VILLAGERS took control of the Pacific Fishing Company
(PAFCO) factory in Levuka on Ovalau yesterday morning. They
had earlier tried to take over the army camp but failed. The
villagers have detained PAFCO's general manager Mitieli
Baleivanualala.
Speaking to the Daily Post from the PAFCO factory, one of the
villagers identifying himself only as "Bill" confirmed they were
holding Mr Baleivanualala. A policeman on duty at Levuka Police
Station yesterday afternoon said he had seen Mr Baleivanualala
moving around the factory area and drinking yaqona with the
villagers.
"What they're doing now is that they're sitting around having
discussions," the officer said. About 70 people from Lovoni
Village, 10 kilometres from Levuka, descended on the old capital
at around 5 o'clock yesterday morning.
Armed with spears, sticks and knives they set fire to the Masonic
Lodge Hall and damaged at least three shops. According to Bill,
they only broke the show glass of the shops but did not steal
anything. However, the policeman said one radio had been taken
from Morris Hedstrom Homemaker but it was returned later. Bill
said the men from the warrior clan of Lovoni have surrounded the
factory.
"We didn't disturb the Police Station because the officer-in-charge
is from Lovoni," Bill said. The policeman said the town was calm
in the afternoon after the mornings events. He said the villagers
were helping protect shops from vandals.
Mayor George Gibson also described the town as calm. "So far it's okay,"
he said. "But it feels as if
anything can happen at any time." Mr Gibson said the villagers had met
with the District Officer to discuss
the takeover situation.
Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini said they are negotiating
with the villagers. Bill
said they will hold out until Friday and will not allow any work to go on. As
part of their demands, the
villagers want army commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama to resign, the interim
cabinet be dissolved
and a taukei government to be set up from parliament.
Rebel leader George Speight's deputy, Ratu Timoci Silatolu said they are also
"fighting for the cause" so
would await feedback from parliament where Speight continues to hold 27 former
parliamentarians hostage,
including former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry.
"Everybody who has done something like this reports to us whether we know
them or not. "They do this
because they are all fighting for the cause" Ratu Timoci said.
Fiji's Daily Post
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