Farmers flee after attack
TWO Chinese brothers who farmed at Waibau in Naitasiri had to flee from their homes as two of their neighbouring farmers attacked them, according to an article published by
The Fiji Times on October 1, 1986. The article stated the brothers left their homes and fled along with their families to seek shelter with a relative in Suva.
Mr Loo Cheng, 35, and his wife were attacked by two Chinese farmers. The wife of one of the attackers also came armed with a fork, a hoe and a stick.
According to the article, the attack happened while the couple were returning home after spending a day at the farm.
Mr Cheng’s wife was struck by a fork and had to receive medical attention from a deep cut to her back while his brother Loo Chun injured his head while trying to help his brother.
Mr Cheng told The Fiji Times the attack erupted during an argument between him and one of the attackers. His home was broken into while also being told by another farmer, the attacker was sighted leaving his home, adding more than $300 was stolen.
“I then went up to him early that morning to ask him whether he had entered my house,” Mr Cheng said.
“We had a heated exchange in his compound, and he warned me not to accuse him or I will be a very sorry man.”
According to the article, Mr Cheng left the compound along with his wife after being threatened and returned to their property.
“On our way back, we were confronted by this fellow I had argued with, his wife and a friend of theirs who were all armed.
“An argument developed, and they started beating us up.”
Mr Cheng said this was when his brother rushed to the scene after seeing what happened from his home.
“My wife was pierced on the back by a fork one of them was holding and was bleeding heavily.
“My brother was also hurt when he was hit by a stick.”
The Fiji Times reported the attackers then retreated after Mr Cheng hit one of them with a hoe he was carrying.
On Sunday morning, the attackers returned to the compound and started to threaten Mr Cheng and his family again.
“We could not sleep well on Sunday night, and I had to stay up watching over my wife and my three children.
“On Monday morning, I heard rumours from some Fijian farmers nearby that this fellow I had argued with about the break-in had been going around saying he was serious about killing me.”
According to the article, Mr Cheng reported the matter to Nausori police.
“I also told my brother about it, and we had no choice but to leave our homes as our lives and that of our families were at stake.”
The article concluded with the two families closing and locking their houses on a Monday afternoon and leaving for Suva to live with relatives in Toorak.