Commissioner Fisher had taken over the Sergeant’s office at the Mataranka Police Station and was issuing instructions to his Task Force and local police. His main concerns were to provide security for Koshi and to track down the terrorists. They had managed to avoid the roadblocks to date but he was convinced that they were hiding out somewhere nearby. He rang Sergeant Barker in Jabiru asking him to release the people held in detention after questioning them about possible sightings of the Chinese. Barker filled him in over the death of Barry Buckstone from a hit and run accident following interrogation by AFP officers. Fisher cursed loudly and asked who gave the order to release Buckstone. Barker said he would find out and provide a full statement of the facts to Fisher. It was yet another major issue Fisher would have to deal with once Prime Minister Koshi had been returned safely to Japan.
JABIRU
After the call from Fisher, Sergeant Barker set about releasing the protesters held in detention in the overcrowded community centre at Jabiru. He had questioned each of them but none could throw any light on the Chinese terrorists. The crowd outside the station was still in an ugly mood but moved back when the protesters were released. Barker let himself out the back door and walked over to his car. With trepidation, he drove out to Barry’s house to break the news to his widow and family. He wasn’t looking forward to the next few days.