Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry has voiced strong disapproval regarding the release of George Speight from prison. Speight, who led the 2000 civilian coup, was one of seven individuals granted a Presidential Pardon on Thursday. This decision followed a review by the Mercy Commission of a mercy petition submitted on Wednesday.
In 2000, Speight orchestrated the takeover of Parliament, which resulted in the removal of Chaudhry’s democratically elected government. This coup led to several months of chaos and violence across the country, instilling fear among the citizens. Chaudhry expressed particular concern for Indo-Fijians, who were disproportionately impacted by the unrest instigated by Speight and his followers.
He described the trauma endured by countless families in rural areas forced to flee their homes, as well as the distress faced by members of his government, who were held hostage in Parliament for 56 days under threat of violence. Chaudhry raised questions about who would ensure justice for the victims of Speight’s actions and criticized the decision to release those guilty of treason without first addressing the needs for justice among the victims.
Chaudhry pointed out that treason is a grave offense with a mandatory life sentence and expressed disappointment that Speight’s release occurred before a Truth and Reconciliation process was established, reopening old wounds from 2000 without healing. He argued that this undermines national unity and public trust in the current government.
Chaudhry suggested that the decision to pardon Speight was predictable given Prime Minister Rabuka’s campaign promises made shortly before the 2022 General Elections. He referenced the earlier pardons given to Speight’s co-conspirators, Joe Nata and Timoci Silatolu, and anticipated that Speight’s release was merely a continuation of a troubling trend.
Now that Speight is free, Chaudhry urged him to come forward with the truth regarding the 2000 coup, noting that Speight has always claimed he was not the primary instigator. He recalled that during his sentencing in 2002, Speight hinted that if the evidence presented were honest, he would find himself among other prominent figures. Chaudhry remarked that if Speight is genuinely remorseful for the violence and devastation caused by his actions, he should at least be willing to reveal the truth about the events of 2000.