“Pacific neighbours can learn from Tonga’s experience"

3 October 2011

Op-ed by OHCHR Pacific’s Matilda Bogner

The experience of police reform in Tonga, which is slowly improving police accountability and performance as well as looking to rebuild trust between the people and their police force, could provide lessons to other Pacific Island countries, such as the Solomon Islands.

A recent article in the Solomon Star newspaper disclosed that many Police officers within the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) have their names listed against serious criminal, traffic and even corruption offences. Further, it highlighted that this is undermining the RSIPF Strategic Direction 2010-2013, the importance of which is to build trust, confidence and accountability in the RSIPF to provide for a safe, peaceful and prosperous Solomon Islands.

To build trust and to encourage accountability police forces must hold their own to the same standards that they hold others. That is, police officers who break the law must be held fully accountable through public and legitimate legal processes, not dealt with behind closed doors or through internal processes that the public may not have confidence in.

Tonga’s police reform process followed the Nuku'alofa riots of 2006, which resulted in widespread looting and many arrests. The events that surrounded this period damaged the credibility of the Tongan Police, who were unable to control the riots. Human rights abuses, abuse of power and the ill-treatment of detainees were documented and contributed to the government’s decision to call on international support to begin the reform process.

The reforms that resulted, and that are ongoing, invest heavily in staff and culture change, especially in terms of accountability. The most fundamental change however was a clearer separation of powers between the Police Commissioner and the Minister for Police; the Commissioner is now in-charge of the day-to-day functioning of the police force. Other changes included merit based promotion. These reforms have not been easy and have not been free from controversy.

Central to the vision of the Tongan police reform is the view that the police service is a service for the public. This underlines an emphasis on public accountability. This requires that appropriate actions are taken when police break the law or breach their duties as police officers and that the public is informed. In the past, officers in Tonga were dealt with internally. There was no public access. Such conditions did not support accountability or transparency.

In 2009, however, the Tongan Police Commander established the Tonga Police Professional Standards Unit to address police conduct. The commander published and discussed publically the results of the Unit’s work and the numbers of complaints against police force personal. Complaints were now being taken seriously, were investigated and appropriate action, including at times criminal prosecution, followed.

Taking the path of accountability and transparency increases public confidence in the police force and ultimately in respect for the rule-of-law.

Notes:

• OHCHR leads global Human Rights efforts and works to promote and protect the Human Rights that are guaranteed under international law and stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.
• OHCHR is headed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, who coordinates Human Rights activities throughout the UN System and supervises the Human Rights Council.
• OHCHR Regional Office for the Pacific covers 16 countries: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu

ENDS

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