National Radio Midday Bulletin

Fiji Coup - Television Station Smashed - Media Under Threat- Nz Reaction- Karram On Trial- Peru Elections - Varroa Mite - Gisborne Gangs - Massey Redundancies - Road Smash

FIJI COUP: The Fijian situation has turned worse over night after a policeman was killed when supporters of coup leader George Speight went on the rampage yesterday evening.

TELEVISION STATION SMASHED: The violence last night, when a local television station was smashed, was an inflammatory reaction to a controversial television programme. A Speight man says the reaction was not planned but was part of a “spontaneous” reaction.

MEDIA UNDER THREAT: News media are under threat in Fiji after the television stations was trashed by Speight supporters. An Australian camera man was shot in the arm yesterday covering violence in the capital. New Zealand reporters have also been fired at. The Fijian television station says it has not decided whether to reopen yet, and would rather close completely than operate subject to Speight censorship.

NZ REACTION: Meanwhile the Green party and The Alliance are advocating economic sanctions against Fiji. ACT and National are urging caution on the issue.

KARRAM ON TRIAL: A defamation trial against the author and former All Black Joe Karram has begun after his book David & Goliath made allegations about police competence in the David Bain murder investigation.

PERU ELECTIONS: In Peru President Albert Fujimori looks certain to win the election after the main opposition candidate chose to pull out after irregularities were found in vote counting.

VARROA MITE: Bee Keepers in Canada and the United States are urging New Zealand to do what ever it can to control the Varroa bee mite saying the mite ravaged their local industries.

GISBORNE GANGS: Gisborne’s Police area controller says reducing the areas gang population is a high priority after gang intimidation interfered in court cases last year.

MASSEY REDUNDANCIES: Teaching staff at Massey University’s Parlmerston North campus are meeting to discuss what action the staff should take over widespread planned redundancies

ROAD SMASH: Police say a King Country crash which killed three people highlights the importance of being aware when coming off country roads onto busy state highways.

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