Around the Commonwealth

 South Africa

Interpol Resources redirected to weaker countries

The newly appointed president of the International Policing Organisation (Interpol) Jackie Selebi has said that Interpol resources will be redirected to weaker countries, targeting Africa first.

Selebi, who is also the South Africa's National Police Commissioner, said this transfer of resources would include the establishment of a Centre in Africa to pool information on international terrorism. This is the first time that the Interpol has an African president at the helm of affairs.

 Fiji Islands

Fijian security agencies launch Handbook on 'National Security and Human Rights'

A landmark National Security and Human Rights Handbook was launched by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Fiji Police Force and Fiji Prisons Service in partnership with the Fiji Human Rights Commission. The Handbook launch was officiated by His Excellency the President, Ratu Josefa Uluivuda Iloilo.

The Handbook is an attempt by the Fijian Security bodies including the Police Force and the Human Rights Commission to understand the nature of security in relation to human rights. It was decided that the Handbook be called 'National Security and Human Rights' so that security personnel using the Handbook would appreciate that 'promoting respect for human rights is in coherence with carrying out policing activities.'

Jailed For Marital Rape

Fijian magistrate's court has handed down the country's first jail sentence for rape within marriage.

The Nadi magistrate's court sentenced a 44-year old farmer to ten years for the forceful abduction of his estranged wife, wrongful confinement and her repeated rape in a pine forest.

The farmer told the court that his estranged wife was his legal partner - and he could do as he pleased, but the magistrate said he had to send the man for a long jail term "because women and girls had to be protected from animals like him."

 Tanzania

Court strikes down President Mkapa's decision

The Court of Appeal of Tanzania ruled that the President of the United Republic of Tanzania erred when he retired five senior police officers in public interest.

On 4 May 1996, President Benjamin Mkapa retired, in public interest, five former senior police officers. The decision was challenged by the police officers in the High Court. In their judgment the panel bench of three judges concluded that even though the President had the right to appoint, promote, remove, dismiss and discipline appointees in respect to any office, he should have used his powers in tandem with other relevant laws, notably the Police Force and Prison Services Act.

 Kenya

Car Jackers strike twice

General Joseph Kibwana, Kenya's military chief, lost his car to thieves on the Mombassa highway recently. Co-operation by Kenyan and Tanzian police led to the car being traced to an auto garage business in Sinza estate, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. There the general's blue Toyota Land Cruiser was being spray-painted white. Needless to say, the business owner was arrested on suspicion of theft or conversion. It was the second car-jacking victimisation in a week for the Kibwana family. Three days before his loss, General Kibwana's wife gave up her car to armed gangsters. The vehicle was found later dumped in the Tsavo National Park.

Police prosecutors placed under Attorney General's supervision

Kenyan police prosecutors have been placed under the direct charge of Attorney General (AG) Amos Wako, in an attempt to both streamline the way courts handle cases, and to ensure more successful prosecutions.

The shift of police prosecutors into the AG's office means no criminal case - petty or major - can now be filed just at the whim of a police station boss, as was the case previously. Putting the power to prosecute in the AG's hands is the first in the series of radical reforms in the State law office.

 Uganda

Police to arrest erring passengers

The police in Uganda have taken a strong step in correcting erring passengers by announcing that those who don't put on seat belts while driving will be arrested. The law is in effect from the 1st of November 2004. The implementation of the seat belts law was supposed to start from the 1st of October 2004, but the government extended it for one month, after receiving complaints from the national taxi operators' body. The police have made it clear that there would be no further extensions in implementing the law.

 Papua New Guinea

Illegal Gaming Machines shown the door by the police

Police in Papua New Guinea will move in on illegal gaming machine owners/operators who have not heeded the 36 hour notice given by the government asking owners to shut down their illegal operations. The deadline on the public notice has been advertised in the local media outlets on a regular basis.

Police Commissioner Sam Inguba has been quoted in the national daily Post-Courier saying that the Gaming Board officials would be going around the city to see if the public notice is being followed or not. The action taken by the Police came about after a directive was issued from the Public Accounts Committee asking the Police to have the machines removed.