Dear Editor,

RE: ‘Alleged Police brutality’

The story by Masiano Tupua in yesterday’s paper about police officers manhandling has made the rounds online again. It was, for the most part, greeted with disgust.

However, there are some who say that no tears must be shed as the individual is accused of punching the police officer. I humbly and respectfully say that they have missed the point. 

The disgust at this incident and the reason human rights organisations rail up whenever a person is wantonly treated by the police is that it sets a precedent. People are creatures of habit, and if we tell the police that for whatever reason it is OK to do extra judicial behaviour, that it’s OK for other police to held hands back and other police to enjoy punching faces, bound, kicked, scraped up and thrown in the back of a truck like animals, reminding me of the slave trade - one of the greatest atrocities against mankind!

Se sole, fa’aaogā faalelei le kogiga!

Hopefully this latest incident will be the catalyst for change and not another nine-day wonder.

Brangelina