Amnesty International has raised serious concerns over the death of Jone Vakarisi in military custody, saying official accounts have been inconsistent and calling for a full independent investigation.
Responding to the case, Amnesty International Pacific Researcher Kate Schuetze said the information released so far is troubling.
“The information provided by authorities on this death in custody raises more questions than answers. Initial responses from the military suggested that Jone Vakarisi died from a pre-existing medical condition yet copies of the police autopsy report circulating online suggest that this was a case of serious assault.”
She said any death in custody must be properly investigated.
“Any death in custody must be met with an independent, impartial, effective and prompt investigation, with results being made public,” she said in a statement.
Schuetze warned that statements alone are not enough.
“Statements of regret by the Commander of Fiji’s military are meaningless unless followed by comprehensive and transparent explanations and – where there is sufficient admissible evidence – appropriate criminal charges against those responsible.”
She also raised broader concerns about accountability within the military.
“This death also raises questions about the culture of impunity within Fiji’s military forces and the role of the military in policing matters, including its ability to meet the needs of detainees in line with international human rights law and standards.”
Amnesty also criticised attempts to limit public discussion.
“Meanwhile, the military’s cautioning against people discussing the incident raises serious freedom of expression concerns. Questions and reporting about this case cannot be supressed for reasons of ‘national security’.”
Fiji authorities confirmed that Vakarisi died in custody at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks on 17 April after being taken in a day earlier with three others.
Initial statements from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces said he died from a “medical emergency” linked to a pre-existing condition, but the military later acknowledged that its initial communication was not factually correct following the autopsy findings.
No criminal charges have been confirmed, and it remains unclear what Vakarisi and the others were being investigated for, although the military linked the detentions to alleged drug-related activities and an organised criminal network.
Amnesty said under international standards, any death in custody places responsibility on the state unless a proper investigation proves otherwise, increasing pressure on authorities to ensure a transparent and credible probe.
