Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Amnesty calls on region to speak out against repression in Fiji

Posted at 05:27 on 21 January, 2010 UTC

Amnesty International is calling on New Zealand and other countries in the region to intensify calls for Fiji to halt arbitirary arrests, intimidation, threats, assaults and detention.

Amnesty says the Fiji regime has become comfortable with getting away with human rights abuses and continues to silence opponents.

It says this is not the time for New Zealand and other countries to back down from their strong stance.

Amnesty says the New Zealand government must ensure that human rights are included in any dialogue with Fiji.