The release of George Speight, the leader of the 2000 coup, along with Shane Stevens, a former member of the Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit, has sparked a range of reactions throughout Fiji. One person particularly affected is Akeneta Naseka Seavula, the widow of Corporal Filipo Seavula, a police officer killed by rebels at a Draiba checkpoint during the unrest in 2000. Remarkably, 24 years later, Ms. Seavula and her family have chosen to forgive Speight and the rebels.
“We are all human beings. God Almighty encourages us to forgive those who have done you wrong,” she shared from her home in Nakasi, Nasinu. Corporal Seavula was shot during a confrontation between rebel forces and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, after rebels overthrew the government led by Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry.
Recounting the traumatic events of that day, Ms. Seavula vividly remembers how her life changed. “It was a Sunday, and we were living at the Nasese Police Barracks,” she explained. Her husband had just left for duty when gunfire erupted nearby, prompting everyone to take cover. Hours later, military vehicles filled the area, and soon after, police delivered the heartbreaking news of her husband’s death. “I was in shock. I didn’t cry until I saw my son Viliame coming down the stairs. That’s when it hit me, and I broke down,” she recounted.
With three young children to raise, Ms. Seavula found herself overwhelmed by grief. “It was painful, but I’ll always be grateful for the support I had during that time,” she noted.
As a devout Catholic, Ms. Seavula credits her faith for giving her strength during her darkest moments. She has kept the Holy Rosary close since 2000 and believes that prayer has been crucial in helping her raise her children. “Even though what Mr. Speight did was wrong, God teaches us to forgive. And I forgive Mr. Speight; my family does too,” she affirmed. “Holding onto resentment stops you from moving forward. After losing Filipo, I learned to trust in God’s plan.” Now a grandmother of six, she recognizes the enduring impact of the 2000 coup while advocating for forgiveness as a means of healing and rebuilding the nation.
Corporal Seavula’s death on May 28, 2000, is remembered as one of the darkest days in Fiji’s history. On that same day, rebels attacked Fiji Television Limited, and Prime Minister Chaudhry, along with members of the Labour government, were taken hostage in the Parliament complex for 56 days.