Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has dismissed claims of political interference regarding the pardoning of George Speight, the leader of the 2000 coup, and Shane Stevens, the former leader of the Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit (CRW).
This inquiry followed comments from supporters of Rabuka’s political party who called for the men’s release during campaign meetings for the People’s Alliance leading up to the 2022 General Election, with the latest discussions occurring on September 13.
Both Speight and Stevens were among seven individuals granted Presidential Pardons last Thursday. Speight was convicted of treason in 2002 after pleading guilty, and his death sentence was later changed to life imprisonment.
In a media briefing, Rabuka emphasized that the Mercy Commission operates independently, asserting that the decision to grant pardons was made solely by the commission through proper procedures.
“The People’s Alliance stated that the 2013 Constitution and its various entities will function without interference, and one of those entities is the Mercy Commission, which operates independently of government influence,” Rabuka said.
He reiterated that the actions of the Mercy Commission are not linked to any government or political figures.