The Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection, Lynda Tabuya, has stirred debate by proposing the death penalty for drug traffickers. During her statement at the ministry’s headquarters, Ms. Tabuya indicated that Fiji’s position as a conduit for illegal drugs necessitates severe penalties to discourage traffickers.
Her call for the death penalty has sparked criticism from various sectors. Ms. Tabuya emphasized that Fiji’s geographical closeness to larger drug markets heightens the country’s vulnerability, asking, “What measures can we implement to safeguard our borders and communities from these dangerous substances?”
She referenced Singapore’s strict penalties for trafficking significant amounts of drugs and argued that similar actions should be contemplated for Fiji to reclaim its borders and assert its sovereignty. “We need to send a clear message to all drug traffickers and lords,” she asserted.
In contrast, Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration, Pio Tikoduadua, rejected Ms. Tabuya’s approach, advocating for a more humane and comprehensive strategy to tackle drug trafficking. He highlighted the need for a modernized police force and greater international cooperation.
“These methods represent a holistic approach to drug trafficking and affiliated crimes, focusing on strengthening institutions, enhancing resources, and fostering international partnerships for more sustainable outcomes,” said Mr. Tikoduadua. He expressed concern that reinstating the death penalty could detract from addressing the root causes of drug trafficking.
Human rights advocates also opposed the idea. Dr. Shaista Shameem, the former Director of the Fiji Human Rights Commission, criticized the death penalty as a harsh and degrading punishment that removes the chance for rehabilitation. She recalled that Fiji abolished the death penalty for treason in 1979 due to a consensus among parliamentarians and religious groups that it did not solve crime, stressing that any discussion of reinstatement should be handled with sensitivity and compassion.
The Fiji Law Society added its perspective, noting that the death penalty is not stipulated in the Constitution and that efforts to reinstate it would likely encounter significant legal challenges. The death penalty was prohibited in Fiji in 2015, and the 2013 Constitution explicitly forbids its application. Furthermore, Fiji’s ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) in 2015 complicates the potential for reinstating capital punishment, as UNCAT calls for a global ban on torture and related practices.