FIJI: GEORGE SPEIGHT UPDATE

(4 Sep 2000) Natural Sound
XFA
The High Court in Fiji has intervened to prevent a magistrate dropping treason charges against coup leader George Speight and 20 of his supporters.
There had been speculation that the Chief Magistrate would drop the charges because of an amnesty granted to Speight and his followers.
The amnesty was part of a July deal struck with the country's military to end a 56-day hostage standoff at Fiji's Parliament.
The charge of treason carries a maximum sentence of death.
SUGGESTED VOICEOVER:
In a letter to Chief Magistrate Sailesi Temo, which was read out at a hearing on Monday, the High Court said magistrates had no power to rule on the validity of the amnesty.
The High Court will discuss the amnesty at a September 15 hearing.
Prosecutors argue the amnesty is no longer in force because Speight breached the terms of the deal.
They argue that he did not hand back all the weapons he stole from the army to carry out his May 19 coup.
They also say the deal was signed by the military under duress - when Speight was still holding hostages.
Outside the court about 200 Speight supporters waited peacefully, apparently hoping to catch a glimpse of the coup leader.
Speight was smartly dressed but looked tense during the brief hearing in Suva Magistrates Court, which was cordoned off by police and armed soldiers.
Speight was arrested on July 26, just days after releasing the last of dozens of hostages he seized after storming Parliament on May 19.
Speight, a failed businessman, launched his coup in the name of indigenous Fijian rights.
He claimed that Fijians of Indian descent, who make up 44 percent of the nation's 8-hundred-thousand population, wielded too much economic and political power.
The democratically elected government toppled in the coup was Fiji's first led by an ethnic Indian.
Fiji is now being ruled by an interim government installed by the military.
The new Prime Minister is Laisenia Qarase.
He has said his administration will work to redraw Fiji's constitution to guarantee that indigenous Fijians, who make up 51 percent of the population, hold the top political jobs.
Qarase says he hopes to hold fresh elections in two years.
Speight is unlikely to be sent to Fiji's gallows as no one has been executed in the country since independence from Britain in 1970.
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[@elenismith2942]

What was the up date?

[@emmapasqule2432]

This is from 2001. Not sure what you mean by "up date?".

[@seairpierre6838]

What was that all about?

[@emmapasqule2432]

This is from 2001, George Speight was on a bus going to court.

[@mohdfirdausahmad6455]

Proud to see vehicle police from Malaysia still to use at Fiji..