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Fiji Time: 10:37 AM on Thursday 20 June

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Armed men trash democracy shrine

Monday, December 11, 2006

A group of armed men are alleged to have broken into a democracy shrine, on Saturday night before tearing down banners and damaging the property.

The democracy shrine was set up in a house in Lami on the outskirts of Suva last week by people opposed to the takeover of the elected Government by the military.

The concerned pro-democracy youth group claimed the military was behind the attack, because witnesses saw about seven armed men in civilian clothes carrying guns.

They used wire cutters to enter the yard after what witnesses claimed that they arrived in a twin cab vehicle and parked near the property for some time before the attack.

Nothing was stolen, though the person who was at the property had reportedly been traumatised by the incident, which occurred at about 10pm and witnessed by neighbours, passersby and a security guard, whose statements have been taken by police.

Property owner Laisa Digitaki, said the Young People Concerned Network would not be intimidated by the incident and would continue to protest peacefully from the building.

"We have been continuously threatened to dismantle our democracy shrine by this illegal regime. Witnesses' statement to the break-in clearly suggest that these cowards are from the military camp," said Ms Digitaki.

"But this unfortunate act of violence by the army will not deter us from raising new protest banners today," she said.

The attackers had taken down banners proclaiming Yes to Democracy No To Guns' but left the Fiji flags untouched.

Broken glasses littered the exterior of the building and the Sky Dish was also damaged. Total damage had not been estimated yet.

Ms Digitaki branded Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama and his illegal regime' as "terrorists".

"We now have a very dangerous situation where the Commodore, who had given his public assurance to protect our Fiji populace with his guns, have turned around and done exact opposite by terrorising our innocent citizens in the privacy of their own homes with his guns," she said.

The Lami police confirmed receiving a report on Saturday night and were investigating the matter.

Military spokesman, Major Neumi Leweni said the military was in the dark about the incident.

"We don't know anything about it and if a report has been filed with police then we will just have to wait on the results of the investigations," Captain Leweni said.