Amid all the stories in the media of the police war on drugs, this report in today’s Fiji Sun raises some serious questions about police conduct towards the elderly.
The Sun says 81 year old Ram Kumari of Rarawai, Ba, is “alleged” to have collapsed and died on Saturday while being questioned by police at the Ba Police Station.
No, it is not an allegation. Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirms that it happened. So precisely what happened?
The Sun quotes one of victim’s granddaughters as saying that Ram Kumari ended up at the Ba Police Station after she was “allegedly” struck by a stick on Friday night inside her own home by a “22-year old lady”. Two points: She was either struck by a stick or she wasn’t and a 22-year old woman who strikes an 81-year old grandmother is definitely no lady.
We then learn that after the attack on the Friday night, the police took Ram Kumari from her home at midday on Saturday to the Ba Police Station. “There was no female officer present to take her”, the Sun reports.
Why was an 81 year old woman who was complaining of having been attacked by a 22-year old taken by male police officers from her home? It doesn’t take much to imagine her distress over the attack itself, let alone being forced to accompany some burly policemen to the highly intimidating setting of a police station.
At some point “while being questioned by police”, Ram Kumari collapsed. Her relatives indicate that they wanted to take her in their vehicle to hospital but the police refused. “When she collapsed in the station, police did not take her straight away”. Why not? Because they insisted on waiting for a police vehicle. Why? It is just one aspect of this case that demands a thorough investigation and a thorough public explanation.
Ana Naisoro says Ram Kumari “was rushed to Ba Aspen Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival”. Er, sorry Ana. “Rushed” isn’t exactly what happened if the police wouldn’t allow her relatives to take her to hospital and forced the poor woman to wait for a police vehicle.
The long-time police spokesperson says “the victim was brought in for an alleged case of assault, criminal intimidation and breach of DVRO (Domestic Violence Restraining Order). This suggests that the person who attacked Ram Kumari may have been a family member but it still doesn’t explain why an 81-year old woman who had been “allegedly beaten with a stick” the night before was taken from her home by male police officers to the Ba police station and when she collapsed while being questioned, they refused to allow her relatives to take her to hospital.
Ana Naisoro says an investigation is taking place and a post mortem will establish the actual cause of death. Too right. But it’s already clear that something seriously wrong has happened at the hands of the Ba police.
Rest in Peace, Ram Kumari. Her photo suggests a genuine lady who’d reached the venerable age of 81 and should have enjoyed peace in the twilight of her life. Yet in a truly shocking 18 hour period, she was beaten, taken from her home, questioned to the point that she collapsed and then died before she got to hospital after the police insisted they take her there, not her loved ones.
A slice of life in modern day Fiji. Tragic. For Ram Kumari, her family and anyone with the slightest sense of decency.
NOTE: The Fiji Times headline for the same story says “woman passes out at station”. Crikey. She did a lot more than pass out, Fred. She’s dead. Woeful.
Fiji was all but destroyed in 1987. Indians became unwanted strangers in their own home land.
Today – it’s increasingly hostile to anyone who is not itaukei
From paradise to Satan’s den.
So true! Sad and ever since Fiji’s essence as the jewel of the South Pacific has been spiraling downwards toward a bottomless dark pit.
Very sad state of affairs, a person of that age is very fragile and that experience must have been very stressful for her , wonder if the cops would have thought of her health first, as usual they are at the worst .
Shocking
Woeful indeed. Guess we now look forward to a bodyguard of lies to cover the truth.
This is the state of Police department in Fiji – under trained, overwhelmed and poorly motivated not to mentioned poorly educated. My son was involved in a motor vehicle accident last year. A police car stopped, pulled him out of the crashed vehicle, he complained of head pain and head injuries and shoulder aches, however was taken to Central Police Station, breathalysed and locked up.
Only after we turned up and demanded urgent hospital care and scans would they allow this after several phone calls to their senior officers. Their explanation to us was “it’s their protocol not to take anyone to hospital unless visible injuries are seen”. I explained that I will report this matter to their internal investigation department but was laughed off. Yes that’s the pathetic state of police, whose salaries we pay via taxes to assist the public at large.
Very similar story to above, with a tragic end this time.
Why would an elderly woman be taken and kept at the Station for so long Act. Com Juki?
This is brutality and Fiji Police is quite well known for their negligence, racism towards indo-Fijians and up themselves attitude.
I have often read “alledged” in everything that the media reports. The useless lot cannot even do reporting well.
We cannot trust the Police.
We cannot trust the Minister for Women and Social Protection. Don’t give LT anything about this woman as she will air it on her social media for fame.
State of sad affairs for a wild Minister and the poor suffering.
Sad scenario of affairs for the minority in Fiji under a racist and broken government and broken Police system. The public has lost all trust in wannabe womens Minister and the Acting Police Commissioner.
Does anyone know what happened to the investigation where the young person fell off the ferris wheel and died at the Communications Fiji Ltd showcase event last year? Her friend was badly hurt. The father died few months later due to prolonged stress.
Is Agni Useless Deo’s report out? When will charges be laid?
That young person who died at the Showcase Fiji event wasn’t given any medical help. There was no medic present at the biggest event in Fiji. She died a sad death in front of hundreds of people and no one else who faced the trauma was given any help too. A mother who was present at the scene relayed how no help was offered to anyone, even those in distress.
New Fiji. The change Fijians wanted. The elite in media and radio broadcasting are rubbing their hands. Abusing children. Abusing women and now even deaths. Not a single charge nearly a year on. Just shows how unsafe this country is.
Minister on silent mode throughout. Big talk no action
Fiji police force is fast becoming a very dishonest organization. Ana,an investigation by whom? Yes that’s right, a police officer investigating another police officer. It is about time an independent body is established to look into disciplinary actions against police officers so that transparency is maintained. This will be another case shoved under the table,because the victim is a “vulagi” and kaivitis don’t give a f**k when vulagis die.
This is so sad. Additionally there is no rush waiting for a police van to take you anywhere!!
It took Nadi Police 2 hours plus for someone to arrive to take me to the scene of the crime affecting my safety. For what? Nothing. The police wasted my time. I digresss. This is another appalling example of the unprofessionalism of Fiji Police and in this particular instance-a complete lack of empathy. For a 81 YEAR OLD!!!!!! Shame on them all. Watch them cover their own butts scurrying. That will happen AS USUAL.
We are back to Coolie days.
Indo-fijians facing the brunt of racism, hatred, abuse.
We are vulagi in the eyes of this racist Government.
Visitors as slaves in modern Fiji.
I have nothing to say about Fiji’s Police but how they keep failing ordinary and poor indo-fijians. I have lost all faith and trust.
With a handful of other minority in Cabinet this is the most racially discriminating government ever.
We must continue to educate our children well and leave. That’s all that is expected of the vulagi’s.
I was a tourist to Fiji just a year ago.
All my stuff was robbed.
I went to the Police station and they showed no empathy.
I had a broken arm as the Fijians had beaten me. I sat at the police station for over 9 hours just for someone to take my incident report.
They didn’t even have a clean cup to drink from.
I came back to Australia broken.
Promised myself that I will never go back.
Met another tourist here in Australia few months ago who had visited Fiji last year.
She was uplifted under medical evacuation. She was drugged at a resort in Savusavu and nearly died. 5 star resort. She told me of others in almost similar circumstances who were evacuated by family and friends before her.
Fiji has to do better.
The Police force is poorly resourced.
I felt for some of the workers there but they don’t have basic intelligence. It is an unsafe country for a woman tourist.
81 year old in custody for such a prolonged period.
And after sustaining abuse on herself.
Is Fiji Police smoking the meth they are confiscating now!!!
What in actual f$ck is this Juki and Rabuka?
I am so sad for this woman.
As you stated Graham, she looks like a kind woman. Poor soul.
This could have been preventable.
Our women should not die in police custody.
Another case of negligence within a fortnight.
First it was the child’s physical abuse followed by online abuse by the Minister for Children and now an elderly grandmother. These are the reported and known cases while there are many unreported cases too.
I don’t trust anyone and even the NGOs to investigate this properly and that is Fiji’s reality now.
Elderly abuse is normalised in Fiji by many.
Now we know Fiji Police is part of this abuse.
Let’s wait and see when the outcome of the internal police investigation will be known and publicly disclosed. Then let’s wait for the file to escalate to, oh no, that brutally racist ADPP. Based on current tends, it’s not that hard to find a vulagi scapegoat to bear the cross at Ba Police Station. It can be expected to be a PC Lal and not a PC Masi.
Abuse of power.
Failure of care.
Breach of Constitution.
The above describes the government of Fiji right now.
Hope the Police will do an impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of this elderly lady. And also should a post mortem be conducted, the cause of death will shed some light. Maybe she had an underlying medical condition. All this must be throughly investigated. However, she was forced into a very stressful situation by the conduct of the Police, which may have contributed to her death. RIP.
Fiji is quickly becoming a little Russia. Just like Alexei Navalny, no one in authority is willing to talk about the death of citizens when in police custody.
Worse still is the Fiji Times and other media outlets who seem to be playing the role of Joseph Goebbels by ensuring the articles never show the government in a bad light. Don’t be surprised if the “journalists” write an update saying the old woman came in swinging a machete and had to be put down to protect the police officers.
Tourists beware! If you’re arrested in Fiji, don’t expect to come home in one piece.
This is a country where there is no protection for the vulnerable; children, elderly and animals.
The law exists for the personal use of politicians in ways it benefits them. It’s not for the ordinary you and me.
This is because of the uncouth nature of people in the Police Force and across the country.
If instead of Ram Kumari, had a Salote or Mere died in similar circumstances, would the story/reaction be any different?
Had it been someone well established who needed protection, would the situation be any different?
My blood boils at where we are as a country because of that one ideology that ‘Indians’ have taken your land’ that has infested the minds, that has stopped their ability to think, to rationalize but will blindly follow and believe anyone shamelessly.
The hate that grows between races, is our culture once again now. In 16 years prior to this Government, we progressed in this thought process to some extent because sometimes to achieve a culture of togetherness and respect, some strict standards and rules were put in place.
We failed Ram Kumari and so many like her. And whoever struck her with the stick, you deserve a special place in hell.
Fijians are so uncivilised when it comes to diversity and equality. They are still stuck in the past.
I can never feel safe in that country.
The i-taukei have 85% of the land that they hardly use.
Over 40,000 seasonal employment applications are in place and mostly i-taukei are applying for this.
They need to do a check on their laid back attitude and stop blaming others for their poverty. This attitude is called laziness.
Give that same land to any other indigenous peoples and see the returns they will create.
What happened to the case of the old Indian lady who was murdered at her home in Koronivia? Where were all the women’s organizations then. The Minister only acts on posts that go viral and gain her political mileage.
And her assistant is just as useless as a square peg in a circular hole. My mother is a retired school teacher who stays alone at home when we are at work and every day I’m worried about her safety.
Fiji became unsafe the very moment Rabuka normalized calling Fijians of Indian origin Vulagi.
Straight after that robberies, violent crimes, swearing on the streets and and even murder against Vulagis has been increasing.
Everyone can see ths except NFP as they are in parliament to make as much money as fast as they can for themselves and their families.
Sad and unsafe as Fiji has become over the last 14 months, it’s time to leave if you can.
What a sad day Fiji! An 81 year old subjected to such treatment who dies in the police station- a place meant to serve as place of protection and safety of its people! Appalling indeed – shame on you Fiji Police!
Where are the Shamima Ali’s, Imrana Jalal’s, Lynda Tabua, Sashi Kiran’s etc of this world? Oh yes you all have gotten very cozy and do not unilaterally stand up for all your citizens. You pick and choose whom you represent.
This country is far from safe! Leave as fast as anyone’s feet carry ‘em.
To the tourists – don’t bother coming to this hell hole.
To the vulagi’s – despite being the highest tax payers it’s time to take your families and investment where you’re valued; not amongst a bunch of brainwashed fickle minded idiots who fail to rationalise and exercise some level of objectivity.
Shamima Ali, Imrana Jalal, Lynda Tabua, Sashi Kiran etc are in bed with the government and the donors. Eating the money and doing nothing to improve the lives of women.
There is nothing good left to say about these women. Gone are the days of honourable leadership.
These are Fiji’s worst women in leadership ever. And they can add Kepa to this list too.
Didn’t Shamima run some funded (always funded) workshops with the police force? Where is the outrage and statements coming from her or the women’s ministry?.. or must be below their pay grade…disgusting!
Shamima runs the same workshop with the same lot.
No one evaluates her programme but her own clowns.
Never put Shamima and good outcomes in one sentence.