Update: 2.44pm REPORTED cases of human rights abuses in Fiji are being highlighted in a United States Human Rights report as having ''increased after the military takeover of the Laisenia Qarase government on 5 December last year''.
The document's country report on Fiji says, ''the human rights situation in Fiji deteriorated greatly following the coup. The takeover denied citizens the right to change their government peacefully''.
It said the state of emergency declared on 5 December by military commander and now interim Prime Minister, Commander Voreqe Bainimarama, ''significantly restricted constitutional provisions for freedom of expression and assembly, and the right to privacy, without recourse for the courts.''
The report, which was released in Washington today, said the military arbitrarily detained and abused coup opponents, conducted searches without warrants and intimidated the media.
It referred to claims of torture and other cruel and inhumane violations against six pro-democracy activists who were taken to the Fiji Military Forces barracks in Suva on 24 December.
''Soldiers took the six pro-democracy supporters from their homes, including young persons who had erected a pro-democracy shrine outside a house in Lami, just near the capital, Suva, and brought them to the RFMF's Queen Elizabeth barracks, where they were reportedly beaten, stepped on, and threatened with weapons.
''They were then forced to run several miles through Suva followed by soldiers in vehicles.
''Some women detained for speaking out against the coup were sexually molested.''
According to the report, the number of complaints to the Fiji Human Rights Commission (FHRC), a constitutionally mandated statutory body, for violation of the right to freedom from cruel and degrading treatment and torture, declined over the previous four years.
''Formal complaints to the FHRC following the coup did not increase significantly by year's end, despite alleged military abuses; according to human rights observers this reflected a climate of intimidation and fears of reprisal after the coup.''
Even the media was intimidated by the military, as opposed to provisions of free speech in the country's Constitution.
''Prior to the coup, the independent media were active and expressed a wide variety of views without restriction in English, Fijian, and Hindi.
''Following the announcement of the military takeover, soldiers were sent to various media outlets in an attempt to censor reporting of the event. A major daily newspaper temporarily suspended publication in protest. The military censors were withdrawn the next day, and the RFMF commander stated that the media would be free to publish without restriction but also stated that ''inciting comments'' would not be tolerated.
