The Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection, Lynda Tabuya, has stirred controversy by suggesting the death penalty for drug traffickers in Fiji. During a speech at her ministry’s headquarters, Tabuya expressed concern over Fiji’s status as a transit route for illegal drugs and argued that severe penalties are necessary to deter traffickers.
Tabuya highlighted Fiji’s vulnerability due to its geographical location near major drug markets, stating, “We are a transit point for bigger developed countries. What do we do to protect our borders and our people from these harmful drugs?” She pointed to Singapore’s execution policy for significant drug trafficking offenses as a model that Fiji should consider.
In response, Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration, Pio Tikoduadua, rejected Tabuya’s proposal and advocated for a more humane strategy to tackle drug trafficking. He stressed the need for modernizing law enforcement and enhancing international collaboration to address the issue comprehensively. Tikoduadua noted that the death penalty could detract from addressing the root causes of drug trafficking.
Human rights advocates have also opposed the idea. Dr. Shaista Shameem, former Director of the Fiji Human Rights Commission, criticized the death penalty as an inhumane form of punishment that denies individuals a chance for rehabilitation. She recalled that Fiji abolished the death penalty for treason in 1979, with wide parliamentary support, and emphasized that any discussions regarding its reinstatement should be approached with empathy.
The Fiji Law Society commented on the matter, stating that the death penalty isn’t included in the Constitution and that any effort to bring it back would encounter significant legal challenges. The death penalty was fully abolished in Fiji in 2015, and the current Constitution explicitly prohibits its imposition. Additionally, Fiji’s ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) in 2015 further complicates any push to reinstate capital punishment, as it mandates a global prohibition against such practices.