to prevent this disastrous period in the university’s history from ever being repeated.
Graham how would you like if the police picked you up, handcuffed you and gave you bit of there beating? And then bloggers start to write how you are a rapist and sodomiser and deserved the beating? We know this isn’t true so please next time you start something that isn’t true please think twice. If you write often enough sometimes people start taking it as truth. I suggest you either back up with evidence what you have said above at 14th march 4.16am or apologise immediately.
To all bloggers,
Thank you all for your comments as it has been very enlightening – much appreciated.
I only hope our political parties prior to elections will come up with good strategies in tackling this violence culture in our beloved country and inform us voters.
And once again – thank you Graham.
By the way, GD, have you written an article on children/human trafficking – there are some disturbing stories going around the grog bowl.
There was a story about a Chinese man trying to steal a child in somewhere in Nausori area but got caught just in time and people there ‘buturaki’ him. Hope he was not badly hurt.
Would really love to read something on this by an investigative, deep-thinking, fair, reputable and very good journalist like you.
@Peter Lomas
I have just got back from a trip to be greeted with over a week’s worth of newspapers.
When I am away I like to keep up with the goings on in Fiji and so I try to look at the Fiji Sun website every day. I was deeply appalled that the website never mentioned the video and I was thinking the Fiji Sun was censoring itself.
I then got back and read the papers and I was pleased to see you had extensive coverage of the beatings and even an interview with the parents.
Please can you tell me why you have such a big difference between your online and your newspaper versions?
As we can see from these posts it has caused much confusion and readers in Canada and other countries must be excused for believing your bias and that you published nothing on the video.
Why all the sudden interest in police beating? It has been happening in Fiji for years.Look at the US State Department reports from 2001 to 2005. Look at how many complaints about police beatings are made in the courts. It is not recent and it is not political. It is the police culture, condoned by society.
I sincerely hope NZ Govt jumps up and down about this. Article from Stuff.co.nz, very same outfit that Michael Field works for…
NZer charged with brutal assault in Canada
Last updated 16:23 23/03/2013
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A former Palmerston North man has been charged with the brutal beating of a woman in Vancouver, Canada.
Michael Farley had been wanted in New Zealand since fleeing the country two years ago before a court sentencing.
Farley was serving a sentence of home detention in 2011 on charges of receiving stolen goods and was due to be sentenced on a further charge of perverting the course of justice when he fled the country.
Canadian police arrested the 39-year-old, who went under the alias Robert Clarke, in connection with an attempted abduction earlier this month, Canadian news site Global News reported.
Investigators claimed Farley, who was in Canada illegally, drove into a secluded spot after picking the 42-year-old woman up, before tying her up and beating her.
“This woman was brutally victimised, and if it was not for her courage, we would not be here today,” said Inspector Laurence Rankin from the Major Crime Unit.
Witnesses reported seeing her being dragged behind the van after she had managed to partially free herself and jump from the vehicle, said Global News.
Police said there were no other victims, but were investigating the possibility of another incident.
The abducted woman was taken to hospital with serious head injuries and serious abrasions.
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Rankin said officers picked up a man for violating immigration laws on behalf of the Canadian Border Services Agency just days after the assault, but only concluded he is a suspect in the attack in the following weeks.
Before fleeing New Zealand, Farley had cut his electronic monitoring bracelet off on July 2, 2011, and was on a plane out of the country that same day, Detective Sergeant David Thompson of Palmerston North said earlier this week.
Farley has appeared on the police missing persons list and on the television show Police Ten-7.
On that show, airing in March 2012, Farley was described as having contacts in the Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay areas and was believed to be in Hawke’s Bay.
If Farley is extradited back to New Zealand, he is likely to face several charges, including escaping custody, and passport-related charges.
– © Fairfax NZ News
NZFijianatHeart, I note the distinction that you make. I would make two points: it demonstrates how ‘unstable’ the military is and yet how overwhelming its power within the context of Fiji, whether acting from top down or on the basis of the impulses of splinter groups – (May 1987, 2000 and then November mutiny). As evidence of this the command structure of the army today looks very different from how it did in December 2006.
And as you said, a coup is a coup: the coup that Graham Davis (and, alas, my first newspaper boss Vijendra Kumar) have held up as an example of a ‘good coup’ – Jerry Rawlings’ Ghana coup was enacted when Rawlings was only a flight lieutenant. To me, and the many coup-weary people of Fiji, I don’t think it matters how many pips you have on your shoulders. The effect is just as devastating (and circular) in the long run.
Charlie, whilst I agree with you that the power of the military is overwhelming, I disagree that the instability has its its roots within the military. If you look at the 1987 and 2000 coups the officers and soldiers that conducted the coup were instigated and supported by the vanua or the methodist church whichever way you want to look at it. The officers from 2Lt up to Comd will need someone’s support (100%) to conduct one. As in Fiji’s case, I fully believe the involvement of other institutions is the reason why Fiji’s recent history is littered with coups. Although one may argue that 2006 coup was not supported by the church and vanua but the fact of the matter is the ‘seed’ of coup culture was planted by Rabuka (and his Fihian nationalist supporters/methodist church) back in 1987. If it wasn’t for that coup, there wouldn’t have been a 2000 and 2006 coup period. The only reason why I keep harping on about 2006 coup being the real military coup because as I said earlier it was led by the Comd himself.