Stop the nonsense, students warned

A student of Marist Brother High School is in police custody and will be presented in court tomorrow charged for the recent school fights in Suva.

The 19-year-old is believed to be the instigator of the fights.

“He has been charged and will be presented in court tomorrow,” Fiji Police ACP Rusiate Tudravu told FijiLive.

Tudravu said there will be no special operations into school fights, but confirmed that students of the Marist and Grammar are being closely monitored.

“We are advising teachers, parents and heads of schools to be more vigilant in controlling their students and children,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fiji’s Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Ioane Naivalurua will visit Suva Grammar later today to address students after an earlier visit to Marist.

In his address to students of Marist, Naivalurua mentioned penalties for breaking the law which includes a prison sentence.

“There is a huge population in the Fiji prisons and anyone who breaks the law will be taken into task,” Naivalurua said.

“Its not worth the risk to take a stand at this time. Stop the nonsense, don’t be stupid and the damage has already been done so don’t cross the line.”

He further said that school is an area of development and not for instigating violence.

In a statement, police spokeswoman Ana Naisoro said three students have been injured in the two fights.

“Innocent parties have also been involved whereby yesterday primary school students were caught up in the scuffle,” Naisoro said.

“This also resulted in a bus sustaining damage after students allegedly smashed the back window with a metal pipe.

“Despite previous attempts to contain the problem, students of the two respective schools continue to disregard the warnings and advisories.”

Those with information are being asked to help Police try to determine the root cause of why the fights are taking place as investigations step up on pursuing those behind these attacks, the police statement said.

By Indrani Krishna