Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has dismissed claims of political interference regarding the pardons granted to George Speight, the leader of the 2000 coup, and Shane Stevens, the former head of the Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit (CRW).
This response came after inquiries from a local newspaper, which noted that supporters of Rabuka’s political party had publicly called for the release of these individuals during campaign meetings in the lead-up to the 2022 General Election, with the latest discussion taking place on September 13.
Speight and Stevens were among seven individuals who received a Presidential Pardon last Thursday. Speight was convicted of treason in 2002 after pleading guilty, and his death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.
In a media briefing, Rabuka emphasized that the Mercy Commission operates independently and that the pardoning process for the two men was conducted entirely through due process.
“The People’s Alliance has affirmed that the 2013 Constitution and its associated bodies will function without governmental interference, including the Mercy Commission,” Rabuka stated.
He reiterated that the decisions made by the Mercy Commission were part of its independent responsibilities. “This has nothing to do with any government or political figures,” he added.