THUGS tried to burn down the home of trade unionist Diwan Shankar in
Suva but were foiled by neighbours who alerted police. Mr Shankar, Assistant
General Secretary of the Fiji Trades Union Congress, was not at home when
the fire started on Sunday night.
He arrived at his Samabula home to see the living room partly burnt. "My
neighbours saw six men in the yard and then later saw smoke coming out of
the windows with the curtains on fire. "This is when they alerted the police
and fire station," he said. Mr Shankar praised the actions of the police.
"A
police officer broke down the front door filled some pots with water and put
the flames out," he said.
Mr Shankar said this fire will not stop him from fighting for democracy.
"From day one of the People's Coalition government takeover they have been
threatening us. "I am still not moved. As long as I am alive, the fight
will still
be on," he said. Yesterday the smell of kerosene was evident in the home,
and
there were puddles of the inflammable fluid in places. It is likely that kerosene
was thrown through the windows as the curtains were heavily drenched with it
and there was no sign of forced entry.
"I had come home earlier, fed my dog, and left to visit some people, leaving
the windows open," he said. Mr Shankar's bed, just beside the windows,
was
soaked with kerosene. Police took bottles of kerosene from around Mr
Shankar's compound. Inspector Sera Bernard said the police are investigating.
Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini said the incident
occurred about 7.20pm. "Neighbours saw some boys peeping through the
windows and assumed the house was being broken into," he said.
By the time the police arrived, the house was burning, and the young men had
fled.
Fiji's Daily Post
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