More Human Rights Abuses

Villagers yesterday told how armed soldiers came at night and took them to a spot where they were forced to crawl on thorny bushes for hours.
And the men of Naqia Village in Wainibuka, Tailevu, said the soldiers tried to take the wives of men they could not find in the village. “The women were ordered on to a truck and only released when their children came crying after them,” said one of the 11 villagers that was taken by the soldiers, Lekima Koro.
He said the soldiers arrived in two twin-cab four-wheel-drive vehicles and a truck on Tuesday last week and rounded up the men, saying they had information that they smoked and cultivated marijuana.
The villagers told the Fiji Sun yesterday that the visit by the soldiers and their treatment over two days shocked and traumatised their families.
Mr Koro said about 11 men from the village were taken that night. He said he was not at home that time and when he came home he received news that his wife had been taken by the soldiers because he was not home.
"So I went to the soldiers and presented myself and my wife was released," he said.
He said when the truck reached the Nayavu Bridge they were told to crawl on their elbows down to the river bank and around thorny bushes.
“As we crawled on our elbows on the thorny bushes, we suffered cuts and scratches on our elbows and stomach. The soldiers told us to take off our clothes and repeat that,” he said.
Mr Koro said the soldiers then forced them to swim in the cold river and go under whenever they were ordered.
“On of us did not want to go under the water because of the cold and one of the soldiers threw a stone at him,” he said.
“Once we were put inside the truck, we were warned not to say any word or try to escape or we would face the butt of the gun,” he said.
He said soldiers also used wooden rods to beat them and kicked them while they were crawling around.
Tevita Veikau, one of the 11 men, said when he reached Korovou Police Station, he was numb from the cold in his body and his clothes were dirty.
He said they were not given any clothes to change into after being locked in the cell in the early hours of that morning.
“I just could not bear the cold and bruises and asked one of the policeman to take me to the hospital,” said Mr Veikau. He said the medical officer that checked him expressed concern but there was nothing he could do.
“My wet clothes were not changed from Tuesday night until the soldiers took us back on Thursday afternoon to our village,” he said.
Military spokesman Major Neumi Leweni said that the soldiers were only supporting the police round up suspects. “This is part of the joint operation between the soldiers and the police,” said Major Leweni.
He said in cases like this the police take control.
Divisional Police Commissioner Eastern Emosi Baleinuku confirmed the police had received a report regarding the incident from the villagers and that they were investigating.

And we say, shame on the Tailevu Provincial Council for being the first to declare their support for this illegal Government.

This must be Jo Serulagilagi's revenge for his election loss in 2001. And they never consulted the people before their declaration of support.

Well we say the Tailevu people will not forget come the next general election. Moce Jo!