Amnesty calls on Fiji regime to investigate ‘torture’ video

Amnesty International called on Fiji’s military regime to launch an urgent investigation on Tuesday into an online video that appears to show two men being tortured by officials.

The graphic footage posted on YouTube shows one man being savagely beaten with batons and metal bars, and another being set upon by a dog as the animal’s handler encourages it.

Amnesty said it was attempting to verify claims the video was taken last September and shows escaped convicts being mistreated after being recaptured by the military, which has ruled the Pacific nation since a 2006 coup.

The human rights watchdog said that regardless of who the men were, their treatment amounted to torture and Fiji’s military leader Voreqe Bainimarama needed to order an independent inquiry urgently.

“Now is the time for Commodore Bainimarama to come out and absolutely condemn the use of torture in Fiji and to launch an investigation,” Amnesty International New Zealand executive director Grant Bayldon said.

“Amnesty International considers the sort of abuse that appears to be shown in this video to be torture.”

The Fiji police and government could not be reached for comment, but the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation said police had vowed to look into the matter.