Wave Of Violent
p. 22 · Read in the full issue
Deaths In Fiji
From a Suva Correspondent • A large number of what are officially termed “deaths by violence” in Fiji in the last few months is causing grave concern. rgIHERE is apparently no cause for A this unprecedented outbreak, unless it is that since January 21, 1953, the death sentence has not been carried out in the Colony.
Some of Suva’s leading residents are of the opinion that if the death sentence were carried out the incidence of such deaths would drop.
As this story is written, a report has come in from Ba where an Indian, aged 27, father of five child ren, died from gunshot wounds.
Since January 21, 1953, eight people have been convicted of mur der in a total of five cases. Of these eight, the convictions of two were quashed on appeal. The remaining six were reprieved. Three of the re maining six were Fijians who were concerned in the same case, which involved the murde v of a teacher in a remote part of the Yasawas by means of buturaki (knocking a man down, walking over him, and kick ing him).
The number of “deaths violence” in 1958 up to Marc: was seven—three in Suva andfc virons, two at Lautoka, one aj and one at Rakiraki.
If the present rate is maints 28 people in Fiji will die by viox this year—a figure out of all portion to the population.
When a government spokes? was asked: Is it the policy of Government to commute o sentences to life imprisonmen imprisonment for a specified —the reply was: “It is a matter of the Gove exercising the Royal prerogq The Governor by law is boun consult Executive Council. I case is considered on its merits, every relevant factor is takem consideration, including ma. which may not be relevant in o such as provocation not sufflj in law to reduce the crime to : slaughter and abnormality of not amounting to legal insa:i The spokesman drew a linci tween “murder” and “death violence.”
He said, “In the first months of this year there hav<\ doubtedly been a larger mu than usual of deaths invcr violence. It is, of course, muc.c early to say how many of cases amounted to murder”.