The suggestion from Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya to impose the death penalty for large-scale drug traffickers has sparked controversy. Ketan Lal, the Shadow Minister for Justice for the Group of 16 (G16), argued that Fiji should instead advocate for life sentences for rapists and work towards laws that provide justice for survivors, rather than calling for capital punishment.
Lal expressed disappointment that Tabuya, who is supposed to protect vulnerable groups including victims of serious crimes like rape, would support such a drastic measure. He emphasized that rape is a devastating crime that leaves long-lasting damage and requires serious attention and appropriate responses.
He called for a legal framework that ensures prompt justice for victims of sexual violence while safeguarding the rights of all individuals. Lal insisted that the focus should be on defending the rights and lives of victims rather than on reinstating the death penalty.
While acknowledging that drug trafficking needs to be tackled vigorously, Lal asserted that such efforts must comply with constitutional standards and human rights commitments. He warned against allowing fear to lead to unconstitutional and ineffective measures, urging a renewed focus on laws addressing crimes such as rape to guarantee justice and uphold the rights of all Fijians.
Lal pointed out that, while drug trafficking is a significant crime requiring serious legal action, advocating for the death penalty contradicts Fiji’s constitutional principles and international obligations, particularly regarding the right to life enshrined in Article 8 of Fiji’s Constitution. He reiterated that reinstating the death penalty would not only breach fundamental rights but also undermine the country’s justice system grounded in human dignity and the rule of law. Lal concluded by stating that any efforts to bring back such a punitive measure would be regressive, damaging Fiji’s international reputation and moral standing in human rights.