FIJI
Judicial CP - May 2010

Corpun file 22274

Fiji Times, Suva, 22 May 2010

Village headmen discuss flogging

By Unaisi Ratubalavu

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FLOGGING in public is not part of the proposed village by-laws yet, according to officials.

The draft by-laws state that flogging is one of six forms of corporal punishment that a village meeting can dish out to offenders who preferred that their case be dealt by village elders.

"E tara ena lawa ni koro oqo me vakatauca na Bose Vanua na kedra itotogi eso e basuka na lawa oqo. (The village meeting is allowed to mete out punishment for offenders).

"Na itotogi e rawa ni vakatauca na Bose Vanua sa tuvai koro e ra: (Penalties that the village meeting can mete out are set out below):

a) Na kuita (flogging); b) Na itotogi ni teivaki ni vanua (to work on a farming quota); c) na totogi ni sasamni ena koro (to clean up the village)."

According to Roko Tui Tailevu, Joape Nalatu, the proposed by-laws were just guidelines for all the village headmen to discuss and map out their by-laws from.

The latest draft of the village by-laws are now being circulated to all the village headmen to allow them to consult villagers in their area.

"It is still in its draft form, the Office of the Attorney General and the Fijian Affairs Board will finalise the final draft and inform us once everything is ready," Mr Nalatu said.

He added flogging was still being discussed by village headmen.

Mr Nalatu said he was yet to receive feedback from the 140 village headmen of the province over their thoughts on the proposed village by-laws.

"If there are any queries or suggestions, villagers can clarify any issue with their respective provincial council office," Mr Nalatu said.

It is anticipated that the by-laws will come into effect after June 25 following deliberations by provincial councils.