The airstrip on Vanuabalavu in Lau has been taken over by
Malaka villagers complaining of inferior service by Air Fiji.
The villagers also claim that they should have been employed to
handle work for Air Fiji because they are the rightful owners of
the land the airstrip is built on.
Air Fiji says the issue is one to be handled by Airports Fiji Ltd
which is in charge of airports around Fiji.
Meanwhile, the attempted mass breakout at Naboro prison was
quelled by the prison's anti-riot unit.
Inmates in the maximum security complex had overpowered a
warden and had been holding him hostage.
Notorious criminal Alifereti Nicamere, who is an inmate in the
complex, is reported to be injured and has been hospitalised.
It could not be confirmed if the two incidents are related.
The Fifth Infantry Regiment in Lautoka has been placed on a
red alert following a series of takeovers and threats of takeovers
in the West.
About 500 villagers from the landowning unit of Nalawa have
taken over the military manned police post at Waimadia in Ra
province.
The army base in Waiyevo, Lautoka has been under constant
threat of a take over in the past 36 hours and is on full readiness.
And Sabeto villagers, traditional owners of the land on which
Nadi Airport is built, were dissuaded from taking over the
airport on Sunday in retaliation made against their traditional
leaders.
The villagers are still threatening to takeover the airport if their
village headman and Taukei Movement leader Apisai Tora
comes to any harm.
The military is monitoring the situation in and around Nadi
Airport.
The incidents have led to high tension in the West, an area that
has been relatively calm since the coup.
In the Waimadia police post takeover incident, villagers had
traditionally requested the military personnel manning the post
to move out.
Military personnel have moved out but have not given up their
arms, says military officials.
The soldiers are now based nearer to Rakiraki where they 'are much safer'.
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last revision July 13, 2000