24 Jun 2002

No more money for Fiji coup victims

4:05 pm on 24 June 2002

The Fiji government says no more help will be offered to farm victims of the anti-Indian campaign after the May 2000 coup.

The Daily Post says this has been confirmed by the Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase.

Mr Qarase says the intial offer of help was for 2 thousand 250 US dollars to rebuild damaged homes and three months of food rations until the farmers crops were mature and ready for harvest.

He says there would be no more assisstance from the government because it is now time for the farmers to make a life for themselves with what has been given to them.

His explanation follows complaints from farmers that they are unable to rebuild their homes with the state assistance provided.

Hundreds of farmers fled the anti Indian terror in Muaniweni and Dawasamu after the coup but many started returning last year after government promises of help with resettlement.