Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is urging George Speight, the figure at the center of the 2000 coup, to disclose the truth regarding the individuals involved in planning the coup. In a media interview conducted yesterday, Mr. Rabuka addressed the long-standing speculation that links him to the coup and the subsequent mutiny at the Republic of Fiji Military Forces’ Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Nabua, despite his ongoing denials.
Mr. Rabuka expressed that Speight’s silence over the years has harmed him, stating, “We want him to tell the truth. I am one of those who have been victims of his silence.” He emphasized that Speight’s lack of communication has hindered his ability to clear his name regarding alleged involvement in the coup.
In February 2002, during his sentencing, Speight indicated that he was not acting alone and remarked to the media that a thorough police investigation would reveal he “would be in very distinguished company on Nukulau, not only in numbers but in names as well.” Recently, last Thursday, Speight and former Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit captain Shane Stevens received presidential pardons. Speight, who was convicted of treason and initially sentenced to death, had his sentence reduced to life imprisonment and served 24 years, including time on Nukulau Island and at the Naboro Corrections complex.
The Prime Minister pointed out that Speight’s release is crucial for the coalition Government’s truth and reconciliation efforts. Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, who was taken hostage during the 2000 coup, echoed the Prime Minister’s sentiment, insisting that Speight must reveal the true instigators behind the coup. “If George Speight is truly contrite about the devastation caused, the least he can do is reveal the truth,” Chaudhry stated, asserting that Speight was not the real leader of the events.
Savenaca Narube, leader of Unity Fiji, also underscored that Speight’s liberation comes at a critical time for uncovering the masterminds behind the coup. He expressed hope that the truth and reconciliation process would remain politically neutral, addressing both victims and perpetrators. “For this process to succeed, the truth must prevail,” Narube remarked, noting that Speight has already faced consequences for his actions, unlike others involved in the coup who have remained unpunished.