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The European Union (EU) is concerned at the treatment Fiji has meted out to New Zealander Ballu Khan and other suspects accused of being part of a plot to kill key political leaders in the South Pacific country.
In a statement released yesterday, the EU urged Fiji's interim
government to ensure the rule of law was upheld and that due legal process was followed.
Seventeen people have so far been arrested and 11 charged with being part of a plot to kill Fiji's self-appointed Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, his Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and two senior military officers.
Bainimarama seized power in a bloodless military coup last year.
One of those accused of being part of the plot, Ballu Khan, was badly beaten during his arrest on November 3, suffering a fractured skull and cheekbone.
Khan was sent to hospital and stayed there until Wednesday last week, when he was taken to a police station and interrogated before being returned to medical care on Friday.
He is yet to be charged with any crime, and Bainimarama today told the Fijilive website Khan was pretending to be ill so he could avoid the allegations against him.
"I had seen the first report that had come out. He had an X-ray and he was checked from head to toe. There was nothing wrong with him then," Bainimarama said.
"With him going unconscious and all that, I think he is faking it.
"He (Khan) is scared of the allegations against him," he said.
"The European Union remains concerned at the internal situation in the Republic of Fiji and in particular on reports of detentions perpetrated by Fijian authorities concerning an alleged plot against members of the Fiji interim government," the statement penned by the British High Commission in Suva said.
"The presidency of the European Union... notes with concern the alleged abuses perpetrated by the military and police on those arrested on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government.
"The EU calls on the interim government of Fiji to respect the human rights of everyone in Fiji," the statement said.
It said Fiji should undertake a "full investigation" of alleged abuses, in line with commitments made to the EU in April.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen was asked about Cdre Bainimarama's claim Mr Khan was faking his illness.
"I am sure the walls of the cell attacked Mr Khan viciously and he suffered as a consequence of that. Mr Bainimarama's claims in that regard don't seem to be credible at all."
- AAP / NZPA
