Pilot says kidnap meant as warning

By NAOMI LARKIN

The two New Zealand pilots kidnapped at gunpoint were targeted because their Fijian captors want the New Zealand and Australian Governments to back off, says one of the men.

Maurice Parsons, aged 59, and fellow Air Fiji pilot James Henry, 27, were released about 10 am yesterday after being held hostage overnight by nationalist rebels on the island of Vanua Levu.

Mr Parsons, who is from Waiuku, told the Weekend Herald yesterday that their captors knew they were New Zealanders from the outset.

"The point they wanted to make with James and me was that maybe New Zealand and Australia should let them solve their own problems."

But Prime Minister Helen Clark said last night that the Government would not be influenced by "thugs."

"That would be totally naive if they thought an ill-judged and stupid action like that would have an effect on the position New Zealand has taken.

"Our bottom line is that we want to see a timetable for a return of democratic and constitutional Government and we're not going tobe dissuaded from that."

The kidnapping, by rebels loyal to George Speight, was linked to civil unrest that erupted throughout Fiji after the Army arrested the coup leader on Wednesday night.

Hundreds of Speight's supporters were also arrested in a dawn raid on a school outside Suva where they were camped. One man was killed and 40 people were injured.

The two pilots were seized after they landed a jet at Savusavu airport on Thursday.

Mr Henry said he was helping to unload baggage when the machinegun-toting rebels drove up in a double-cabbed ute.

Mr Parsons said the two pilots had no idea why they were targeted until their head captor, called Gilbert, told them at a ceremony held as part of negotiations for their release.

Up to then Mr Parsons thought their kidnapping was "in retaliation - and that was scary."

They were released after a negotiating team from Air Fiji visited Naibalebale village, where they were being held.

In line with traditional ceremony, the negotiators arrived with two tabua (whale's teeth), which they presented to the rebels. Later all parties, including the pilots, drank kava.

"Gilbert gave quite an emotional speech," Mr Parsons said. "He actually apologised ... At no time were we threatened."

Mr Parsons, who is the chief pilot for Air Fiji and has lived in Fiji off and on since 1980, said he had no intention of leaving his job.

Mr Henry, who is from Kerikeri in the Far North, said Gilbert told them he was one of the six gunmen, led by Speight, who stormed Parliament on May 19, taking former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and his Government hostage. Many were held for 56 days.

He said the two pilots were not maltreated and were well fed. They thought about escaping but realised it was better to wait it out.

Yesterday, the Government upgraded its travel warning, advising New Zealanders not to visit Fiji. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said people remained there at their own risk.