Amnesty International has brushed off comments made by Fiji's Attorney-General about the group's latest report into human rights in Fiji, saying it expected some pushback.
Photo: Fiji Parliament
Fiji Village reports that Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum told Parliament last week that Amnesty's 2016 report is legally biased, factually flawed and lacking intellectual integrity.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum was responding to an opposition MP's question about when the government would implement Amnesty's recommendations.
Amnesty's Pacific Researcher, Kate Schuetze, said despite the Attorney-General's comments, she's pleased Fiji is debating the issues raised in the report.
"There are of course aspects of our report that he clearly disagrees with but I think the important progress to note here is that for one of the first times since Parliament has reconvened is that we are having an open and public discussion about how to address torture in the country."
The report details beatings, rape, sexual violence and other abuses by security forces acting with impunity.