Fiji police have arrested and charged nine villagers who mounted railway and road blocks for over four weeks causing severe financial losses.
Six villagers have appeared in the Ba magistrate's court for felling a tree across a railway line at Sorokoba and blocking it after the lease for the land expired.
They have been charged with obstructing a railway but were released on bail and ordered to maintain peace because civil proceedings related to the blockade are under way in the Lautoka High Court.
Another three villagers have appeared in the Sigatoka magistrates court for blocking the Cuvu Beach Road which provides access to the offices of the Fiji Sugar Corporation, the Land Transport Authority and a major new hotel development.
The three have been charged with obstruction and released on bail till their next appearance in court on the 16th of this month.
