The recent release of George Speight, the leader of the 2000 coup, and former RFMF Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit member Shane Stevens from prison has sparked a range of reactions across Fiji.
Akeneta Naseka Seavula, the widow of Corporal Filipo Seavula, who was killed by rebels at a Draiba checkpoint during the 2000 unrest, is among those deeply affected. Despite her loss, 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 expressed from her residence in Nakasi, Nasinu.
Corporal Seavula was shot during an armed conflict that erupted between rebel soldiers and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces as well as police officers after the rebels overthrew the Labor Party-led government of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry.
Reflecting on the tragic events, Ms. Seavula recounted the chaos that unfolded that day. “It was a Sunday, and we were living at the Nasese Police Barracks,” she recalled. After her husband left for duty, gunfire broke out in the vicinity. “Everyone was told to take cover,” she said, describing how military trucks and sirens later filled the area. Soon after, police officers 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 shared, noting the pain of losing him at a time when she had three young children to care for.
Her strong faith as a Catholic has played a pivotal role in her coping mechanism, with the Holy Rosary being her steadfast companion since 2000. Prayer has given her the strength to responsibly raise her children, even in the face of hardship. “Even though what Mr. Speight did was wrong, God teaches us to forgive. And I forgive Mr. Speight; my family does too,” she affirmed.
Now a grandmother of six, Ms. Seavula recognizes the long-lasting effects of the 2000 coup on many families but advocates for forgiveness as a means to heal and rebuild the nation.
Corporal Seavula’s death on May 28, 2000, remains one of the darkest chapters in Fiji’s history. On the same day, rebels attacked Fiji Television Limited, and Prime Minister Chaudhry along with Labour government officials were taken hostage at the Parliament complex for 56 days.