Islands seek Europe’s help to quell rebels

Press, 31 May 1980, Page 8

Islands seek Europe’s help to quell rebels

NZPA-Reuter Vila, New Hebrides New Hebrides authorities have asked London and Paris for help in quelling a rebellion on an island in the joint British and Frenchruled island group in the South Pacific. Some 800 plantation workers armed with spears last week seized key points on the island of Espiritu Santo in a move to secede from the main group, which will become independent on July 30. , The plantation workers, backed by about 50 Frenchspeaking Europeans armed with shotguns, also locked up 40 local policemen who remain in custody, according to the resident British com-

, missioner (Mr Andrew Stuart). The rebels are still in control. Some reports said that the ; Europeans were Americanbacked and had unsuccessfully attempted to lead a revolt in the Bahamas last year. Several . people were injured and the police station arid civil-servants quarters ransacked during the disturbance but most of the ; 17,000 population on the cof-fee-growing island were 1 unaffected, Mr Stuart, in the capital of Vila, told NZPAReuter by telephone. The mainly French-speak-ing secessionist group on the island was defeated at the polls by the now ruling ; Vanuaaka Party, which is leading the 100,000 islanders

towards full independence. A 30-man riot squad from Vila restored order within 24 hours after smaller-scale disturbances on the island of Tanna in the group last’ week, said Mr Stuart. But he doubted whether the 120-man police force in the capital could easily put down the uprising on Espiritu Santo because of the presence of the . armed Europeans. This was why the Government had asked for help from the colonial : powers, he added. The revolt broke out after stalled negotiations between the ruling Vanuaaka Government of Father Walter Lini : and a local group led by a plantation owner, Jimmy Stephens, seeking, greater autonomy.