With the political crisis in Fiji entering its 20th day on Thursday and a solution nowhere in sight, the country's ethnic Indians are living in fear. About 100 people, including deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, are inside Parliament House with coup leader George Speight and his supporters refusing to relase any of them.
Sporadic violence continues.
A police officer who went there to investigate the theft of cars was allegedly bashed up by Speiaght's supporters on Thursday. The officer, who was severely beaten, was first treated in the Parliament infirmary and was allowed to leave after a soldier intervened for his release. One person is reported to have died some days back after allegedly being shot by some people from inside the Parliament complex. Corporal Filipo Seavula was buried at his village in Ba on Wednesday, reports said. Meanwhile, chiefs in the Western Division called for Fiji to be made a Christian state, further heightening Indian concerns.