Fiji Police on amnesty, arms, ammo and explosives
by
Inspector Peter Blake
The Fiji Times
7 August 1998
Much public awareness has been created recently with the enactment of the Amnesty for Surrender of Firearms, Explosives and Ammunition Act 1998.
The Act is essentially to effect the surrender of illegal firearms, explosives and ammunition by the public to the Fiji Police Force.
The amnesty came into force at midnight on July 15, 1998, and will end at midnight August 14,1998.
One may well ask, what prompted this amnesty? Is it really necessary? What do police hope to achieve? Others may take a more critical stand and view it as too drastic a measure or scare-mongering or, simply, with total indifference.
Firstly I would like to allay any lingering fears, misconception or misinformation that the public of Fiji may have in regards to this amnesty. No. Fiji does not have a significant problem in relation to firearms, ammunition and explosives. But this is not to say that the police do not encounter problems in this area.
However, whatever problems we do face, are minimal, controlled and effectively dealt with under the appropriate national laws and preventative police strategies.
There are strict criteria and guidelines set out for those applying for private firearm licences and rightly so. Those who have applied and those who own private firearm will testify to this.
Ownership and possession of firearms in Fiji is strictly monitored.
The concern is not with the legal ownership of firearms, but the illegal possession and manufacture.
The amnesty was an initiative of the police as a preventative strategy in combating illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and, for that matter, explosives.
The move was prompted by reported findings, crime intelligence and statistical data compiled by the police over a period of time.
1997 saw a sharp rise in incidents relating to illegal firearms, ammunition and explosives, indicating a steady build up warranting some formal action for their retrieval and disposal.
Police further were, and are well aware, of the consequences of these items falling into the wrong hands.
Public safety was a paramount consideration and indeed public cooperation and assistance was a key element to ensure success in implementing this initiative.
Recently, I attended an Asian and Pacific Regional Workshop on Firearms Regulating for the purpose of Crime Prevention and Public Safety in New Delhi, India.
The workshop was sponsored and organised by the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention, based in Vienna, Austria.
It was well attended by delegates from 26 countries within the Asia Pacific region.
The workshop touched on many issues raised in both:
A: The Model Regulation for the International Movement of Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition; and
B: The Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and other related matters.
Interestingly, it has been observed that the Asian region and, to a lesser the Pacific region, has in the past and is currently experiencing many problems relating to illegal movements, trafficking and manufacture of firearms, ammunition and explosives.
There is also concern that drugs have become the integral part of this illicit activity.
These problems have manifested themselves in numerous regional conflicts both of an international and national nature.
Criminal gangs in some of these countries have also extended to these problems.
Firearms, ammunition and to a degree explosives, have a long shelf life and can be continuously recycled.
Governments are therefore, recognising that firearms are a dangerous commodity requiring criminal law control and not just a commodity, subject to trade and custom.
The increasing availability and pressure of illegal guns in our society, with rising levels of misuse, is changing the way police are approaching their strategies to regulate firearms.
It is now incumbent on governments to know not only what firearms are coming into their territories but also to know those leaving or being transported through their territories.
This requires the establishment of a stronger regulatory regime with greater accountability and transparency over imports and exports including in-transit movements.
It is a commonly held view that to better distinguish and identify the illicit movements of firearms, etc., we must have better control of their legal movements.
In Fiji, opportunity has presented itself for the exchange of information and experience related to the criminal misuse of firearms and the important issues they present to government in developing effective crime control strategies which foster public health and safety so vital as to a stable, peaceful secure and productive society.
The amnesty is just one such strategy.
Police observations in the first two weeks of the amnesty period, showed little in the way of significant results on the surrendering of illegal firearms, ammunition and explosives.
This period has been dedicated to fostering an awareness of the amnesty and reassuring the public that their identity would be protected and they would be immune from prosecution.
I can only surmise that the slow initial response is due to a sense of suspicion, lack of confidence, lack of information, possible negative consequences, fear, etc., by the public to surrender those items to the police.
The last 10 days show, however, has shown significant response by the public which has encouraged the police to seek approval for an extension of the amnesty for a further 30 days.
This would allow those on the verge of surrendering their "booty" to make the decision and hand them in.
I personally am convinced that there is still a sustainable number of illegal arms, ammunition and explosives in Fiji.
The consequences of not extending the amnesty while we are currently making in-roads would be too difficult to imagine and could further result in serious concerns for public safety. Those with illegal arms, ammunition and explosives, finding themselves no longer protected from prosecution, could resort to dumping these items into the sea, rivers, streams, forests, cassava patches or simply burying them in the backyard.
This would be disastrous and extremely undesirable for the public we seek to protect.
The public would be exposed to imminent risk of injury should burning be carried out during land clearing with these items scattered indiscriminately about.
Additionally, there is the dangerous pollution to the environment to consider.
It is my profound view that the timing of the Arms Amnesty in Fiji is right and appropriate.
Make use of this opportunity and hand in any illegal firearms, ammunition and explosives, or to disclose the location of where these items may be found and recovered.
The police will assist with the pick up of any such items. Crime Stoppers can also be contacted on 306000 with the information.
The police need your support.
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