Editorial: Call them out!

The video of a man beating up a child to a pulp is inhumane.

No child or anyone for that matter deserves it.

No report was lodged since the incident happened last Friday, but yesterday Fiji Sun flagged the video to the Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew and soon after, it was reported that the man was in custody.

The evidence was there. The footage is as raw as the wounds inflicted on that poor child.

How that irresponsible and despicable man could beat the child to a pulp is beyond our comprehension.

Was it a moment of insanity, or suppose he took his anger on the child? This is yet to be known.

But one thing is for sure, the child’s failure to comply to the man’s instructions is no justification to her brutal beating.

The man was captured beating the child with what appeared to be a hosepipe. He kicked the child several times, and despite the child running away for safety, ordered the same to come back to him to receive more blows.

Meanwhile, the household members and bystanders, although telling the man to stop, did nothing more than that.

In addition, the man cussed and verbally abused the victim.

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It was simply heartbreaking to watch and inhumane to say the least.

It is for this very reason that laws against corporal punishment has been adopted by Fiji and many more nations.

The law enforcers and legal eagles, we are sure, will deal with the matter accordingly.

The 2013 Constitution under Section 41 Rights of a Child —(1) Every child has the right— (d): to be protected from abuse, neglect, harmful cultural practices, any form of violence, inhumane treatment and punishment, and hazardous or exploitative labour; and

Call out minister

Further to the above, we call out the irresponsible act by our learned Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya to remove the post from her social media page.

While calling out the inhumane act is commendable, which is the gist of the matter, to go to the extent of further posting the child in distress, at the hands of her oppressor, is concerning.

The child deserves the right to privacy. Additionally, not only does it have further potential to cause harm and traumatic distress should the child view it in future, others too can be traumatised.

It does not help to solve the problem, but rather exacerbates it.

Feedback: ranobab@fijisun.com.fj