Everyone is very cross with Fiji and there's all sorts of talk against us, of bans and embargoes and all that, and it's probably going to affect me and so I'm not at all happy about it. I have to live here, you know!
Of course I only know the Hong Kong side of what made Fiji go on an insane rampage in Wan Chai last night that erupted into a full-scale riot, in the very streets alongside us, and, to be fair-minded I'd like to hear the Fiji side, but until I do, here's what we Honkers are saying about what happened:
That it all started in here ...
... at Carnegies on Lockhart Road ...... at about 2 a.m. when a whole lot of Fijians who've signed with other Nations to play 7s, met up for drinks with the Fiji 7s team.
Seems they were all sitting around here, drinking hard ...
Seems they were all sitting around here, drinking hard ...
Inside Carnegies.... when someone unknown accused some Fijian player who'd signed up with New Zealand of something and then the unknown accuser smashed a glass into the Fijian player's face and ripped it to pieces and they had to call an ambulance to take him away.
And while the players were all standing around here ...
Outside Carnegies. ... watching the ambulance, a massive fight broke out among them that rolled all the way down this pavement ...
All quiet now, but not last night.
... until it was stopped by police about here ...
Junction of Lockhart and Luard Streets.
Junction of Lockhart and Luard Streets.... who used batons and pepper spray against them all, and arrested heaps of them, including Paula Maisiri, who plays for New Zealand and who was charged with beating up a Hong Kong policeman.
Then things were quiet for about an hour until some Fijian players got stroppy with bouncers in here ...
Amazonias.
Luard Street.
... and which escalated into even more vicious incidents along here ...
Corner of Luard and Jaffe Road.
Then things were quiet for about an hour until some Fijian players got stroppy with bouncers in here ...
Amazonias.... which erupted into a massive fight that spilled out onto the pavement here ...
Pavement outside Amazonia's.
... and it was all on again, with Fijian players of many Nations rushing from everywhere and taking on all the bouncers and policemen around, and for over an hour there were rolling brawls up and down these streets with many incidents involving mega-violence and flowing blood, with one particularly nasty incident - although I don't know what - happening just around here ...
Pavement outside Amazonia's.... and it was all on again, with Fijian players of many Nations rushing from everywhere and taking on all the bouncers and policemen around, and for over an hour there were rolling brawls up and down these streets with many incidents involving mega-violence and flowing blood, with one particularly nasty incident - although I don't know what - happening just around here ...
Luard Street.... and which escalated into even more vicious incidents along here ...
Corner of Luard and Jaffe Road.It all got so bad that the police called in the riot squad, who brought out all their fancy equipment brought especially for the WTO Riots last year, and there was a full-scale brutal war between the two sides, until police with riot shields and batons beat all the Fijians back into a single area around here ...
Outside Dusk To Dawn
Jaffe Road.
Outside Dusk To DawnJaffe Road.
... and then sprayed them all with pepper spray which brought the whole thing to a standstill just after 5 a.m.
And that's all I know of events, but I would really appreciate anyone who can tell me more about what happened.
After this weekend is over and things get quiet again, I'll drop by these places and see what I can find out, so watch this space.
As mentioned above the Fiji 7s officials who I chatted with at the stadium, say it definitely, 100%, wasn't the Fiji 7s Team, and they doubt it was any of the Fiji players who've currently signed with other nation's 7s teams because no one looks more than normally injured, nor tired, nor are they playing badly.
Then I chatted with a couple of chance-met Fiji 10s players, currently in town to play, who say that, apart from the named rioter Paula Maisiri, who everyone knows to have once played for Fiji, and who has now retired, no one can figure out who these rioters actually were. They wonder if they were former players in town to watch the 7s, or just Fiji supporters, or maybe even Fiji 15s.
Then I chatted to a couple of chance-met guys from the Fiji 15s and they say it definitely wasn't any of them, and wonder if whoever it was were really Fijians, or if it was just people saying they were Fijians.
And the moment I get them organised, I will post photographs both here and in Picassa of the Fijian supporters at the stadium and you can see for yourself that there's no one who flew out from Fiji to support our team who looks even slightly bruised let alone wearing any tell-tale signs of post-riot!
Definitely a mystery, huh!
At least 50 people including rugby players were involved in a vicious street brawl on the eve of the Hong Kong Sevens, a report said on Saturday, casting a shadow over the city's biggest annual party.
Police used riot shields, batons and pepper spray to subdue running battles through the sleazy Wanchai area in the early hours of Friday, the South China Morning Post said.
Former Fiji Sevens player Paula Maisiri, who had been taking part in a 10-a-side tournament, was reportedly fined 500 dollars (65 US) for assaulting a police officer.
"The fighting exploded like it would on a rugby pitch. There were so many people watching. I've never seen anything like it," an eye witness was quoted as saying.
"There were police with shields and batons and blood everywhere," another said.
Despite widespread heavy drinking and rowdy behaviour, serious violence is unusual at the Hong Kong Sevens which attracts thousands of fans from all over the world and a large number of expatriate residents.
In 2005, a British barman had fingers and part of his right hand cut off in an attack outside the Sevens by Triad gangsters wielding meat cleavers and wearing surgical masks, who mistook him for somebody else.
The latest incident will be unwelcome for many bar and restaurant owners who have already been hit by the city's recession and are looking forward to one of their busiest weekends.
AFP
P.S. So I guess this puts this story to bed! Won't mention it again unless there's something new and interesting to add.
P.P.S.Hey, who dared call Wan Chai "sleazy"! This is where I live and, sure, it's The World of Suzie Wong, but it's just, you know, old and vibrant!
And that's all I know of events, but I would really appreciate anyone who can tell me more about what happened.
After this weekend is over and things get quiet again, I'll drop by these places and see what I can find out, so watch this space.
Sunday Update:
As mentioned above the Fiji 7s officials who I chatted with at the stadium, say it definitely, 100%, wasn't the Fiji 7s Team, and they doubt it was any of the Fiji players who've currently signed with other nation's 7s teams because no one looks more than normally injured, nor tired, nor are they playing badly.
Then I chatted with a couple of chance-met Fiji 10s players, currently in town to play, who say that, apart from the named rioter Paula Maisiri, who everyone knows to have once played for Fiji, and who has now retired, no one can figure out who these rioters actually were. They wonder if they were former players in town to watch the 7s, or just Fiji supporters, or maybe even Fiji 15s.
Then I chatted to a couple of chance-met guys from the Fiji 15s and they say it definitely wasn't any of them, and wonder if whoever it was were really Fijians, or if it was just people saying they were Fijians.
And the moment I get them organised, I will post photographs both here and in Picassa of the Fijian supporters at the stadium and you can see for yourself that there's no one who flew out from Fiji to support our team who looks even slightly bruised let alone wearing any tell-tale signs of post-riot!
Definitely a mystery, huh!
Monday Update:
Here's the story as it appeared in Fijilive Sport. As you can read, it was nothing to do with our current and gorgeous winning IRA 7s team.
Former Fiji 7s player fined in HK
March 29, 2009
March 29, 2009
At least 50 people including rugby players were involved in a vicious street brawl on the eve of the Hong Kong Sevens, a report said on Saturday, casting a shadow over the city's biggest annual party.
Police used riot shields, batons and pepper spray to subdue running battles through the sleazy Wanchai area in the early hours of Friday, the South China Morning Post said.
Former Fiji Sevens player Paula Maisiri, who had been taking part in a 10-a-side tournament, was reportedly fined 500 dollars (65 US) for assaulting a police officer.
"The fighting exploded like it would on a rugby pitch. There were so many people watching. I've never seen anything like it," an eye witness was quoted as saying.
"There were police with shields and batons and blood everywhere," another said.
Despite widespread heavy drinking and rowdy behaviour, serious violence is unusual at the Hong Kong Sevens which attracts thousands of fans from all over the world and a large number of expatriate residents.
In 2005, a British barman had fingers and part of his right hand cut off in an attack outside the Sevens by Triad gangsters wielding meat cleavers and wearing surgical masks, who mistook him for somebody else.
The latest incident will be unwelcome for many bar and restaurant owners who have already been hit by the city's recession and are looking forward to one of their busiest weekends.
AFP
P.S. So I guess this puts this story to bed! Won't mention it again unless there's something new and interesting to add.
P.P.S.Hey, who dared call Wan Chai "sleazy"! This is where I live and, sure, it's The World of Suzie Wong, but it's just, you know, old and vibrant!
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1 comment:
They can run through a brick wall with a rugby ball... but they sure can't handle their beer, not in Suva and certainly not in HK.
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