Asia-Pacific Network/Pasifik Nius: 27 July 2000
FIJI: MILITARY STORM REBELS - ONE DEAD, 40 WOUNDED
Fiji military forces have stormed the rebel lair at a school on the outskirts of Suva and seized leaders of the insurrection in what the army described as a "mopping up" operation. The military have not rule out treason charges against rebel leader George Speight and his ringleaders.
SUVA: Fiji military forces today stormed the rebel lair at a school on the outskirts of Suva and seized leaders of the insurrection in what the army described as a "mopping up" operation.
Military spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini told Radio Fiji that one rebel had died, and 40 were wounded with no casualties among the soldiers.
He said 369 rebels and supporters had been arrested - including leader George Speight and several of his key ringleaders. They were being detained at several centres around the capital of Suva.
The colonel did not out charges of treason.
Lt Col Tarakinikini said that only seven of the casualties were seriously wounded. One 50-year-old rebel had died in the Colonial War Memorial Hospital from suffocation and other tear gas complications during the operation.
The colonel stressed that casualties were not from gunshot reports as he had said in earlier reports. The wounds and physical injuries were sustained during the tear gas raid.
The hospital's emergency wing was closed to the public and heavily guarded by police and troops.
Lt Col Tarakinikini said the rebel strategist, Colonel Ilisoni Ligairi, the police commissioner's brother, decommissioned Major Josefa Savua, and 12 soldiers from the elite Meridian squadron were among those captured by troops.
The Daily Post reported today that a senior police officer had been with Speight's group yesterday "trying to negotiate a portfolio in the new civilian government". The newspaper did not name the officer but he was widely alleged to be Police Commissioner Isikia Savua.
The paper said a group of senior civil servants, including a permanent secretary and a group of indigenous lawyers, had been meeting regularly to help Speight and the rebels to "map out strategies".
Several senior servants were likely to lose their jobs because of questions over their "loyalty and involvement" in the rebellion, the paper said.
Lt Col Tarakinikini said the military action started about 6 am today against the remnants of Speight's gang because they had been "terrorising residents in the area" and stealing money and goods from shops.
He also said on Radio Fiji there had been a death threat yesterday against the interim President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo.
The president had been expected to name a new interim government yesterday and is now expected to name this today.
Caretaker Finance Minister Ratu Jone Kubuabola is likely to announce a mini-budget this afternoon to deal with the crisis. With an estimated deficit of $130 million, the budget is expected to steer the country until the end of December.
Lt Col Tarakinikini said this morning's raid on the rebels was part of a series of "mopping up" operations planned for the next few days to end the lawlessness in the country and return Fiji to normalcy.
"We cannot allow a group to use the name of indigenous rights for their own selfish ends," Tarakinikini said.
He said Speight's gang had "brought shame to the name of Fiji".
But he pledged that the interim government would address long-standing grievances over indigenous rights throughout the country.
Late last night, Speight, two of his key advisers and a bodyguard were arrested by troops at a checkpoint near the rebel headquarters, Kalabu Fijian School
The four were seized under martial law which means they can be detained longer than 24 hours before charges are made.
Lt Col Tarakinikini said they had been arrested after soldiers stopped them at the Laqere bridge checkpoint when they were carrying arms in violation of the Muanikau accord.
The terms of the amnesty under the accord - which granted Speight and his followers immunity for crimes linked with the May 19 insurrection - did not apply as the rebels had not handed all weapons to the military after the end of the 60-day Parliament siege.
Speight had signed the accord with the military commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama two weeks ago.
"The Immunity Decree called for the release of all hostages, and the return of all weapons to the military," Tarakinikini said.
Lt Col Tarakinikini also said there had been many reports of lawlessness and harassment by the rebels in the area near Kalabu School.
"Mr Speight was travelling with arms and bodyguards. This is illegal. We cannot allow private militia to run the country," he said on local radio.
Education Ministry authorities closed schools today in Nasinu, near the rebel area, according to Radio Fiji.
Speight was arrested with his lawyer, Tevita Bukurau, media adviser Jo Nata and his personal bodyguard, known only as Cakau, at the Laqere bridge along the road corridor from Suva to the airport town of Nausori.
Tarakinikini said Speight and his bodyguards had been sighted several times travelling around Suva with arms.
A witness told the Fiji Sun the four men failed to stop at the Nausori end of the bridge when asked to get out by soldiers.
"Shots were fired before the four were asked to get out of their four-wheel-drive vehicle," the paper quoted the witness as saying.
"They were later escorted to the army camp at Nabua where they are now under arrest."
Lt Col Tarakinikini confirmed Speight was under arrest "in a cell up at Nabua".