USP Pacific Journalism Online: http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/
USP Journalism on the Fiji crisis (UTS host):
USP Pasifik Nius stories on Scoop (NZ): http://www.scoop.co.nz/international.htm Have your say:
http://www.TheGuestBook.com/vgbook/109497.gbook
SUVA: Fiji's Daily Post newspaper today denounced the anarchy still raging in parts of this Pacific country and the
failure of the police and military to restore law and order.
With a frontpage report headlined "Nightmare continues for Indians in rural Fiji", the newspaper published a bitter
editorial condemning the security forces.
Summing up a previous story about the terrorism of Indo-Fijian families in the Dreketi rice area on the island of Vanua
Levu, the editorial said one farmer had summed up the country's law and order situation by pointing to his recently
castrated bullock and quipping:
"My castrated bullock has more balls than the police, the army, the President and all the governments combined
together."
The paper added: "With the media reports of tears and sorrow, and atrocities, thuggery, looting and rapes committed on
[the] Indo-Fijian community, we have little reason to dispute this projection of law enforcement agencies in Fiji.
"Just yesterday our paper reiterated the ills committed on Indians in Dreketi area, and other media also reported this
state of anarchy.
"Today yet again we report of complete helplessness of suffering of the innocent people, not only in Labasa area, but
also nearer to the power base of our government, in and around Waidalice in Tailevu.
"Our reporter from Tailevu, who covered the Waidalice story was literally in a state of shock at the savagery his own
people would commit on the helpless Indian community.
"Yet the lawyers of the criminals who started this epidemic of hatred are crying for the rights of these thugs who are
basking on Nukulau Island. And all this while the law enforcement agencies appear to be suffering from an acute case of
impotency."
Rebel leader George Speight and seven of his ringleaders on Nukulau Island were charged yesterday over the burial of a
supporter who died from wounds in crossfire during the Parliament siege last month. The supporter was buried illegally
in the grounds of Parliament.
This was the first of a string of charges against the key leaders of the insurrection which so far do not include
treason.
Assistant Police Commissioner Moses Driver confimed that he had been to the island to lay charges and that more would
follow.
"The charges are complicated and we're still investigating," he said.
Another ringleader of the gang, Iliesa Duvuloco, has also been arrested and was reported by the Daily Post to be in the
Colonial War Memorial Hospital in a "serious condition" from injuries.
A military source told the paper he had been admitted to hospital after being arrested at Korovou, Tailevu, by soldiers
deployed in the area.
Two other rebel leaders were also arrested - Varinava Tiko and Jim Speight, brother of George who is known as "Commander
Jimmy".
Tiko and Jim Speight are being held at the military barracks in Nabua.
Military spokesperson Major Howard Politini said the army still sought several other men over their alleged involvement
in the spate of lawlessness in the country.
+++niuswire
This document is for educational and research use only. Recipients should seek permission from the copyright source
before reprinting. PASIFIK NIUS service is provided by the niusedita via the Journalism Program, University of the South
Pacific. Please acknowledge Pasifik Nius: niusedita@pactok.net.au http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/nius/index.html