Human Rights Commission to probe army deaths

Suva (Fiji’s Daily Post, Fiji Sunday Times/PINA Nius Online 2000) – The Fiji Human Rights Commission says it will investigate the deaths of five alleged rebel soldiers and notorious prison escapee Alifereti Nimacere, Fiji’s Sunday Post reported today.

The five soldiers died in events surrounding the attempted mutiny at the military headquarters, Queen Elizabeth Barracks, on Thursday. Nimacere is said to have died of gunshot wounds that he sustained during his encounter with soldiers in a settlement near Suva on Friday night.

Fiji Human Rights Commission chairperson Justice Sailosi Kepa said the commission will carry out a full investigation into the deaths, the Sunday Post said.

His comments came amidst continuing allegations some of those who died may have been beaten to death.

“We will investigate before commenting further from a human rights perspective,” Justice Kepa said “The commission will be contacting the authorities for a report on the matter and until then it would be premature to make allegations of human rights violence.”

Justice Kepa stressed that no one was above the law and that justice should take its normal course no matter how serious the crime allegedly committed is. “People in custody have the right to expect due process in the law and to be told that they have the right to a lawyer as soon practicable after an arrest of detention,” he said

In other developments:

* Fiji’s Sunday Post reported three members of the Great Council of Chiefs and a senior army officer have been identified as the perpetrators of the attempted mutiny against Fiji Military Forces Commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

The four were identified by a rebel soldier, who was questioned at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, the Sunday Post said.

The four “wanted to neutralize the commander” so that investigations against them over the May 19 coup would be weakened, the newspaper reported.

While army spokesman Major Howard Politini refused to comment on the matter, reliable government sources said the army has identified the four and Commodore Bainimarama is aware of the events that led to the Thursday shoot-out, the Sunday Post said.

Major Politini said the military will conduct an investigation into the mutiny. Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Crime Emosi Vunisa is also leading a team of detectives investigating the matter.

The Sunday Post said the government official said two of the Great Council of Chiefs members are known supporters of coup frontman George Speight. Speight is now imprisoned on an island off Suva and facing treason charges, and is due to make another routine court appearance in Suva tomorrow.

“The rebel soldiers were poisoned into thinking that they were actually doing it for their infamous unit, the Counter Revolutionary Warfare,” the government official said, according to the Sunday Post.

He said the rebels, some of whom had not participated in the May 19 coup and had not joined their comrades in parliament, were mere puppets of these chiefs and “other bigger fishes”, the newspaper reported.

“They are scared the investigations into May 19 is closing in on them. The only way to get out of the mess that they brought onto themselves is to get rid of the person that can see them prosecuted. That person is the army commander.”

An attempt to kill Commodore Bainimarama was foiled after he escaped from the army camp, Fiji’s Sunday Post said. Three soldiers loyal to him died. Twenty eight people including civilians are admitted at the hospital nursing injuries from the Thursday shootout, the Sunday Post said.

The army camp in suburban Suva was retaken by loyal troops on Thursday evening. Police and soldiers are hunting between 12 and 15 rebels still on the run, the Sunday Post said.

Life in Suva has largely returned to normal with many people going to church today. Movie theaters, shops, bars, and restaurants opened again after the ending of a round-the-clock curfew at 6:00 a.m. Saturday.