Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry has expressed his disappointment regarding the release of George Speight from prison. Speight, the leader of the 2000 civilian coup, was one of seven individuals granted a Presidential Pardon on Thursday. The Mercy Commission had reviewed his petition for mercy just a day prior.
In 2000, Speight led a coup that forcibly removed the democratically elected government led by Mahendra Chaudhry from Parliament, a move that resulted in months of chaos and violence across the nation. Chaudhry emphasized that Indo-Fijians, particularly targeted during the coup’s violence, are especially troubled by this development.
Chaudhry highlighted the trauma experienced by countless families in rural areas who were forced from their homes and faced months of terror. He described the harrowing experience of Chaudhry government members, who were held hostage at gunpoint in Parliament for 56 days, enduring continual threats and physical and mental torture.
Mr. Chaudhry expressed concern over the lack of accountability for the victims of Speight’s actions and raised questions about who would advocate for justice now. He argued that any decisions to free individuals guilty of treason should come after ensuring justice and reconciliation for their victims.
“Treason is a serious crime with a mandatory life sentence,” he noted, adding that Speight’s release prior to a Truth and Reconciliation process is disheartening as it revives the painful memories of 2000 without any prior healing measures. He warned that this undermines the nation’s sense of justice and could have significant implications for national unity and public trust in the current government.
Chaudhry pointed out that Speight’s release was hinted at by an election promise made by Mr. Rabuka just weeks before the 2022 General Elections. He critiqued Rabuka’s governmental priorities since taking office, suggesting that the earlier pardons of Speight’s associates, Joe Nata and Timoci Silatolu, foreshadowed Speight’s own release.
With Speight now a free man, Chaudhry hopes he might finally disclose the truth about the events surrounding the 2000 coup. He recalled that Speight had always insisted he was not the true architect of the coup and had previously stated that, if police were honest about the evidence, he would find himself alongside other notable figures on Nukulau.
Chaudhry concluded by urging Speight to at least offer transparency about the violence and devastation stemming from his actions if he is genuinely remorseful.