Subject: 'austraLasia' # 392

ALCATRAZ - EAT YOUR HEART OUT!

Julian Fox

SUVA: 30th July -- Back at the time of the last hostile invasion of Fiji a mere century and a (rather big) bit ago, the victorious warriors of the island of Taveuni enjoyed a 'hearty' meal, courtesy of the defeated Tongan chief Ma'afu! These days the victorious group has been a little more gracious in victory by consigning the defeated to a newly gazetted island penal colony. Not unlike Alcatraz, Suva's picnic favourite Nukulau island sits just a respectable distance off the main drag around town. The only real sharks are reef sharks - quite harmless. But the odd naval gunboat patrolling the mile exclusion zone suffices to keep those on, on and those off, off. George Speight and his closest advisors, plus the rounded-up 'dirty dozen' of the rebel army unit will have an extended stay on this island, at least until the investigations of various alleged misdemeanours is complete. It seems the Fijians have learnt something from the British after all. A Tasmanian like myself views all this with a certain smugness. Actually, the Fiji Times of Sunday 30th July puts it rather well: "Comfort was another motive for the transfer of prisoners (to this island). 'We do not have the facilities to accommodate them here (in Suva)', said Major Politini. 'All we have are cells. At least on the island they can walk around freely and enjoy the fresh air'". They certainly can - there is nothing else on Nukulau except fresh air, some water, a limited stretch of swimmable beach and a few coconut palms.

So where does that leave the rest of Fiji? Suva is secure, presently, and especially with the rebellious focus of the past two months just out of focus for the moment - that includes some 400 supporters who were taken in, questioned and, in some cases, released but obviously warned not to consort for the immediate future. Army presence is more visible, but this would generally be regarded as good value, though it leads to some delays on the roads, since the visibility is largely there, at checkpoints.

The problem for law-enforcing agents now is the rebellious provinces,including those in the Northern region (Vanua Levu, the second largest island is still 'occupied' in terms of army barracks and to some extent Labasa Town)and the North Eastern Province of Tailevu, GS's 'home' province, which still witnesses unspeakable acts of burnings and other attacks on Indo-Fijian families. A new Government has been sworn in, but as of yesterday some 50 Western chiefs representing the areas of Fiji's income-earners: sugar, gold and tourism, vowed to form an independent sovereign state of Western Viti Levu. That will be an interesting one to follow up in the next few days. The media, one notes, have been moved to turn attention to some of the attacks on Indo-Fijian families, and have printed (Daily Post, Sat 29th) the findings of the group led by Fr. John McEvoy SSC into the Dawasamu area - material provided in an earlier edition of RPN.

Next Wednesday will see a Labour/Trade Union-led national day of Law and Order, Peace and Democracy, touted at this stage as a day of national prayer! If indeed this comes off, it will be in stark contrast to the days of protest which led the country into its present chaos. One most irritating consequence of Fijian anomy has been the breakdown of one public utility - power. Just one mataqali (clan) still holds the

Monasavu power station, which it has sabotaged to boot. This has reduced power output by 75% on Viti Levu, and for those living in Suva, the availability of power in 2 hour slots not always calculable, is both frustrating and damaging.

The Pacific Regional Seminary resumes on Monday 31st July after a two and a half month recession.

Fiji Religious continue to act on behalf of the people whom they serve. Groups involving many of them are quietly at work in parishes, schools and other activities, discovering the many needs especially of the poor. A small but effective appeal has been made to offer financial assistance where such is deemed essential. This appeal has been conducted through the Religious Congregations and Societies with men and women working in Fiji.