brutal say
p. 51 · Read in the full issue
Police were brutal say demonstrators
Demonstrators in the New Heb rides just before Christmas were too late with a demand that two brothers be released from gaol. The day before the Resident Commissioners had asked for a review of the case, and had decided to release the brothers in the meantime. The brothers, Shem and Lindsay Rama, had been im prisoned for six and four months respectively by the Native Court for alleged assault on the French police.
The demonstrators, about 200 of them, belonged to the New Hebrides National Party. They carried banners demanding the brothers’ release and judicial reform. They marched from the market place of Vila to the French Residency.
They were allowed to assemble in front of the French Residency offices, where they handed a four-point petition to the Acting French Resident Commissioner, Mr Fabre, requesting: • Immediate release of the Raruas; • A special court of inquiry to in vestigate allegations of police bru tality against the Raruas; • Right of appeal from the Native Courts to the Joint Court; • Creation of a condominium police disciplinary code.
Mr Fabre explained to Mr Kalkot Matas, who spoke for the demon strators, that he could not answer the petition without consulting the British Residency.
Mr Townsend, British Assistant Resident Commissioner, arrived soon after and there was a discussion with the demonstrators. The decision to refer the matter to the Joint Court for review was explained, and also that it had been decided to release the Rama brothers in the meantime.
A message was relayed to Santo instructing the French Commandant of Police to release the brothers.
Shem Rarua, soon after, spoke on the radio to Mr Matas. Mr Matas relayed this to the demonstrators, and added that the government would be asked to consider the other three points in the petition and reply in a month. He then asked the de monstrators to go home. They did—
immediately.
• Mr Joe Mulders, secretary of the New Hebrides Chamber of Com merce and Industry has been ap pointed chairman of the Melanesian Tourist Federation.