28 Feb 2012

No arrests but steps towards reconciliation on Niue over 2011 arsons

5:00 am on 28 February 2012

Niue's police chief says no arrests have been made over a spate of arson attacks in Hikutavake last year but there's progress towards reconciliation.

The village experienced four arson attacks last year, one in May and the other three on December the 5th.

Mark Chenery says an arson attack and a shooting in January, over which charges have been laid, are not directly linked to last year's incidents.

A man has also been charged over two of the December fires but a reward of almost eight-thousand US dollars is offered over the third, which remains unsolved.

Mr Chenery says it's a matter of breaking down misplaced allegiances and loyalties but Hikutavake seems to be calming down.

"And we're getting a bit of dialogue going between the various parties - not together as yet but certainly between myself and Justin Kampala from Justice, who's the HOD of Justice, we might be able to look towards some further meetings with the parties involved to get a bit of reconciliation going and that's sort of what my focus is too."

Mark Chenery says it's the first time a reward has been offered on Niue.