The chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs, Ratu Viliame Seruvakula, has expressed support for the recent release of political prisoners, including 2000 coup leader George Speight and former military officer Shane Stevens, who were freed from prison this week.
Ratu Viliame acknowledged that the individuals had served their sentences and emphasized the importance of their release. “I wasn’t surprised at all. If anything, I was relieved that it finally happened, after the duo served more than the stipulated sentence,” he stated.
He noted that there had been significant debate regarding the appropriateness of Speight’s continued incarceration but reaffirmed that the judicial system had functioned properly. “Due process has taken its course. The judicial system is credible and the punishment meted out was appropriate for the crime,” he remarked.
Ratu Viliame stressed the necessity for individuals to be allowed to reform after serving their time in prison. He stated, “When the stipulated time for jail is finally over, a person is to be allowed to leave prison and be given the opportunity to reform.”
He also underscored the importance of respecting court decisions, regardless of the severity of the crimes committed. “They are the experts. They made their call and we should all abide by that,” he added.
Ratu Viliame further commented that if there is no legal justification for keeping someone imprisoned beyond their sentence, it constitutes an injustice. “It’s no longer justice; it’s injustice. It doesn’t matter who it is, whether it’s George Speight or anyone else; he served his time – let him go,” he concluded.