Sam Speight is a former Fijian Cabinet Minister. Last week, he was abducted by the military in Suva, taken to their barracks, and beaten into unconsciousness - treatment Amnesty International says amounts to torture. He's not the only one. In the past month the Fijian regime has embarked on a new campaign of disappearances and beatings, targeting trade unionists and opposition politicians.
Torture and disappearance are illegal under Fijian law [PDF]. They are also illegal under international law, and most countries (including New Zealand, and, ironically, Fiji) claim universal jurisdiction over such offences if the accused happens to set foot in their country. The torturers are being named on Fijian blogs. The New Zealand government should be doing its part, and not only denouncing these crimes (something Murray McCully has so far failed to do), but also committing to investigating them and preparing a case, so their perpetrators can be prosecuted should they ever set foot outside Fiji.
Meanwhile, Coup 4.5 is also reporting that the Fijian opposition, taking its cue from the Middle East, is planning a democracy march for Friday. So far the Fijian regime has managed to avoid public protests against it. But if people are finally sick of being ruled by military thugs, then maybe there's some hope after all.
