THE Fiji Corrections Service is closely monitoring warning signs that could trigger unrest inside the country’s prisons, although Acting Commissioner Auta Moceisuva says the service is well prepared to prevent a repeat of the nation’s last prison riot.
Speaking to The Fiji Times online portal The Lens@177, Mr Moceisuva said the last major prison riot occurred in 1979 and remained a key lesson for corrections authorities.
“I think, they say history repeats itself,” he said.
“The last riot that happened in Fiji was in 1979. And it started off in Korovou, but then it radiated to other prisoners throughout the country.”
He said the service closely monitored a range of indicators that could signal rising tensions within correctional facilities.
“Some of the indicators that it’s going to tell us is the breakdown of the prison system. That means regular complaints by prisoners, regular incidents of assaults, if there is an incident of death in prisons, seeing that staff have been regularly absent from work, high turnover rate.”
Mr Moceisuva said daily reports enabled prison management to respond quickly before tensions escalated.
“Now, when these indicators come, we are weary of those indicators. And we are going to put in place measures that will counter the emergence of a situation where a riot will take place.”
While acknowledging minor disturbances in 2000 and heightened tensions in 2006, he said there had been nothing comparable to the 1979 riot.
Mr Moceisuva also dismissed concerns that current inmates posed a significant riot threat.
“They also understand their responsibility as prisoners.
“I think we are well prepared this time for any such happenings to try and destabilise the facilities. We maintain command and control of the facilities.”
