KEY POINTS:
The United Nations has called on Fiji to get tough on firms recruiting mercenaries in the South Pacific country.
In a statement today a UN working group called on Fiji to create laws to tackle the problem of mercenaries, and to sign on to the 1989 International Convention Against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries.
"The working group notes with concern that in a number of instances the activities carried out by Fijians abroad may qualify as mercenary-related activities," the UN group said.
In 2005, Fiji mercenaries were found working on the Papua New Guinea autonomous island province of Bougainville, where they were reportedly training the private army of a notorious conman.
The UN said people in Fiji also had been recruited by dubious private security firms to undertake work in Iraq.
Those recruited by the firms were sometimes exploited and experienced ill-treatment, non-payment and the neglect of basic medical services, the UN said.
"The working group has noted the absence of national legislation and measures in Fiji to effectively address the issues of mercenaries, mercenary-related activities and the effects of private security companies," the statement said.
The UN called on Fiji to enact a system of regulation, licensing, control and monitoring of the activities of private security companies.
Fiji should also introduce professional counselling for those returning from security work overseas, the UN said.
"Such measures are necessary to prevent domestic violence and the spread of sexually transmittable diseases."
The UN group has been in Fiji on a fact-finding mission this week and will present its finding to the UN Human Rights Council and the General Assembly.
- AAP
