Pacific

Fiji union leader hopes all cases of military brutality will be investigated

11:49 am on 20 April 2012

The national secretary of the Fiji Trade Union Congress says the police should be willing to investigate all claims of beatings and deaths of people in military camps.

Felix Anthony says he was beaten by military personnel in February last year because of his statements criticising the regime.

Mr Anthony says he will take up the invitation by police to lodge a complaint but says they never acted when it was public knowledge what happened to him at the time.

He says since the current regime took over in 2006 there have been a number of complaints of brutality at the hands of military and police personnel.

"The police have failed to act on any of these issues including the deaths of many people within the military camps. I certainly hope that they will be just as eager to act on those cases just as they've invited me to file a report."

Felix Anthony says just prior to being beaten, the interim prime minister Frank Bainimarama verbally abused him for his outspoken comments.