Kick and punch claim
THE 16-year-old boy interrogated by military and police officers over an anti-government social media post has spoken out about the incident.
In an interview with this newspaper, the teenager claimed he was physically abused at the army’s Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Nabua, Suva on September 23.
The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), police, and Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission director Ashwin Raj have not responded to questions sent by The Fiji Times earlier this week regarding the assault claims made by the teenager.
THE 16-year-old boy interrogated by military and police officers over an anti-government social media post has spoken out about the incident.
In an interview with this newspaper under condition of anonymity, the teenager claimed he was physically abused at the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Nabua, Suva on September 23.
“O ratou vaculaki au saraga, ratou vaculaki au, ratou qai butulaki au, dina madaga niu tukuna vei ratou niu sega ni cakava
(They kept punching and kicking me, even though I told them that I didn’t do it),” he said in the iTaukei language.
He claimed two men in civilian clothes who identified themselves as military officers approached him at his home around 9am.
“E rua na tagane rau sobu mai na motoka, rau lako yani i vale, oti ya rau kerei au sara me keitou vodo (Two men got off the car, they came home and requested that I go with them),” he said.
“E rua tale na tagane rau dabe tu lomani motoka, ratou tukuna ga ni ratou via lai vatarogi au
(Two others were sitting in the car, they said they wanted to question me).”
He said on arrival at the army barracks, he was taken to an empty room where four men were waiting.
He said he was questioned about a social media post where swear words were allegedly directed at Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.
“Koya matai ga nona tarogi au mai, ‘iko dina cakava na ka ya’? Au tukuna yani ni sega, sa lako saraga mai dakuqu nai vacu vei dua na sotia e dabe tiko mai dakuqu (The man asked me if I posted the photo, as soon as I said no, a man sitting behind me punched me in the back),” he said.
He said a while later a man who appeared to be of superior rank entered the room and directed the men to hand him over to police because it was their jurisdiction.
He claimed he was taken to another room and forced to sit on the floor.
“Ratou tukuna meu dabe i ra, ratou sa qai dabe cawiri taki au, ratou butulaki au, ratou vaculaki au qai vosavosacataki au (They told me to sit on the floor, they also sat down encircling me, they assaulted me and started swearing at me),” the boy said.
“Au tukuna tu ga vei ratou niu sega ni biuta cake nai taba, ratou vaculaki au tu ga, au sa rere ga, au qai tukuna niu cakava (Despite telling them many times that I didn’t post up the photo, they kept assaulting me so I got scared and said I did it).”
The teenager said he feared for his life and the men forced him to admit that he was the person behind the social media post.
He claimed they then handed him over to the Criminal Investigation Department at
Toorak, Suva. He said the same men forced him to admit to the police that he had put up the social media post.
The teenager claimed that on the morning of September 24, he was taken to Totogo Police Station and visited by a female official from the juvenile centre and was later released.
His mother, who also spoke to this newspaper under the condition of anonymity, claimed her son was in a lot of pain and his neck was swollen on the day he was released by police.
She further claimed he experienced back aches and at times couldn’t move because of the pain.
Questions sent to the RFMF, and police spokeswoman Ana Naisoro on October 14 remain unanswered.
Questions sent to Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission director Ashwin Raj on October
15 also remain unanswered.
Despite telling them many times that I didn’t post up the photo, they kept assaulting me so I got scared and said I did it. – 16-year-old boy