Fiji unionist claims vandalism attack was political
Updated
Large stones have been thrown through the windows of the home of Attar Singh, chairman of the Movement for Democracy, in what he believes was a politically motivated attack. The incident is the latest in a series of attacks on high profile activists, politicians and journalists. He's filed a complaint with the police, but doesn't believe they will be able to find out who caused the damage.
Presenter Bruce Hill
Speakers: Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions general secretary Attar Singh, Fiji Police spokesman Atunaisa Sokomuri
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HILL: Attar Singh awoke in the early hours of Sunday morning to the sound of smashing glass. His home and cars had lovo stones, large stones used in traditional Fijian earth ovens, thrown through their windows by unidentified men who fled in a white van. Mr Singh links this incident to one which happened six days ago, in which Fiji Times editor in chief Netani Rika's vehicle was smashed outside his home, and other recent incidents.
SINGH: Two or three weeks ago my colleague a former minister in the last Government, his car and house windows were also broken, and then more recently last week we had the editor of the Fiji Times, Netani Rika, his car suffered a similar fate while it was parked on the road in front of his house. And of course earlier on a few others. So these are a trend, the kind of attacks that needs individuals who have been saying things or speaking out against the regime or calling for democracy, that's what we're faced with.
HILL: Do you think this attack on you was political and if so who might have carried it out?
SINGH: Well it was definitely political, I think there can't be any doubt about that because there were several cars parked outside in my neighbour's compound, which is not fenced at all, there's no extra security at all. Those cars were not attacked. These people who attacked my house and my car and my wife's car, they did not break into my gate, if they wanted they could have climbed the fence and come in if they wanted to burgle. But that obviously wasn't the intention, the intention was simply to intimidate, to fear. Exactly who is doing this we cannot put a finger on it. But I think it can be safely concluded that these are people who do not like what we're saying regarding our calls for democracy.
HILL: Well you've suggested that this is designed to intimidate, is it going to intimidate you? I guess it must be a little difficult when things like this start to affect your family?
SINGH: You are correct, it is only natural that if you are woken up by the noise of breaking windows in your house at three in the morning it is quite traumatising, it is particularly when it's your family home which is supposed to be the safest place for us. So to answer your question we are not about to be intimidated by this.
HILL: Are you confident that the police will be able to investigate this properly?
SINGH: Well I feel sorry for the police, whether they'll be able to get to the bottom of it or not, we doubt very much.
HILL: Fiji Police say they're investigating the incident, and have called for members of the public who may have seen anything to come forward. Police spokesman Atunaisa Sokomuri says Mr Singh's claims of a political motive to the vandalism is just speculation at this stage.
SOKOMURI: There are a lot of allegations like that and things have been said by previous people, by people who have their residences and property damage. But the Fiji police force we want to investigate what really has happened on the night and also we will investigate his complaints, but otherwise all allegations by Mr Singh, the Fiji police force he is a member of the public. We will do our duty in investigating all these cases.
HILL: How confident are the police of getting a result on this case?
SOKOMURI: This incident has happened in the middle of the night and in the early hours of the morning when everybody's asleep. This is one thing that's hindering our investigation because unlike an incident that happens in the daylight, there's a lot of things, but this incident there's hardly anyone awake.
