Fiji's old capital burns as country greets news of coup triumph

Fiji's old capital burns as country greets news of coup triumph
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

SUVA, JULY 10: Fiji's old capital, Levuka, was set alight on Monday as the country slipped into increasing lawlessness following the signing of an accord between coup plotters and martial law authorities. As a result of the signing, immunity will be given to anybody who commits "political offences" up until Thursday.

Numerous incidents were taking place across the country, and Suva itself remained cut off by road from the rest of the nation due to barricades and police station and village seizures. Suva was also dealing with continual power cuts after a landowner's occupation of the country's hydro-electric power station.

Sunday's agreement, signed under the increasing pressure of a long national deadlock, is due to lead to the release of 27 hostages including Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, his cabinet and ruling MPs, held in Parliament since May 19 when failed businessman George Speight mounted a coup.

The agreement appears to pretty much give Speight what he has wanted and amounts to a capitulation by the Fiji Military Forces. State owned Fiji Broadcasting Commission (FBC) said 30 men attacked Levuka at 4.30 am, setting fire to the Freemasons Hall before moving to the town.

A major European Union-funded tuna cannery is located in Levuka, and last week the company, Pacific Fishing Company (Pafco), was given a temporary license to unload fishing boats in the town. This appeared to be partly why the town was attacked although radio said the rioters were proclaiming their support for Speight.

Martial law spokesman Major Howard Politini said the situation had stabilized later in the day. "The villagers are `sitting-in' at the factory. The women have been allowed out and the men are working at the factory," he said. Pafco general manager Mitieli Baleivanualala, who was reportedly taken hostage in the morning, was talking to riot leaders, Politini said.

He said the incident in Levuka had its roots in a long-standing dispute over the Stevedoring contract. The villagers want a guarantee that the contract would be given over to them. He said soldiers prevented the attempted takeover of the post office. The masonic hall was burnt down because of old fears about freemasonary, Politini said.

Villagers believed human blood sacrifices had taken place there. A few shop windows were smashed but this was clamped down on because that was not the purpose of the exercise, he added.

Levuka, one of the South Pacific's oldest European-style towns, was founded as a whaling centre in 1830 and remained as capital until 1882. It was at Levuka in 1874 that Chief Seru Cakobau signed a deed of cession which made Fiji a British colony. Britain's Prince Charles stayed in the town in 1970 when he was here to mark independence. It has been a major tourist attraction for its old buildings and its beautiful setting.

Sunday's agreement will see the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) called into session on Thursday to name a new President and Vice-President to take executive power from the military. The newly appointed interim civilian cabinet will be sacked. The deal stipulates that "political hostages held at the Parliament Complex be released on the day of the (GCC) meeting".

The top circulation Fiji Times headlined "It's a deal". In an editorial it said, "Good sense has prevailed." It added: "The way forward now is through the Great Council of Chiefs. Once revered by people of all races it will, once again, be called upon to deliver verdict on the future of a fragmented nation and its people." The Daily Post said, "Speight has the last laugh" and "Military agrees to rebels' demands, signs deal."