Joana Bale baked two birthday cakes for her husband Manoa's 55th birthday
this week. The first she shared with her five children at her home, the second
she
sent, with five candles and a match, into Suva's parliamentary complex where
Manoa is one of George Speight's hostages.
Yesterday Mrs Bale received word that the cake had got through and had been
shared among many of the other 30 prisoners. It was a rare moment of lightness
and celebration in 23 days of uncertainty and threat.
"They were all very excited," Mrs Bale said. "One of them said
'Imagine us as
hostages yet singing Happy Birthday in here'." The cake had been baked
and
decorated in the shape of a bible and the words "If God is with us, who
can be
against us?"
Yesterday a number of relatives gathered at Suva's Holy Trinity Anglican
cathedral to share their experiences and prayers at the 21st daily vigil organised
by Fiji's National Council of Women.
Mrs Bale, whose husband is minister for rural development and ethnic affairs
in
the Mahendra Chaudhry government, said he had sent her a letter saying the
hostages remained in "high spirits" and were sharing their few possessions
and
food their families sent in.
But they were bored and spent much of their time reading. The vigil was told
they began their day with one of two daily devotions, conducted by one of the
MPs, the Rev Eloni Goneyali.
The families and the captives have managed to exchange some letters through
the
Red Cross. One, from MP Ganesh Chand, was read to the 30 or so women,
wearing blue ribbons of hope.
Mr Chand said "a turn of fate" of their captivity was that for a
politician "time is
no longer a luxury unaffordable" and he was looking forward to starting
two
novels - but not until he had finished the Bible and Koran.
"Very interestingly," he added. "one does not find any ill will
among the
hostages for those looking after us. I'm sure they will also realise the virtues
of
humanity outweigh all else".
Anna Padarath wept as she read a letter from her mother, MP Lavenia Padarath:
"Thank you for your wonderful gift of love to each of us. We want each
of you
to know we have been encouraged and tremendously thankful for the support of
your love and prayers."
Meanwhile, the military says supporters of George Speight were responsible
for
a fire that destroyed a waterfront restaurant close to the occupied parliamentary
complex on Saturday night.
The Lighthouse Restaurant was torched following a confrontation between
police and a busload of Speight supporters heading to the compound just before
the 8 pm curfew, military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Felipo Tarakinikini
said.
No arrests are expected. Colonel Tarakinikini also said that authorities were
likely to prevent a planned three-day "people's march" due to start
today from
Lautoka to Suva.
The organiser, Ben Padarath, son of a hostage MP, had not received permits
for
the event, he said. Mr Padarath said yesterday the protest was an "everyman's
march" to protest against coup.
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