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Fri, 12 Mar 2010
PORT VILA, Vanuatu ---- A prison escapee was beaten to death and other fleeing inmates were severely injured by paramilitary officers in Vanuatu who were ordered to break the legs of those involved in the breakout, an inquest has found.
The findings of the coroner, judge Nevin Dawson, at the inquest in Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila, have embarrassed the government of Prime Minister Edward Natapei.
Justice Dawson found that John Bule - who had been jailed for seven years and four months for sexual intercourse without consent in May 2008, but escaped almost a year later - suffered at least 32 injuries after being recaptured.
The injuries, the New Zealander judge said, “were sustained in an interrogation room at the Vanuatu Mobile Force Cook Barracks while the deceased was in the custody of a number of VMF officers”.
The findings could trigger “constitutional and compensation claims being made against the government”, he said.
VMF commander Willie Vira launched "Operation Klinap” (clean-up) to recapture escapees from a prison near Port Vila's Tropical Market. The judge said Mr Vira “played a significant role in a culture of violence which permeates the VMF”.
Bule was arrested at the home of his partner. He was in good health when taken into custody. He sustained critical injuries while being interrogated by VMF officers for 30 minutes in a classroom in the Cook Barracks. He was taken to Vila Central Hospital where he was declared dead about three hours later.
Bule told medical staff in a “dying declaration” that he had been attacked by VMF officers.
In recommending murder, assault and perjury inquiries, Justice Dawson said: “No nation can appear to have one law for the police and another for the rest of the population.”
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UPDATE FROM PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM LEADERS MEETING IN CAIRNS