SUVA (Pacnews) — Fiji’s military chief, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, says he makes no apology for the treatment of pro-democracy activists beaten by the military.
“My critics had their warning,” he said. “From the outset, everyone knew what we were going to do. I told everyone, the government, the vanua, the chiefs and former ministers when we are going to do it, I don’t expect any opposition.”
The military chief acknowledged that while the beatings of six pro-democracy demonstrators may have sent a bad message to the world about human rights abuses in Fiji, he will not be deterred by local and international protests.
“We are going to do this cleaning up process and if there’s an intention on some peoples part to voice objections in the hope that (deposed Prime Minister Laisenia) Qarase will come back again, that’s not going to happen. We will make sure of that,” he said.
The six pro-democracy activists including businesswoman Laisa Digitaki, Fiji Womens Rights Movement executive director Virisila Buadromo, her partner, Jacqueline Koroi, magazine owner Imraz Iqbal, and Pita Waqavonovono were taken from their homes in the early hours of Christmas Day.
They were subjected to physical and verbal assault at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks before being frog marched back toward Suva in the rain.
Television pictures subsequently showed Laisa Digitaki wearing a neck brace and sporting what appeared to be a facial injury.
Asked why the activists were not simply given a talking to instead of a beating, Bainimarama said, “I don’t know if they were beaten. I’m not going to make any comment because I wasn’t there”.
The military chief denied ordering his men to beat pro-democracy activists.
“I never order my people, they work on their own. This is (the responsibility of) the Land Force Command. I run things from Strategic Headquarters (in Berkley Crescent behind Government House). If the Land Force think we need to put additional checkpoints on, they’ll do it. If we need to call these guys in and say you’re speaking too much, they’ll do it,” he said.