The Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection, Lynda Tabuya, has stirred controversy by advocating for the death penalty for drug traffickers. Speaking from her ministry’s headquarters, she emphasized that Fiji’s position as a transit point for illicit drugs calls for the strictest penalties to deter traffickers.
Tabuya believes that Fiji’s proximity to larger drug markets makes it increasingly vulnerable. She remarked, “We’re a transit point for bigger developed countries. What do we do to protect our borders and our people from these harmful drugs?”
Citing the example of Singapore, where the death penalty is imposed for large-scale drug trafficking, she argued for Fiji to contemplate similar measures. “We need to claim our borders, our sovereignty, and send a message to all drug traffickers and lords,” she added.
However, her proposal has faced backlash from various critics, including Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration, Pio Tikoduadua. He argued for a more humane and comprehensive strategy to combat drug trafficking, stressing the need to modernize the police force and foster international cooperation.
Tikoduadua stated, “These strategies represent a holistic approach to addressing drug trafficking and related crimes through stronger institutions, better resources, and international collaboration, which are likely to yield more sustainable results.” He cautioned that reinstating the death penalty could overlook the root causes of drug trafficking.
Human rights activists have also spoken out against the proposal. Dr. Shaista Shameem, a former Director of the Fiji Human Rights Commission, condemned the death penalty as a cruel and degrading punishment, denying individuals the chance for rehabilitation. She recalled that the death penalty for treason was abolished in Fiji in 1979 with unanimous parliamentary support, asserting that it was not a solution to any crime.
Dr. Shameem remarked, “The death penalty was abolished after parliamentarians, including religious groups, agreed it was not the solution to any crime, even treason,” insisting that any consideration for its reinstatement should be handled with compassion.
The Fiji Law Society has weighed in, noting that the death penalty is not included in the Constitution and that any effort to reintroduce it would encounter significant legal challenges. The death penalty was abolished for all crimes in Fiji in 2015, and the 2013 Constitution explicitly prohibits its use.
Fiji’s ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) in 2015 complicates any attempts to bring back the death penalty, as UNCAT mandates a global prohibition on such practices. Fiji’s commitment to these principles has been reinforced through enhanced training programs for its security forces.