Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
NEWSFLASH: Rebel Leader Speight Arrested
Gunfire has been exchanged outside Suva this morning following the arrest last night of George Speight and three of his supporters by the Fijian army.
This morning a truck carrying men with their hands tied has headed out of a village outside Suva where Speight was located towards the Suva Hospital. One soldier is also thought to be injured.
The Military last night arrested Speight, Joe Nata and two others.
An army spokesman said that the army had good reason to do so because not all guns had been returned – Speight had been seen with an armed escort and that was illegal, he said.
One of Speight’s supporters says that the army’s actions are tantamount to a declaration of war. Supporters also claim that the arresting soldier was the son of Ratu Mara the former President, and that the arrest was in revenge.
NZ Foreign Minister Phil Goff says he is
monitoring the situation in Fiji
closely.
Alastair Thompson
Scoop Publisher
Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.
Harry Finch: Austerity – For And Against
Gordon Campbell: On Winston Peters’ Pathetic Speech At The UN
Binoy Kampmark: Flicker Of Hope, Biden’s Throwaway Lines On Assange
Media Matters NZ: Here We Go Again
Ian Powell: How To Immobilise A Health System’s Primary Statutory Adviser And Monitor
Gordon Campbell: On Israel’s Murderous Use Of AI In Gaza