NGO Coalition on Human Rights STATEMENT
20 Apr, 2026
The NGO Coalition on Human Rights (NGOCHR) calls for an independent and transparent investigation into the death of Mr. Jone Vakarisi while in the custody of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), and by ongoing reports that other individuals were detained without access to their families.
The Coalition calls on the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission to exercise its mandate and investigate both the death of Mr. Vakarisi and the circumstances surrounding the detention of the other individuals. Mr. Vakarisi was alive when he was taken into custody by the RFMF. His death while in custody warrants the highest level of scrutiny, accountability, and urgency. At the same time, families of other detained men are being forced to publicly beg for access to their husbands, pleading to see them, to confirm that they are alive and safe. This is unacceptable, inhumane, and a direct violation of basic human rights.
NGOCHR reminds the State that the right to life is fundamental, and that the prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment is absolute. These protections are enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji, including Section 8 (right to life), Section 11 (freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman, degrading or disproportionately severe treatment), and Section 13 (rights of arrested and detained persons). These rights are also reflected in international human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Fiji has also ratified and is a Core State to the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT). Under UNCAT, there can be no circumstances whatsoever to justify any form of torture.
We strongly call for the Police to take the lead in these joint operations and for the RFMF to only assist when necessary. All civilians must be questioned in Police custody, not in military custody at any RFMF camp or facility.
NGOCHR further emphasizes the importance of strict adherence to established custodial safeguards, including the First Hour Procedure. This includes informing detainees of the reasons for their arrest, their right to remain silent, and allowing access to their right to legal counsel, and facilitating timely communication with family members. These safeguards are essential to preventing abuse and ensuring
due process.
“These incidents point to a deeply troubling pattern that risks normalising the use of military power outside clear legal boundaries, particularly in matters involving civilians. Fiji has a Constitution that is very clear about the limits of state power and the protections afforded to every person. Those limits must be respected at all times. UNCAT, which Fiji has ratified, does not allow for any justification of torture or abuse, in any circumstances, including public emergency or political instability. National security cannot be used as a cover for abuse or the erosion of fundamental freedoms. If anything, moments like this demand greater transparency, not less,” said NGOCHR Chair Shamima Ali.
The Coalition stresses that Fiji has a history that reminds us of what happens when the RFMF operates without due process and oversight. We cannot and must not return to that path. We are in an extraordinary moment as a country – facing a national fuel crisis, deepening cost-of-living pressures, and now serious concerns raised about the national security landscape. In times like these, the public needs leadership that is not only decisive but also transparent and reassuring. We need leadership grounded firmly in the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights.
For more information: contact fwcc.shamima@gmail.com
Ends
The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre currently serves as the secretariat of the NGO Coalition on Human Rights (NGOCHR), with Coordinator Shamima Ali as Chair. Members of the NGOCHR include the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC), Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, Citizens Constitutional Forum (CCF), femLINKPacific, Social Empowerment and Education Program (SEEP), Diverse Voices and Action for Equality Fiji (DIVA), and Pacific Network on Globalization (PANG), which is an observer