Fiji needs to withdraw its military from public security tasks and bring laws governing the use of force in line with international norms if it is to rid itself of torture, rights group Amnesty International says.
An "ingrained culture of torture" has taken root among the South Pacific nation's security forces that has seen the widespread use of beatings, rape and sexual assault against criminals and escaped prisoners, Amnesty says in a new report.
The NGO - which said it interviewed 48 people, including lawyers and civil society groups, and spoke with the government - alleged brutality by Fijian security forces had resulted in at least five deaths since 2006 and other severe injuries, including one person having their leg amputated.
"Not only do the security forces know that torture is taking place, they have stood in the way of accountability," Kate Schuetze, Amnesty International's Pacific Researcher, said.
Amnesty said a "culture of impunity" was reinforced by attitudes of top government officials, including Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who have expressed support for military and police officers accused of mistreatment.
The Fijian government was not immediately available for comment on the report.
Among the report's recommendations were that Fiji remove the armed forces from public security tasks, that it repeal immunities preventing accountability of security forces and senior officials and put in place independent civilian oversight of security forces and corrections.
Amnesty said some positive steps were being taken to prevent torture and punish perpetrators, but more work was needed.
"In Fiji, accountability for torture is the exception rather than the rule. This amounts to a climate of near-impunity," Schuetze said.
