Fiji Gunmen Release 4 Female Hostages

Gunmen holding Fiji’s deposed government hostage released their four remaining female captives early today, including three ministers of the ousted Cabinet, a Red Cross official said.

The four women were among 31 hostages being held at the Parliament complex here in the capital.

Under heavy police escort, they were taken first to see family members, then to see a team of trauma specialists who gave them medical checkups and counseling, officials said.

“I’m thankful to the lord for making this day possible,” said Lavenia Padarath, who was the social welfare minister under ousted Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, outside a church service she attended after her release. “That’s what we Fijians are all about. We come to church, we pray and we forgive. . . . We forgive those who have made us captives.”

Radio Fiji quoted rebel spokesman Jo Nata as saying the four were released as a goodwill gesture. Fiji’s school year is about to begin, and the rebels wanted the women--all mothers--to be back with their children, the station quoted Nata as saying.

But rebel leader George Speight downplayed the suggestion, saying “as for the goodwill side of it, let people interpret what they want to interpret.”

Among those released was Adi Koila Nailatikau, who was the transport and tourism minister. She also is the daughter of former President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.

Twenty-seven other former lawmakers, including Chaudhry, remain captive in the Parliament building.

The hostages have been held since May 19, when rebels led by Speight stormed the compound. Chaudhry was the first ethnic Indian prime minister of this Pacific island nation, and the ethnic Fijian rebels say they attempted their coup because the government was trampling the rights of the indigenous majority.

In the wake of the coup attempt, some indigenous Fijians launched attacks on ethnic Indians, looting homes and businesses. Fiji’s military then took over, and martial law was declared May 29.

The military has been negotiating with the rebels, trying to agree on details of an interim civilian government that presumably would lead Fiji to new elections within two years.