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SUVA: From kings to prisoners, Fiji's rebel leader George Speight and
seven of his ringleaders got a taste of their own medicine when they
were transported to Nukulau Island before dawn yesterday, the Sunday
Post reports.
The military confirmed the group were relocated from the Queen Elizabeth
Barracks in Nabua where the rebels had been detained since Wednesday
night.
Nukulau and nearby Makuluva islands, popular fishing and recreation
places about 15 km from Suva, were gazetted as temporary "prison zones"
and have been declared out of bounds to the public.
The Sunday Times said in an editorial: "The security forces have made
a
sensible decision to isolate rebel leader George Speight and his mates
to an off-shore island.
"It is a wise security and safety strategy - both for Speight's group
and the guards. The military headquarters at Nabua is too close to his
supporters."
The newspaper appealed to women, children and the elderly who had been
supporting the rebel "cause" to go home and not "allow themselves
to be
dragged into illegal activities".
In other developments:
* Armed soldiers provided security in the Naitasiri rugby union clash
with Suva at the National Stadium yesterday to prevent a possible repeat
of 1995 when fans mobbed the Suva side at the same venue.
Speight's support mostly comes from Naitasiri province. Naitasiri
defeated Suva 24-10 to retain its place at the top of the Telecom Cup
rugby championship.
* The state of emergency period was extended for a further two weeks.
* Rebels occupying Sukanaivalu Barracks in Labasa, on Vanua Levu, were
given a deadline by the military of midnight tonight to surrender arms
and leave.
Military spokesman Major Howard Politini told the Sunday Post that the
only people allowed on the prison islands were the military, police and
Red Cross.
The two islands off Suva Point were declared prison zones in a legal
notice published yesterday.
Other rebels held with Speight include lawyer Tevita Bukarau, media
adviser Jo Nata, Lieutenant-Colonel Rusiate Korovusere, Major Jo Savua,
former Fiji Intelligence Service Colonel Metuisela Mua, Ratu Timoci
Silatolu and military strategist Colonel Ilisoni Ligairi.
A source on the island said a fence was built around the area where the
group were being held.
Tents were put up inside the enclosure to accommodate the rebels.
+++niuswire
Title -- 2874 FIJI: Rebels held on island prison
Date -- 30 July 2000
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pasifik Nius
Source -- PN/Sunday Post/Sunday Times, 30/7/00
Copyright -- PN/SP/ST
Status -- Unabridged
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