THE Fiji Military Forces will keep armed soldiers in the streets until the
security of people and property is secured, said spokesman Lieutenant
Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini. "We are doing our best under the present
circumstance and we would have withdrawn our men from the streets if we
thought there is total security.
That is not the case at the moment," said Col. Tarakinikini. Since the
military
took over executive authority on May 29, there have been fewer incidents of
violence and burning around Suva compared to riots and looting that occurred
after the coup attempt on May 19.
One of the most recent incidents was the burning of the Lighthouse
Restaurant opposite Veiuto Primary School at Queens Elizabeth Drive in
Suva. The restaurant was an easy target because it was some distance from the
Muanikau Road checkpoint.
The army relocated soldiers away from the vicinity of parliament after an
angry mob stormed a checkpoint erected at Battery Road, that leads to the
parliament's back entrance, later shooting two soldiers. On Sunday night
arsonists tried to burn trade unionist Diwan Shankar's home at Samabula in
Suva.
A 12-seater van was torched at Bureta Street, also in Samabula, last week.
Government quarters at Veiuto occupied mostly by expatriate doctors were
vacated after men believed to be from the rebel group in parliament broke into
homes in the area. The military has been using its Reserves and Territorial
Forces who marched into camp on a voluntary basis.
In assuming executive authority, Commodore Frank Bainimarama
re-employed the services of former senior officers who formed the military's
think tank after the 1987 military coups. Back in the fold is Col. Pio Wong
who headed the military delegation in the interim administration that
administered the reconstruction of the economy in 1987. Col. Wong was joined
by former commanders Brigadier Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and Brigadier Ratu Epeli
Ganilau, Col. Alfred Tuatoko, and Col. Ratu George Kadavulevu as advisers to
Commodore Bainimarama.
Fiji's Daily Post
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