George Speight

George Speight (['speːt]; born 1957), occasionally known as Ilikimi Naitini, was the principal instigator of the Fiji coup of 2000, in which he kidnapped thirty-six members of parliament and held them from May 19, 2000 to July 13, 2000. He is serving life imprisonment for his role in the overthrow of the constitutional government.

On May 19, 2000, a disparate gang led by Speight stormed the parliamentary complex and kidnapped Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and 35 other parliamentarians for the i Taukei (indigenous) rights, including Cabinet ministers. Announcing that he had deposed both the government and the President, Speight swore in serving ruling government member, Timoci Silatolu as Prime Minister by Ratu Jope Seniloli, whom he proclaimed President in place of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. (Seniloli has since been convicted of treason for aiding and abetting the coup.) President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara tried to resist Speight's takeover, but was abruptly removed himself on 29 May by Commodore Frank Bainimarama, the Commander of the Military who subsequently abrogated the constitution, made himself Prime Minister and swore in his own President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau (Ratu Jope Seniloli's cousin). (As of 2005, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara's illegal removal was the subject of a police investigation.)

The overthrow of the government saw support for Speight's cause as outbreaks of violence occurred in Suva, Levuka, Naitasiri, Tailevu, Ra, Nadi, Yasawa, Serua, Namosi, and on July 7 an army base on Vanua Levu Island was overrun by his supporters.

Fifteen soldiers and two of their officers defected to the rebels and George Speight built up a strong private army. On June 9, Speight announced that he had abolished Fiji's multi-racial Constitution. Three days later, Speight's car was sprayed with gunfire, but the army denied that soldiers were involved in an operation to kill him. On June 25, four female hostages were released. On July 13, Chaudhry was released following an agreement between the rebels and the military administration of Commodore Bainimarama. Claiming that he had signed the agreement "under duress," Bainimarama promptly rescinded it. On 27 July, Speight was arrested with 369 of his followers and charged with treason.

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