Fijian senator on arson count

Press, 15 May 1987, Page 2

Fijian senator on arson count

By

JALE MOALA

NZPASpecial correspondent Suva A member of the Fijian Senate appeared in a Magistrate’s Court at Lautoka yesterday on charges relating to a firebombing in Lautoka oh May 3. In Court, before Magistrate Sampurn Anand, was Jona Qio, aged 38, who was nominated to the Upper House in 1985 by the Great Council of Chiefs. He was charged with one count of arson and two counts of attempted arson. No plea was taken. Senator Qio was bailed on a surety of SFIO,OOO ($15,990) th appear in Court again on Monday. The Magistrate also ordered that the accused surrender his passport to the police. The prosecutor, Mr John Small, said Senator Qio had been charged with setting fire to the firm of Stuart Reddy and Company, a law firm of which the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Jai Ram Reddy, is a partner.

The Court heard that Senator Qio also tried to

throw firebombs into two other premises in Lautoka on the same day. Mr Small said Senator Qio denied he was involved in the incidents and also denied that his car was used during those incidents. But Mr Smdll said Fijian circulars similar to those found near the Stuart Reddy office were also found in Senator Qio’s car. On Monday the Court will hear the case of Manasa Tora Uluikavoroallso, aged 37, charged with one count of arson and two counts of attempted arson. Senator Qio was one of the leaders of the Taukei movement, the Fijian protest group which petitioned the Governor-Gen-eral, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganllau. for changes to the constitution.

The Fijians have expressed no-confidence in the Indian-dominated National Federation Party/Labour Coalition Government which was elected into power last month.

The protest movement wants the constitution changed to guarantee Fijian majority in Parlia-

ment and Fijian leadership in Government On Friday, another protest leader, the Alliance Opposition parliamentarian, Apisai Tora, was arrested in Suva and charged with “sedition and attempting to cause racial antagonism.” He will appear in Court on May 20. Senator Qio’s arrest yesterday came as the general secretary of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association was speaking to reporters in Suva on the dangers of a change in Government. The general secretary, Dr David Tonkins, said that "political unrests” as in Fiji were likely to happen in any country undergoing a Change in government. Dr Tonkins said, “This occurs in any country, but for a limited period. It will take a little time before the new Government settles down.” Dr Tonkins is on a tour of the Pacific. He arrived in Suva from Vanuatu, and will visit the Cook Islands, Tonga, Western Samoa, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore before returning to London.