Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is urging George Speight, the leader of the 2000 coup, to come forward with details regarding those who orchestrated the coup. In a recent media interview, Rabuka addressed ongoing speculation that ties him to the coup and the mutiny at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks, despite his firm denials.
Rabuka expressed that Speight’s prolonged silence has turned him into a victim. “We want him to tell the truth,” he stated. He emphasized that Speight’s unwillingness to speak has hindered his chance to prove he was not involved in the events of 2000.
During his sentencing in February 2002, Speight suggested he was not acting alone. He indicated that a thorough police investigation would reveal that he would have been in “very distinguished company on Nukulau,” referencing others connected to the coup.
Last week, Speight and former Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit captain Shane Stevens received presidential pardons. Speight, who was convicted of treason and originally sentenced to death, had his sentence reduced to life imprisonment and served 24 years, spending time on Nukulau Island and at the Naboro Corrections facility.
Rabuka pointed out that Speight’s release is crucial for the current coalition government’s initiatives regarding truth and reconciliation. Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, who was held hostage during the coup, reiterated the call for Speight to disclose the actual instigators behind the events. “If George Speight is genuinely remorseful for the destruction caused, he should reveal the truth,” Chaudhry argued, insisting Speight wasn’t the mastermind.
Savenaca Narube, leader of Unity Fiji, also remarked that Speight’s release is a timely opportunity for uncovering the true architects of the coup. He expressed hope that the truth and reconciliation efforts would remain politically impartial, addressing both victims and perpetrators. “For this process to be successful, the truth must emerge,” Narube stated, noting that Speight has faced consequences while others involved have not.