Fiji Coup Leader Spared Death Penalty

George Speight, the Fijian coup leader who stormed parliament with armed men in June 2000, was sentenced to death in the early hours of the morning but then had his sentence commuted to life in prison.

The Fijian president, Josefa Iloilo, signed a decree commuting the death sentence given to Speight to life, said the attorney general, Qoriniasi Bale.

The commutation came after Speight pleaded guilty in the high court to treason at the start of his trial in the capital, Suva.

The order reducing Speight's sentence "was signed by his excellency the president this afternoon. That is now the legal position," Mr Bale said.

People sentenced to life in Fiji normally serve about 10 years in jail.

Speight, an indigenous Fijian, led an armed overthrow in May 2000 of the country's first ethnic Indian premier, seizing parliament and taking the prime minister, the cabinet and other lawmakers hostage.

He said that he led the coup in order to win back political power for the indigenous people, who make up 51% of the country.

Sitting in the court dock, on what was to be the first day of his trial earlier today, Speight wept with his head bowed as Justice Michael Scott sentenced him to hang.

"May the lord have mercy on your soul," the judge said. Speight's wife, sitting behind him, wiped tears from her eyes.

Speight was found guilty of treason, which carries a mandatory death sentence. However, prosecutors and defence attorneys both requested the sentence be immediately commuted to life in prison.

The jury never heard the case and the judge formally entered a conviction against Speight following his guilty plea.

Speight's Australian attorney, Ron Cannon, said that he pleaded guilty in order to help close the country's ethnic wounds.

"This would then put the matter to rest and we hope will be accepted by the community as our contribution to the stability of the country and to reconciliation," Mr Cannon said.

Ten of Speight's 12 accomplices also had treason charges against them reduced to less serious charges at a separate hearing today.

They were charged with illegally detaining hostages during the 56-day standoff with the army.

Coming into the court earlier today, Speight had looked calm. He was wearing a traditional Fijian skirt, known as a sulu. He was "in very high spirits and looking forward to the start of the case," said his wife, Torika.

With the armed takeover in 2000 came riots, arson, looting and the overthrow of the prime minister, Mahendra Chaudhry. Mr Chaudhry was the first prime minister from Fiji's ethnic Indian community, which makes up about 44% of the country and wields considerable economic and political power.

Speight and his supporters were later caught and charged with 13 "overt acts". The indictment accused them of forming an illegal "Taukei [indigenous Fijian] civilian government," and unlawfully trying to overturn the country's constitution.

They were also accused of killing a policeman before their armed rebellion ended, in late July 2000.

Chaudhry, who leads the Fiji Labour party, said today that he was "relieved" the matter had ended.

Elections last year brought a new government led by Laisenia Qarase, an ethnic Fijian who supports parts of Speight's declared nationalist agenda.

Fiji itself is slowly recovering from the effects of the coup. In particular, the country's vital tourism industry is beginning to recover.

Speight claimed he was granted immunity during the coup by the great council of chiefs, the country's traditional rulers. The council's political role is largely symbolic, but its members still command great respect and influence among ethnic Fijians.