16 businessmen to be investigated for links with terrorists

Issue No: 162; 31 October 2000

16 businessmen, mostly ethnic Indians, are to be questioned over their involvement with the George Speight terrorist group.

A Fiji TV news report this evening stated that 40 more persons are to be interrogated over their actions and support for the terrorists who took over the Parliament Complex on 19 May. Included in this group are 16 businessmen, mostly ethnic Indians who allegedly financed George Speight and other terrorists to depose the Peoples Coalition Government. It is understood that names of prominent ethnic Indian businessmen are included in the list, some of who were apparently unhappy with the People’s Coalitions’ people-oriented policies.

On Sunday, speaking on the TV’s Close-up program, elected Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry stated that there were evidences of some businesspeople involved in the destabilisation and the illegal activities leading to and after 19 May.

One member of the House of Representatives close to the business community said he doubted whether the police and the military would be able to maintain the wherewithal to complete the investigations professionally. He stated that the financial influence of those involved reaches the highest echelons of the current regime. The regime needs investments badly and the businessmen will try to hold this carrot to get the investigations aborted, he stated.
 

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