Two Days Of Riots,

Looting In Suva

Troops and special police were called out in Suva on cember 10 after two days of serious rioting, during which >ps were smashed and looted, and attacks made on Euro ms. Many rioters were arrested.

riots followed a strike by oil mpany employees, and when is issue of PIM went to press, rs in some other industries ;ruck in sympathy; there was ility of strike action spreading urther; the Government had imed a night curfew in Suva, ia and Nadi (rioting had been ed only to Suva) with a ban sembly of more than three ; and Suva shops were still aded up. trouble began following a a strike of Vacuum and Shell any employees at the Suva, Virport and Vuda installations, demanded a basic wage of £6 t (compared with £3/0/6) and conditions. This was Dec. 7. sailing the strike, Mr. James ny, a young part-European, s Secretary of the Wholesale ,etail General Workers’ Union. 5d a company counter offer, ailed on other unions for sup- The sudden strike left petrol es short, and soon only ial services were being run.

Support For Strike e support for the strikers on December 9, when bus s and taxi drivers in Suva out in sympathy, leaving mds of Suva workers without )ort t afternoon, Mr. Anthony at ed to address a huge crowd, ing some strikers, in the bus aus area of Suva, but was pre -1 from doing so by the police, ce began firing smoke bombs the crowd —an action which Dremature according to some rers—and part of the crowd ited by hurling stones. Euro , including some Pressmen, lit, cars damaged and windows ted. Police used batons. ,t night a hooligan element over, and gangs of youths, y Fijian, but some Indian, led street lights, and began ling store windows and loot- Police seemed unable to keep )1. i following day the small gangs together and continued at on property, with many is introducing an anti-Euro element, jeering Europeans.

Indian stores were among those smashed.

The Legislative Council, which had been in session, adjourned in definitely. The Executive Council held an emergency meeting.

Appeal For Calm

Later, Mr. Anthony and Mr. B. D.

Lakshman, Indian MLC and trade union leader, and leading Fijian chiefs, appealed for calm and for transport to begin moving again.

As PIM went to press, union negotiations with the strikers were under way, and tensions were easing but the situation was still far from being calm.

Steel-helmeted policemen carry shields to protect them against Suva rioters.