21 Dec 2005

Fijian political party says Government responsible for former soldiers in Bougainville

11:27 am on 21 December 2005

The Fijian Political Party, the SVT, says the Fiji government must be held responsible for the actions of former Fiji soldiers acting as hired guns in Papua New Guinea's autonomous region of Bougainville.

The Fiji Sun reports that the SVT's general secretary, Ema Druavesi, as saying the former soldiers were sent by Ronin High Risk Security, the company formed by the leader of the gunmen during the Speight coup, Ilisoni Ligairi.

She says as the government had registered the company in July this year and allowed it "to operate any type of business buying, selling or marketing security work in Fiji and elsewhere," it must be held accountable for its operations.

Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea has asked neighbouring Solomon Islands to monitor its border with Bougainville in case the Fijians try to escape through that route to avoid arrest.