Pacific News Round Up
posted 20th September 2000

DAKUVULA WARNS OF TOUGHER SANCTIONS AGAINST FIJI SUVA:
Fiji faces tougher international sanctions if the military-installed interim Prime Minister refuses to support a government of national unity with the deposed coalition government, warns constitutional advocate Jone Dakuvula. He made the warning in Suva at the weekend as the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group in New York rejected Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's two-year plan, saying his administration lacked "both legitimacy and credibility". The committee of foreign ministers rejected the two-year timetable for fresh elections, and asked for the appointment of a special envoy to help accelerate the restoration of democracy. The meeting made the decision after considering the report of its mission to Fiji in June and submissions by both Qarase and the deposed elected Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry. The Sunday Sun reported today that Qarase was expected to face protesters calling for the restoration of democracy in Fiji before he addressed the United Nations in New York. Dakuvula, a member of the Suva-based Citizens' Constitutional Forum executive committee, has just returned from a visit to the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. In a statement, he said there was an "international consensus" that there was no acceptable justification for the interim Qarase administration to remain in power for two years. "They all agree that the interim administration should return Fiji to constitutional democracy under the framework of the 1997 constitution," he said. "They do not believe that Fiji requires a new constitution or a general election after two years. "Their legal experts have analysed the 1997 constitution and they have advised their respective governments that the interests of the indigenous Fijians for development are best promoted under the [present] constitution." Dakuvula said he believed that if Qarase refused to support a government of national unity with the deposed coalition government under the 1997 constitution, "international sanctions against Fiji will be maintained and intensified and would include European Community sanctions, the United States and even the United Nations". "The international community will blame the Qarase cabinet for the economic and other consequences of intensified international sanctions against Fiji in the months and years ahead for its intransigence against immediate return to constitutional government," he said. "If the Qarase cabinet refuses to cooperate with the CMAG and the European Parliament (which has given a November deadline), then it must not blame other countries' actions against Fiji."

BOMB DEFUSED NEAR TREASON COURT IN SUVA
Fiji's military forces and police were today planning tougher security measures following the discovery of a home-made bomb outside the Suva courthouse on Friday, news reports said. Military spokesman Major Howard Politini said an "improvised explosive device" was discovered in the gardens adjacent to the courthouse situated in the Government Buildings. According to the Sunday Sun, the military said the location and timing of the device suggested a link to the court hearings of coup leader George Speight and 20 other rebels who have been detained at Nukulau Island on treason charges. Military explosives experts defused the bomb. The Sunday Times said the device was timed to explode at 2pm when a group of the rebels were expected to appear in the Magistrates Court. "The bomb consisted of explosives, an alarm clock, detonator and battery pack placed inside a tabili (metal instrument used to pound yaqona [kava])," the paper said. The Sunday Sun said: "A security guard noticed the suspicious newspaper wrapped package and the army was alerted." Major Politini was quoted as saying: "The public is advised to exercise extra precaution in the wake of this incident and to treat all suspicious packages with caution." The bomb was found following the recovery of weapons and ammunition in a series of military raids around the country last week. At the western town of Lautoka, a pastor and escaped prisoners are expected to appear in court tomorrow in connection with the capture of one weapons cache.

NEWSMAN'S MOTHER WANTS SON LEFT IN PEACE
By Jordan Baker The mother of Australian newsman Tony Stewart who was shot dead in East Timor in 1975 yesterday broke her 25-year silence to plead for her son to be left in peace. June Stewart said a new United Nations investigation into the 1975 killing of five newsmen in East Timor would not bring Tony back. "His resurrection is impossible, so ... what does (a new investigation) really matter at this stage?" she said. "I can't see much point. He was killed at 21. What can they do about that?" But Mrs Stewart said she backed calls from the mother of another murdered newsman, Minna Rennie, for an apology for the pain caused by 25 years of of official bungling. "I would appreciate ... an apology for the cover-up and the shameful conditions at the time, and then let the thing rest," she said. Mrs Stewart's son Paul, now 39, agrees. "The thing that gets me is that these journalists died doing their job ... they captured the truth on film, that Indonesia was invading, and I think that should be the end of the story of the journalists." Tony Stewart was one of five Australian-based television newsmen killed in the town of Balibo on October 16, 1975, during Indonesia's invasion of East Timor. Channel Seven reporter Greg Shackleton, sound recordist Tony Stewart and cameraman Gary Cunningham from New Zealand and Channel Nine crew Malcolm Rennie and cameraman Brian Peters, both British citizens, had gone to Balibo to check out reports of Indonesian troops in the area. Australian investigators and the Indonesian government concluded that the newsmen were caught in crossfire between Indonesian troops and East Timorese defenders. But the United Nations has announced a fresh investigation after new witness evidence backed long-held suspicions that the men were murdered. Shirley Shackleton, the widow of another of the murdered reporters, Greg, is also demanding a royal commission into the killings.

UN OPENS INQUIRY INTO 1975 MURDER OF JOURNALISTS IN TIMOR
Dili East Timor (AP)--The U.N. has opened an investigation into the deaths of five foreign newsmen killed during Indonesia's invasion of East Timor in 1975, a U.N. official said Friday. On October 16, 1975, reporter Malcolm Rennie, 28, and cameraman Brian Peters, 29, both British citizens; reporter Greg Shackleton, 27, and soundman Tony Stewart, 21, both of Australia; and New Zealand cameraman Gary Cunningham, 27, were murdered in the town of Balibo. Australian investigators and the Indonesian government said the newsmen were caught in a firefight between Indonesian troops and East Timorese defenders. But former resistance fighters testified that the journalists were executed in cold blood by the Indonesian invaders. The Indonesian forces were commanded by Maj. Gen. Leonardus Benny Moerdani, one of ex-dictator's closest henchmen, who later served as defense minister. East Timor's U.N. police spokesman Antero Lopes said officials have uncovered new information about the killings that has prompted a fresh investigation. He said investigators, from Canada, Nepal, Portugal, Australia and Nigeria, have been assigned to look into the case. Indonesia's military invaded the former Portuguese colony in 1975. Some 200,000 people, mostly civilians, died as a result of famine and military repression before an Aug. 30, 1999 referendum. Four-fifths of East Timorese voted for independence in the U.N.-sponsored vote. The result infuriated pro-Indonesian militias, which reacted by murdering hundreds of people and laying waste to much of the territory.. nd to poverty. These foot-soldiers are mobilisi