Anger at Mel Gibson island purchase

Film director Mel Gibson has reportedly bought an entire Fijian island from a hotel chain – but villagers are planning a legal challenge, saying they own it. According to the BBC News website, Gibson is thought to have bought Mago Island – in Fiji’s Northern Lau group of islands – for £7.8 million from the Japanese Tokyu Corporation. But villagers on the neighbouring island, Namalata, claim they are the rightful owners because their ancestors were evicted illegally in the 19th century. Timoci Waqalevu, chairman of the Namalata Development Committee, reportedly told the Fiji Times: “Our island was sold for 2,000 coconut palms. Stories told by our forefathers are that they were forced to leave at gunpoint. There is still evidence of those who refused to leave and were killed. There is a dugout hole where their skeletons still remain.” The group is reportedly hoping that it will win backing from the Fijian government; this seems unlikely, however. Prime Minister Laisenia Qarasi is quoted as saying: “The government cannot do anything because it is a freehold property.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd