Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Amnesty urged to inspect Vanuatu prison conditions

Posted at 04:59 on 03 April, 2006 UTC

The publisher of the Vanuatu Daily Post newspaper, Marc Neil-Jones, says he intends reporting the Vanuatu Police to Amnesty International for alleged human rights abuse in the two main prisons in Port Vila.

Mr Neil-Jones, who was jailed for five hours last week following an alleged traffic offence, says he was stunned to see other inmates in shackles.

He says he could not believe his eyes that prisoners could still be chained in the modern world.

Mr Neil Jones says the inmates living conditions are appalling and the jail is falling apart.

He says the inmates told him they have been in chain for 8 months.

Mr Neil-Jones has made an official complaint to the Acting Commissioner of Police, Major Arthur Caulton, and says the world must know what is happening in Vanuatu’s jails.