Arson attack leaves Suva in chaos

Press, 14 September 1987, Page 1

Arson attack leaves Suva in chaos

NZPA-AAP Suva Downtown areas of Suva were in chaos early, yesterday after arsonists set six buildings ablaze, apparently with petrol bombs. The police were believed to be investigating reports that the fires were politically motivated. Acrid smoke billowed through the streets as firemen from four brigades battled the fires watched by scores of people who had just left nearby nightclubs at closing time. Armed soldiers were called from suburban barracks and pushed back spectators who moved too close to the burning buildings. Fire Chief Harold Henderson told reporters that a "flammable liquid” had been used by the arsonists. He said no-one was injured by the fires, but other reports said a service station attendant was struck on the side of the head

with an axe by one of several masked men who set the station on fire in the first attack. The victim, an Indian, was recovering yesterday in hospital. Luckily, the fire did not spread to other nearby buildings which included the Bali Hai nightclub, packed with Saturday night revellers.

The petrol station was damaged as were four buildings housing shops, and the office of the Fiji Labour Party and the Fiji Trades Union Congress. Two other shop buildings were gutted, including one that was formerly the Bank of Baroda’s headquarters in Suva.

At the same time front windows and doors were smashed at five Indian-owned shops in Cumming Street which is a favourite daytime haunt of tourists seeking duty-free bargains. An unknown quantify of goods was stolen. The police were reported to have detained about a dozen men for questioning yesterday, but by nightfall there were no reports of charges laid. A brief police statement listed only the burned premises and said that investigations were continuing. There was no statement from Army headquarters. Late yesterday, armed soldiers were guarding all petrol stations in the downtown area, while others patrolled streets. Cumming Street was blocked for both cars and pedestrians. Soldiers also manned roadblocks on the two main roads leading in and out of Suva, checking cars.

Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka branded the arson attacks "irresponsible” last evening and said they showed that some people had no respect for what was happening on the political scene. He said the Incidents could be connected with a lack of progress in political conciliation talks because of the Coalition’s

not being prepared to accept changes. “We will have to take more stringent measures,” he said. “Perhaps I had better have another look at the situation.” Damage from the fires was estimated by a firm of insurance adjusters at $F600,000 ($744,720).