Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has dismissed claims of political interference regarding the pardoning of George Speight, the leader of the 2000 coup, and former Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit (CRW) leader Shane Stevens.
These remarks come after supporters of Rabuka’s political party campaigned for the two men’s release during the People’s Alliance campaign events leading up to the 2022 General Election, with a recent discussion occurring on September 13.
Speight and Stevens were among seven individuals who received a Presidential Pardon last Thursday. Speight, who faced treason charges, had pleaded guilty in 2002, and his death sentence was later reduced to life imprisonment.
In a media briefing, Rabuka emphasized that the Mercy Commission operates independently and that the decision to grant pardons is solely within its jurisdiction, adhering to due process.
“The People’s Alliance committed to allowing the 2013 Constitution and its various mechanisms to function, including the prerogative of the Mercy Commission, which operates independently of any governmental pressure,” Rabuka stated.
He reiterated, “The prerogative belongs to the Mercy Commission and has nothing to do with any government or political influences.”