[tamil] Fiji PM and 7 Cabinet ministers held hostage
When it happened last time, I did not forget how india acted for the
Hindian in Fiji.
Hope two ships will go around south Pacific doing usual exercise and some
humanitarian sorties from Cochin to Suva.
I enjoy this scene...... Humanitarian help for Chaudhry aginst our enimies
(the native Fuji aboriginal terrorists). Ha!
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May 19, 2000
Web posted at: 8:46 a.m. HKT (0046 GMT)
http://www.cnn.com/2000/ASIANOW/australasia/05/18/fiji.pm/index.html
SUVA, Fiji (CNN) -- Fiji's Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and seven
Cabinet ministers are reportedly being held hostage in the Fijian
Parliament building.
Australian Broadcasting Corp radio reported that shots had apparently been
fired inside the building after seven men, wearing civilian clothes,
reportedly entered parliament at 10 a.m. Friday (2200 GMT Thursday).
Friday is the first anniversary of the election of Chaudhry's
Indian-dominated government, which has been accused of exacerbating racial
divisions in the South Pacific nation.
Telecom New Zealand advised that the phone service to Fiji has gone down.
In addition to his post as Prime Minister, Chaudhry is also the minister
responsible for Finance, Public Enterprise, the Sugar Industry and the
Public Service.
Fiji, a former British colony, won independence in 1970. However, in 1987 a
military coup led by Lt. Col. Sitiveni Rabuka toppled a newly elected
Indian-dominated coalition.
In 1990, a new constitution, favoring indigenous Fijians was introduced and
Rabuka was named as president.
It was not immediately clear what the protesters wanted, but Chaudhry's
Labor government has been under fire recently from Fijian nationalists for
what they describe as pro-Indian policies.
All telephone lines to Fiji appeared to be cut. Callers from Australia were
told in a recorded message: "The destination you have called is
experiencing a service disruption."
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