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SUVA: Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests Marieta
Rigamoto was near to tears yesterday when recalling the terror she
endured in the parliamentary chamber during her 37 days in captivity,
the Daily Post reports.
As an assistant minister in the deposed People's Coalition Government,
she said she usually had a lot of respect for the chambers.
Ms Rigamoto said she still found it hard to believe all that had
happened at gunpoint.
Recounting her experiences, she said the hostages had spent the first
night on the benches and at one time she recalled that they were told
they were going to be shot if the military stormed the complex.
Life was very difficult then but somehow they adapted to the situation.
She said male hostages acted as their security, as armed men frequented
the chambers to check on them.
The four female hostages slept in the VIP gallery for about 35 nights
while the men were in the main chamber for 55 nights.
Former Opposition Leader Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, who is now interim
Information Minister, condemned the damage done to Parliament by rebel
leader George Speight's supporters.
Ratu Inoke, who was a founder of the nationalist Taukei Movement and an
architect of the 1987 coups, was shocked at the extent of the damage
when he visited Parliament.
"This is not what Fijians stand for, not the Fijian way. This is really
criminal," he said on Fiji Television last night.
He told the Daily Post that the extent of the "mindless destruction"
revealed the true nature of the rebels' intentions - which was not
indigenous rights.
Most of the cabinet ministers in interim Prime Minister Laisenia
Qarase's administration who visited Parliament called for a new house of
assembly after inspecting the damage caused by the rebels.
Meanwhile, the Fiji Times said the Qarase administration would set up a
tribunal to investigate civil servants suspected of supporting the
overthrow of the Chaudhry government.
This was announced by the Public Service Commission chair, Sakiasi
Waqanivavalagi, yesterday and the commission's secretary, Anare Jale,
said it would comprise a lawyer and independent individuals.
The Fiji Times reported that the inquiry would include the appointment
of businesswoman Ateca Williams to the Disciplinary Services Commission.
She was earlier listed in the rebel ministerial line-up.
Already under investigation for their alleged involvement with the
rebels are Adi Samanunu Talakuli, the High Commissioner to Malaysia; and
Rusiate Korovusere, first secretary in Canberra.
"Civil servants involved in political activities related to the current
political crisis will be investigated and disciplined," Jale said.
"Nobody is above the law."
+++niuswire
Title -- 2883 FIJI: Minister revisits parliament 'ghosts'
Date -- 2 August 2000
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pasifik Nius
Source -- PN, Daily Post, Fiji Television, Fiji Times 2/8/00
Copyright -- PN/DP/FT/FT
Status -- Unabridged
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