Police Bid To Gas Prisoners In Fiji Jail, Say Witnesses
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday July 22, 1988
A Fijian policeman aimed a motor van's exhaust pipe at the open grille of cells in Suva's Central Police Station and revved the motor, directing deadly carbon monoxide fumes at prisoners, according to witnesses.
The witnesses, whose accounts have reached the Herald, said 18 prisoners, including three Columban priests, were exposed to the gas in two bursts for a total of about 10 minutes.
As far as can be determined, the prisoners suffered no long-term physical effects, but evidence of the gassing will be submitted to the Chief Magistrate in Suva when the 18, now on remand, face charges of unlawful assembly.
According to the witnesses, the policeman depressed the van's accelerator with a hand while watching the men and women in the cells respond to the exhaust fumes.
The incident took place in May, on the first anniversary of the military coup in Fiji.
A group of people had gathered in Sukuna Park, Suva, having secured a council permit to hold "a cultural event", with singing and dancing.
Witnesses say Police Superintendent Qalo Bulatiko allowed the people to carry on, provided no placards or banners were displayed.
However, Superintendent Bulatiko's superior officer, Mr Jone Waisale, said members of the Taukei movement might hear of the Sukuna Park meeting and police would not be able to protect the meeting.
After much debate between those at the meeting and police, according to the accounts, police said the only way to get the meeting to disperse was to "take them in".
Sixteen people, including two priests, were taken to the Central police station. A third priest was taken in for trying to talk to his colleagues through an open window and Emma Druavesi, a coalition candidate in the last elections, was taken from the grounds of the Catholic Cathedral near the station.
The group was charged after about five hours. Nine men were put in one cell and nine women in another. They resumed their singing.
At about 11pm, 12 hours after being taken in, the group was singing God Save the Queen and the Fijian national anthem when a policeman was ordered to reverse the van and direct the exhaust at the cells.
Witnesses said the motor was run at top speed.
Prisoners got down on the floor and tried to cover their faces with whatever was available.
The engine was run for about five minutes. Singing was resumed after the motor was stopped, only to have the engine revved again.
The group was released on bail after 24 hours at the station and appeared in court the next day. The case was adjourned until September 22.
© 1988 Sydney Morning Herald