THREE civilians and two members of the Counter Revolutionary
Warfare unit were wounded in a shootout between the military and
supporters of George Speight at parliament yesterday.
Both sides confirmed the casualties but are blaming each other for
starting the shooting. The CRW men in parliament are under the
command of Ilisoni Ligairi who also heads security in the complex.
One of the wounded CRW soldiers is believed to be the one who shot
Lieutenant Aseri Rokoura along Vuya Road a week after the coup.
The military said the exchange started when some soldiers on patrol
outside parliament's southern boundary were provoked by Speight's
supporters. Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini
confirmed the shooting and the number of those injured.
Soldiers at the Nasese checkpoint said people from the complex attacked
them with cane knives, sticks and stones under covering fire laid down by
a machine gun mounted on Battery Hill.
Josefa Nata, Speight's press secretary said those wounded were civilians
and blamed the military for inciting the shooting. Mr Nata blamed the
military for increasing tension around parliament for the past 48 hours.
He said the soldiers came too close for comfort yesterday. He said the
soldiers had been warned but yesterday chose to ignore the warnings.
"The military should take full responsibility for what has happened.
They were shooting at unarmed civilians and it was an attempt to
intimidate and provoke our people. "If the army is going to be bloody minded,
then there will be much more serious
implications that neither they nor we want," said Mr Nata.
An hour after the shooting a cease-fire was agreed to allow for the transportation
of those wounded to hospital, two
of whom were teenagers.
Mr Nata said he personally saw to the safety of three journalists who were
caught up in the event while in
parliament. He said he escorted them out after things had cleared.
Meanwhile, a woman went to hospital worried that one of the wounded might have
been her son who has been in
parliament since the coup.
As of last night, the military had beefed up personnel in the vicinity of parliament
and were not allowing anyone into
the area.
Fiji's Daily Post
The military says it is now in full control of the area outside the
parliamentary complex following a ceasefire asked for by the rebels
this afternoon.
Fourteen youths have been detained by the military in connection with
the shootout.
Seven people, including two CRW unit soldiers backing coup leader
George Speight are hospitalised following the shootout.
The military says an apparent assault on a three-men observation post
near the parliamentary complex by about 200 rebel supporters led to
the shootout today.
Spokesman Lt. Col. Filipo Tarakinikini says CRW unit soldiers
urged on the assault by civilian supporters and at one point used
launched grenades from Battery Hill at the government soldiers.
The three soldier retreated down Vuya Road towards the Pacific
Theological College where another section of government soldiers
were posted.
When the soldiers were surrounded by the rebel supporters at the
PTC ground, they fired warning shots in the air.
Tarakinikini said when a CRW soldier started to shoot at the
government soldier, he was shot by the section at PTC.
This triggered the shoot-out in which another CRW soldier who
became involved was also shot, he said.
In the ensuing melee, five civilians were also shot. Tarakinikini said
soldiers shot only to disable them.
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