Print PageA prominent lawyer has accused Fiji police of acting like thugs in their dealing with critics of the military-led government.
Rajendra Chaudhry, the son of Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry, claims police have twice attempted to pressure him over anti-government comments he had posted on the social media site Facebook.
He is starting an online petition to the President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, asking him to take action.
Mr Chaudhry, who is currently in Australia, says his experience of police harassment is not an isolated case.
"It's happened to quite a number of people," he told Radio Australia's .
"The police act like a bunch of thugs going to people's residences, their offices and to family gatherings and to relatives of people who speak out against the regime and threaten them openly. And they're getting away with it."
Radio Australia has attempted to contact the Fiji police and the interim government over the claims, but they have not yet responded.
