Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into the death of a man in military custody, saying the circumstances raise serious concerns.
Responding to confirmation that Jone Vakarisi died at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks on April 17, Amnesty’s Pacific Researcher Kate Schuetze questioned the initial explanations provided by authorities.
“The information provided by authorities on this death in custody raises more questions than answers,” she said.
“Initial responses from the military suggested that Jone Vakarisi died from a pre-existing medical condition, yet copies of the police autopsy report circulating online suggest that this was a case of serious assault.”
Ms Schuetze said any death in custody must be handled with transparency and accountability.
“Any death in custody must be met with an independent, impartial, effective and prompt investigation, with results being made public,” she said.
“Statements of regret by the Commander of Fiji’s military are meaningless unless followed by comprehensive and transparent explanations and – where there is sufficient admissible evidence – appropriate criminal charges against those responsible.”
She also raised broader concerns about accountability within the military and its role in law enforcement.
“This death also raises questions about the culture of impunity within Fiji’s military forces and the role of the military in policing matters,” she said.
Amnesty further warned against restricting public discussion of the incident.
“Questions and reporting about this case cannot be suppressed for reasons of ‘national security’,” Ms Schuetze said.
Authorities confirmed the man died in custody on April 17 after being taken in a day earlier with three others. While initial statements cited a medical emergency, the military later acknowledged its earlier communication was not factually correct following autopsy findings.
Amnesty stressed that under international standards, deaths in custody carry a presumption of state responsibility and must be thoroughly investigated.
