FIJI: REBEL LEADER SPEIGHT PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO CHARGES 1
(5 Aug 2000) English/Nat
Rebel leader George Speight and a dozen men he led in storming parliament in May to overthrow Fiji's elected government pleaded not guilty to the first charges stemming from his coup.
Under heavy security, Speight and the group of 12 were brought on Saturday from the prison island off the capital, Suva, where they have been held for longer than a week to Suva Magistrate's Court.
Army marksmen patrolled the roof of the downtown court building, which was cordoned off and guarded by dozens of soldiers and police as a police convoy brought the suspects to back entrance.
The charges the men faced were minor, but prosecutors for the first time said that they would ignore an amnesty granted to the group by the military.
They are likely to charge Speight with crimes directly related to the parliament raid and two months of civil unrest which followed.
The charges included illegal weapons possession and unlawful assembly.
They are also accused of illegally burying a fellow rebel who was killed in a gun battle.
Speight also faces the far more serious charge of treason, and could be executed if convicted.
An investigation into that allegation is still under way.
Speight led a group of gunmen into parliament on May 19 and held dozens of officials for two months until the military met demands for an amnesty, eliminating the multiracial constitution and ousting the existing government.
Speight claimed that ethnic Indian Fijians have too much power and threaten indigenous Fijian culture.
The hostage standoff cast Fiji into turmoil and sparked international condemnation of the South Pacific nation's
abandonment of democracy.
Raids, hostage-taking, theft, beatings and arson have become commonplace in small ethnic Indian-dominated rural communities across Fiji since the coup.
Speight's court appearance came the day after the military extended a deadly crackdown on his supporters on Fiji's second-largest island, Vanua Levu.
As of late Friday, the military had killed one rebel supporter and arrested 125 in an operation to restore law and order to the island, a stronghold of Speight support.
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Пікірлер: 51
The People of fiji a wonderful beautiful caring and loving all the people of Fiji...together United they a the best moving forward as always Best country in the world ... from Europe hope to visit again someday .....great people great nation ...
@shuaibshadyy1633
2 жыл бұрын
💜💜
The red bus is from Malaysia...the Malaysia government given to Fiji government ..in Malaysia that red bus use for Anti Riot Police..we called Vehicle Command for this red bus...
Bainimarama will soon be waving from that red bus along with Khaiyum to prison.
@tui88-up1ki
5 ай бұрын
Rabuka,Roko uluilakeba, Baledrokadroka, Pio tikoduadua, filipo tarakinikini should be in prison too
@user-hd7iw5lx7e
3 ай бұрын
Rabuka will be there very soon with Biman Prasad after the next general election.. Both of them are thugs of this nation..
@wellington12able
Ай бұрын
@@tui88-up1ki😂 bruh might as well have all the political party members in as well
Tagane qo
The Legend 👍🇫🇯
Supports all blacks but hes patriotic..😅😅😅..
What's the latest news about George???
@shuaibshadyy1633
2 жыл бұрын
all I know is that he's in prison
@noongourfain
2 жыл бұрын
Sentenced to life for treason. Very interesting politics in Fiji. Watch the John Scott Murder documentary. Fascinating with a lot of sociopolitical history.
What good will he bring to Fiji.He is a faild bussiness man
Io dua na gauna yaa
used like toilet paper
@sahinurbegum642
Жыл бұрын
Exactly same happen with Gaboka next will be Bimsn used as a toilet paper
Wow
Ze player who hisself got played.
Kailoma off dina
@fatsdomino973
4 жыл бұрын
Isa hes going to rot in prison
@kamikaze326
3 жыл бұрын
Kulina, kailoma jiko na yacana
Isa na gauna
@sahinurbegum642
Жыл бұрын
Waile
Spieght is rite person to become priminter of Fiji
@alvz84
4 жыл бұрын
There is so many Indians they’ll smash you skirt wearers and take over the country. You can’t even spell you stupid idiot. Typical islander.
@osanethanika6420
3 жыл бұрын
@@alvz84 caistamamu
@atmfiji8748
3 жыл бұрын
@@alvz84😂😂😂😂 hide little child. The time is near.
@ginarigamoto7638
3 жыл бұрын
@@alvz84 idiot
@henrylagilagi8296
3 жыл бұрын
@@alvz84 Ra laini Taki iko mada na lala vodo Mai na Leonidas 😂😂
I live in fiji so.....fuck
@itskingbfj5359
5 жыл бұрын
Salmaan PlayZ I feel you brother
@sahinurbegum642
Жыл бұрын
Fuck Speight. We are Fijians too. Enough Is Enough
The leader I always the most charismatic.
@sahinurbegum642
Жыл бұрын
Lol 😆
@sahinurbegum642
Жыл бұрын
Kaidolo dis man