Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry has expressed concern over the release of George Speight, the leader behind the 2000 coup in Fiji, stating that it has instilled fear across the nation. Chaudhry, who leads the Fiji Labour Party, emphasized that Indo-Fijians were disproportionately affected by the violence orchestrated by Speight and his followers.
He noted that countless innocent families from rural areas have suffered trauma, being uprooted from their homes and farms as a result of the extended period of violence and terror. Members of Chaudhry’s government were held hostage in Parliament for 56 days, enduring threats, humiliation, and significant psychological and physical abuse at the hands of rebel soldiers.
Chaudhry questioned who would seek justice for the victims of Speight’s actions, criticizing any attempts to release those guilty of treason and severe human rights violations without first addressing the need for justice and reconciliation for their victims. He stated that treason is a grave offense that carries a mandatory life sentence, and Speight’s release ahead of a Truth and Reconciliation process is disheartening, as it exacerbates the outrage from 2000 without the necessary healing.
He expressed concern that this release erodes the nation’s sense of justice and could have negative implications for national unity and public confidence in the current government. Chaudhry indicated that the release was expected, citing an election promise made by the Prime Minister shortly before the 2022 general elections.
Chaudhry highlighted that given the government’s priorities since taking office, Speight’s freedom was inevitable following the previous release of his co-conspirators. He hopes that now a free man, Speight will share the truth about the events of the 2000 coup, which he has claimed he did not lead or instigate. Chaudhry recalled that during his 2002 sentencing, Speight suggested that if the police were truthful about the evidence presented, he would have had company among others on Nukulau Island.
The former Prime Minister urged Speight, if genuinely remorseful for the harm caused by his actions, to provide truthful accounts of the 2000 coup as a form of restitution.