THE army acted swiftly to avoid violence and the likely killing of some
hostages when they released three supporters of George Speight who were
arrested at a checkpoint in Suva yesterday.
They moved quickly into damage control and apologised to Mr Speight for a
shooting incident which saw two vehicles, one carrying Mr Speight, being
shot at.
The supporters were apprehended after their vehicle, which was a back-up to
the one carrying Mr Speight, travelled through the Muanikau checkpoint
without stopping.
The occupants were captured and taken to the Fiji Military Forces
headquarters in Nabua. Lieutenant Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini said he spoke
to Mr Speight's chief of security Ilisoni Ligairi saying that "this was
a grave
overreaction by the soldiers manning the checkpoints". Mr Speight's adviser,
Ratu Timoci Silatolu, demanded their release, threatening revenge.
"Timoci Silatolu had called the RFMF's operation cell ... threatening
violence
on the hostages if this was not done," a statement from the army said.
It said
that the army complied with the request. Captain Ratu Eroni Volavola of the
army media centre said the safety of the hostages is still a priority.
There were conflicting reports from parliament and the army headquarters
yesterday on the incident. Ratu Timoci said the vehicle carrying Mr Speight
was also shot. He said the vehicles had dents and a smashed windscreen.
However, the army said only Mr Speight's back-up vehicle was hit by a bullet
and was forced to stop, resulting in the arrest of the occupants.
Ratu Timoci said the first vehicle was carrying Mr Speight, a civilian driver
and a bodyguard. The vehicle is owned by the Methodist Church. When
contacted about the vehicle yesterday, the President of the Methodist Church
in Fiji, Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi, refused to comment.
The second vehicle carried Mr Speight's presidential candidate Ratu Jope Seniloli's
son, a Ratu Lauga, and lawyer Jo
Tuberi. Ratu Timoci said they were returning from the Tui Vuda, Ratu Josefa
Iloilo's residence, while the army said they
were returning from the hospital. The army said warning shots were fired when
the vehicles refused to stop at the
checkpoint.
The soldiers had signalled for the vehicles to stop but they forced their way
through. This resulted in the shooting.
Fiji's Daily Post
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