George Speight - Willing To Tell All

Willing To Tell All

The Fiji Village news service reported on 29 January 2006 that Speight and his associates had indicated his willingness to face the government's proposed Reconciliation and Unity Commission and tell all they know about the alleged planning, financing, and execution of the coup. This was an apparent reversal of his earlier vow to remain silent.

Fiji Live quoted Speight as alleging that the real reason for the strident opposition of the military to the legislation establishing the proposed Commission was that their and, in particular, Bainimarma's own role in the coup plot would be in danger of being revealed. The latest information revealed by some of the CRW troops arrested with Speight suggest that Bainimarama may have been the "real" coup leader after giving the go-ahead at the last security council meeting on Friday May 12, 2000 at Valelevu. His subsequent departure for Norway ensured that he was free from coup conspiracy.On his return not long after the takeover he sent a delegation made up of military spokesmen Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini, Colonel Etueni Caucau and acting Commander Colonel Tuatoko to express his full support for Speight and ex SAS Warrant Officer, Ilisoni Ligairi. Both men were unaware of the pre-coup arrangements set up by Bainimarama.

A dispute arose however as to who should be in the caretaker government as Bainimarama expected to run the country with a few of his close advisers such as Colonel Jerry Waqanisau, Colonel Kacisolomoni, Colonel Paul Manueli and others. This conflict led to a 56 day rule by Bainimarama after which he as forced to step down by Speight and to return the office of the Presidency to civilian rule. Inside sources reveal that Bainimarama manipulated his oblivious officers to finally achieve his pre-May 19, 2000 objectives of ruling the country of which is now a reality in 2008. The crux of proving that Bainimarama was involved in the coup of 2000 lies in that last meeting on Friday May 12 of which the then Police Commissioner Isikia Savua and Home Affairs Permanent Secretary, Konrote were present.

The University of the South Pacific journalism school in Fiji provided coverage of the upheaval on its website Pacific Journalism Online and newspaper Wansolwara until its website was temporarily shut down on May 29 during the martial law period. The students' coverage archive is at the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.