Fiji party calls for independent probe into death

Transcript

Fiji's People's Democratic Party is calling for an independent investigation into the death of Vilikesa Soko, who is alleged to have been the victim of police brutality.

Mr Soko's father says his son was beaten by police after he was arrested in a suspected gang-related robbery in Nadi.

He died last week in Lautoka Hospital.

The party's leader, Felix Anthony, has distributed copies of Mr Soko's medical report which states he was the victim of an alleged assault and  multiple traumatic injuries contributed to his death.

FELIX ANTHONY:We are yet to see what the commissioner does. In fact, we are quite disappointed with the commissioner attempting to give excuses, in Vilikesa's case - saying that he was sickly and he was not taking his medication and that he died of natural causes. I believe the commissioner ought to have been a bit more careful and diligent in his work before making excuses. The medical report clearly states that this man has been brutally killed, what we want from the commissioner is an independent investigation and not an internal investigation because we have had many internal investigations in the police and nothing has come forward to the public and nor has any action been taken on people responsible. As I have said, this is the 11th death that we know of and so far none of those responsible have been taken to task, charged or been convicted in any way.

SALLY ROUND: But the commissioner said he is going to look back into cases for six years, according to reports there in Fiji so he is looking at reopening investigations. Is this not a strong enough stand?

FA: Well, I am going to reserve judgment on that. I want to see what the commissioner actually does and not what he says. We have been given these assurances before, this is not the first time we have been given assurances that the cases would be relooked at.  We want to see some definite action taken here and the sooner we see it, the better it would be.

SR: Do you have a copy of the death certificate?

FA: I have.

SR: So how did you come to get hold of that?

FA: Well, it fell off the back of a truck, I think.

SR: Are the family of the victim of this alleged assault taking this further? Are they coming to you - the politicians?

FA: Well, we have certainly been in touch, we expect them to take this matter further as well. This is very serious and we believe that the law must take its own course as well and not depend on the parents of this person to proceed with the case further.

SR: Now you also have a case which you wanted investigated - your own case against the police for assault. What has happened so far because the commissioner has said he would be looking at that particular case hadn't he and that was some weeks ago?

FA: Well, nothing much has happened so far. I've been contacted by the criminal investigation department twice. They wanted to meet up with me at 11am yesterday but nothing happened. Since then I have received another call last night and I am expecting to meet up with someone in regards to the case on Thursday. So we will have to wait and see.