2 Dec 2002

Fiji Labour Party wants more prosecutions over May 2000 coup

7:42 am on 2 December 2002

The Fiji Labour Party is calling for the prosecution of prominent public figures seen to be involved in the May 2000 coup.

The call follows Fiji TV video tapes shown as evidence in the High Court treason trial of the coup accomplices, Timoci Silatolu and Josefa Nata.

The tapes showed the current vice president, Ratu Jope Seniloli, being sworn in as vice president in the administration the coup front man, George Speight, tried to set up hours after the Chaudhry government was taken hostage.

They also showed the current deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure, being sworn in as the attorney general and the current minister for sport, Isireli Leweniqila, being sworn in as the tourism minister.

The Labour Party is demanding an explanation from the police as to why only Silatolu and Nata have been charged with treason and not the others shown on the tapes.

It says the very act of being sworn into the rebel administration should in itself be sufficient proof of their complicity in treason.