25 Sep 2002

Indo Fijian farmers in Fiji threaten to go on a hunger strike

3:06 pm on 25 September 2002

A group of Indo-Fijian farmers in Fiji has threatened to go on a hunger strike after being trapped behind a roadblock erected by indigenous landowners.

About 85 families at Nabitu in a remote part of Sigatoka say those manning the roadblock, make cash demands every time they leave their settlement to sell their produce.

Even sick people and pregnant women trying to reach hospital have not been spared.

The farmers say the authorities have known about the situation for two years but have done nothing about it.

They say they feel trapped and helpless, and they will go on a hunger strike if nothing is done about their plight.