N. Hebrides island reported calm after insurrection end

Press, 27 November 1979, Page 8

N. Hebrides island reported calm after insurrection end

NZPA-Reuter Vila The brief insurrection on the New Hebridean island of Espiritu Santo is over and the situation is now back to normal, Mr Japhet Tavoa, information officer at the British Residency in Vila, has said. He said yesterday that the Chief Minister (Mr Gerard Laymang) and three other Ministers had gone to the is-

land at the week-end and spoken to the people. Earlier reports were that Mr Jimmy Stephens a 57-year-old landowner, and his supporters in the Nagriamel Party were in control of the Santo town of Luganville. The Nagriamel Party was defeated by the Vanuaaku party headed by Father Walter Lini in recent New Hebridean elections.

Mr Tavoa said the British Resident Commissioner (Mr Andrew Stuart) had told the Nagriamel Party members that they must accept the result of the election and that there must be no intimdation. The party members had accepted this, Asked if there was any suggestion of imprisonment or charges against the party

members, Mr Tavoa said there was “nothing on that line.” The New Hebrides group is jointly administered by Britain and France and is scheduled to become independent next year. Officials in Vila said the Representative Assembly was scheduled to meet for the first time tomorrow to elect a Chief Minister.