back to new archives for 1-6 August, 2000
PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT
Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center
Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai‘i at Manoa


FIJI COUP LEADER TO BE CHARGED WITH TREASON

SUVA, Fiji Islands (August 6, 2000 - Radio Australia)---Coup leader George Speight is back in custody on Nukulau Island off Suva and is set to
face charges much more serious than the minor ones that sent him back to jail.

Prosecutors plan to ignore an amnesty granted to the coup leader while he was holding the elected government hostage, and charge him with
treason.

Speight and 12 of his key supporters appeared before Fiji's chief magistrate yesterday on unlawful assembly and firearms charges.

Among the orders the chief magistrate has given is one that will allow Speight and the others access to a mobile telephone on Nukulau so that they
can receive calls from their next of kin.

The chief magistrate has also ordered that they receive medical checkups and that their next of kin be allowed to visit them three times a week at the
government's expense.

One close relative has joined him on the island. His brother Jim, who has had his Australian passport cancelled, appeared in court along with
George.

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last revision 08/08/2000