Have your say: http://www.TheGuestBook.com/vgbook/109497.gbook
SUVA (PMW): Scavengers at the rubbish dump of Fiji's capital of Suva have stoned
and attacked journalists
reporting on the economic and social consequences of the Pacific country's three-week-old
political crisis, according
to a newspaper report.
The Fiji Sun reported in a front-page story in its 9 June 2000 edition that
scavengers at Lami rubbish dump were
collected disposed of meat for food. A picture published showed the scavengers
collecting packs of spoiled New
Zealand lamb.
"They became angry when they saw journalists taking pictures and noting
down their activities and chased
journos," said the Fiji Sun.
"Three journalists, two overseas and one local, ran for their lives yesterday
when they tried to take shots of the
scavengers.
"Stones were hurled at them. They had to swim across a nearby stream to
spare them from the group.
"One photographer said the scavengers 'were actually eating rubbish disposed
at the dump'," the newspaper
reported.
"'I also overheard them say that they could just heat up the meat and
cook it,' the photographer said. 'It was the
filthiest thing that I have ever seen.
"'There was a dog there but instead of giving the meat to the animal,
they packed it up to take home.'"
The scavenging happened just one day after an 11-year-old boy was accidentally
crushed to death by a bulldozer
as he was collecting refuse.
The Suva City Council yesterday issued a warning to the public who continued
to scavenge in defiance of
provisions in the Health Act.
* On May 19, rebel leader George Speight and gunmen seized elected Prime
Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and his
government prisoner and have held them hostage in Parliament ever since. Fiji
is currently under martial law and
economic hardships are mounting daily.
© USP Journalism Programme
This site is best viewed using Netscape 4.0 or higher.
Any problems or kind suggestions, please email: webmaster@lookinglassdesign.com
last revision June 12, 2000