Army seizes Speight supporters

SUVA - Fiji's military arrested 30 more supporters of rebel leader George Speight yesterday in a sweep of troublespots two days before he is due to make his first court appearance.

A large number of fresh troops were sent to the second-largest island, Vanua Levu, where ethnic Indians in the farming community of Dreketi had been the target of random attacks by Fijian nationalists, said an Army official.

"The military has arrested 30 males in Dreketi," Major Howard Politini told independent FM96 radio.

"A lot of the rebels who were responsible for [the attacks] have fled into the bush and that, of course, is going to be something that the military will continue to seek out."

Up to 20 Indian families were briefly held hostage on Sunday by armed rebels who roamed at will, burning homes and farm buildings.

Speight was arrested last week and charged on Monday with firearm offences, illegal assembly and the illegal burial of a supporter inside the parliamentary complex.

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Joe Naigulevu said Speight must appear in court before 10 pm tomorrow, when a court order allowing for his detention under military decree expires.

Speight plunged Fiji into crisis when he and armed supporters stormed Parliament on May 19, taking hostage the country's first ethnic Indian Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, in the name of indigenous Fijian rights.

The former businessman held Chaudhry and most of his cabinet hostage for 56 days in a bid to end the political power of Indians, who make up 44 per cent of the population and dominate the vital sugar and tourism sectors.

Speight won a series of concessions before freeing his captives last month. An interim Government made up almost entirely of indigenous Fijians will rule for up to three years.

Politini said the extra troops sent to Vanua Levu marked the start of a drive to wipe out lingering unrest.

The operation would be extended to other troublespots such as Korovou outside Suva.

The military also hoped for a peaceful end to a month-long occupation by armed rebels of the Monasavu hydro-electric plant.

"If not, we could go for a more aggressive approach," Politini said.

Speight's arrest followed his failure to meet the conditions of an amnesty offered to him for charges associated with the takeover of Parliament.

He was transferred to the island prison of Nukulau, off Suva, with seven key aides.

Police are still investigating possible charges of treason, which carry the death penalty.

The Army and police will decide whether the case is heard on Nukulau for security reasons.

Three of Speight's close associates, including his brother Jim, were arrested on Tuesday at Korovou. Soldiers are searching for four more aides and some missing weapons.

The final 55 of 361 Speight supporters detained a week ago appeared in court yesterday on unlawful assembly charges.

- REUTERS