Convicts detail plot

Press, 24 September 1987, Page 1

Convicts detail plot

NZPA Suva The military-backed interim Fiji Government yesterday claimed that the Coalition Government deposed by an Army coup had been offering “big money” to recruit prisoners into a "hit squad” to deal with those who opposed Coalition political demands. Escaped prisoners described the deal to the Governor-Gen-eral, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, yesterday morning, said the interim Government’s information adviser, the Rev. Tomasi Raikivi, in a statement. The 52 prisoners had escaped from the medium-security Naboro Prison, 15km from Suva, in a dramatic break-out after burning their jail on Tuesday evening. Yesterday’s Government statement said that prisoners told Ratu Ganilau that they had burnt their prison because they felt it was their duty to inform the Governor-General of what the Coalition was doing. They said they were con-

cerned about the Supreme Court writ the. deposed Prime Minister, Dr Timoci Bavadra, had filed against Ratu Ganilau, challenging his powers to dissolve Parliament and order a state of emergency. The break-out; by 114 men, was the biggest in Fiji’s history. A private security guard at Lami, a town outside the capital, spotted the prisoners at 4 a.m. yesterday and called the security forces. ‘ One of the policemen who was first on the scene said the prisoners had at first refused to lay down their arms, which consisted of spades, forks and knives. “But the security forces took them to a nearby shop where they drank kava. Later prayers were said in which the prisoners took part. “Some of them were crying during prayer,” the policeman said. • “We prayed and prayed and eventually we all became friendly and the prisoners finally gave away their arms. They told

us they wanted to speak to either the Governor-General or the Army commander, Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka.” Ratu Ganilau was informed and he agreed to meet them at 8.30 a.m. “We then marched them to Suva under guard - sometimes we double marched,” the policeman said. The prisoners presented Ratu Ganilau with a tabua (whale’s tooth) at the start of their meeting. . ’He then ordered them breakfast. of tea, buns and scones before the prisoners. presented another whale’s tooth aßd said they were ready-to return to jail. Police said that 63 of those who had escaped were back in jail last evening. The rest, who were to have surrendered near the burnt-out prison, did not make the rendezvous and are still missing. Police Commissioner .Josefa Lewaicei made a national radio appeal last evening for the prisoners to surrender at the nearest police station.