It comes after trans activists highlighted the dangers facing the community, including two recent murders
Fiji’s police chief this week promised to investigate all complaints of mistreatment and discrimination of the LGBTI community.
It comes after the community highlighted the levels of discrimination and abuse they face on Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Police would review all complaints lodged by LGBTI victims of abuse at various police stations, said Acting Police Commissioner ACP Rusiate Tudravu, according to Fijivillage.com
Fijians Iosefo Qionitoga Magnus and Akuila Salavuki, both reportedly members of the LGBTI community, were murdered in the space of a year.
Magnus was found brutally murdered in September 2017. Police have so far made no arrests, Fiji Village reports.
Salavuki who was found dead along the Suva foreshore on 17 May this year. A suspect on trial has pleaded not guilty.
‘Fiji does not need that rubbish’
Two victims of an alleged homophobic assault said they were too scared to report the incident to police.
The men did not report the crime to police. They also did not want to be identified because they feared reprisals from their attackers.
Fiji’s constitution protects LGBTI persons from discrimination based on sexuality or gender identity. But, same-sex unions are not legal. The community faces considerable discrimination.
In 2016, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said all LGBTI people should go live in Iceland if they want marriage equality.
‘Fiji does not need that rubbish,’ he said at the time.
by Rik Glauert
Source – Gay Star News
