Posted at 12:48 p.m., Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Fiji military blamed for causing teen's death
Associated Press
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Members of Fiji's military, which is facing ongoing criticism over alleged human rights abuses since it seized power in a coup Dec. 5, beat a teenager so badly he later died, a rights groups said today.Sakiusa Rabaka Ligaiviu, 19, died Saturday after allegedly being beaten by armed troops last month.
Acting Police Commissioner Romanu Tikotikoca was quoted by local Web site Village News today as saying he had assigned senior officers to investigate the death.
The teen's mother, Alanieta Rabaka, told New Zealand's National Radio that he was beaten by a group of soldiers for possession of marijuana after he was taken to an army barracks.
Her son had returned home with head injuries and a damaged kidney and was hospitalized, but later collapsed and was taken to the hospital in the Fiji city of Nadi, where he died on Saturday.
The executive director of Fiji's Citizens Constitutional Forum, the Rev. Aquila Yabaki, said he believed the soldiers were responsible for Rabaka's death.
"We have strongly condemned the assault by soldiers on Sakiusa Rabaka which, in our view, led to his death," Yabaki said.
The allegations come amid claims that troops have arrested scores of citizens, taken them to military barracks in Suva and Nadi for questioning, and punished some in a bid to silence critics of the coup.
Fiji's Human Rights Commissioner Shamima Ali said there have been about 200 cases of mistreatment by the military since the bloodless coup that ousted the democratically elected government.
Ali told New Zealand's National Radio today she had written to the army forces head and interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama urging him to investigate whether parts of the army are responsible for the attacks.
Amnesty International this month also expressed concern over events in Fiji.
"The organization expressed particular concern at continuing reports of threats made against critics of the coup, arbitrary detention and torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment," Amnesty said in a statement.
