BasilGott93 at 08:15, 10 April 2026

2026-04-10T08:15:25Z

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{{Short description|Fijian politician and 2000 coup leader}}
'''George Speight''' ({{IPAc-en|s|p|eɪ|t}};<ref>{{cite web |title=Pronounce - Browse all names for Fiji |url=https://pronounce.voanews.com/browse-oneregion.php?region=fiji |website=[[Voice of America]] Pronounce |access-date=2 July 2023}}</ref> born 1957), also known by his [[pseudonym]] '''Ilikimi Naitini''',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0106/S00003.htm |title=The Treason Charge |publisher=Scoop |date=1 June 2001 |access-date=18 January 2023}}</ref> is a Fijian businessman and politician who was the leader of the [[2000 Fijian coup d'état]], in which he and rebel soldiers from Fiji's [[Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit]] seized the Fijian Parliament and held Prime Minister [[Mahendra Chaudhry]] and 35 other MP's hostage from 19 May 2000 to 13 July 2000. He was convicted of treason in February 2002 and served a sentence of life imprisonment until receiving a presidential pardon on 18 September 2024.

Speight is the son of politician Sam Speight,<ref name=Guardian2000a/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/coup-leader-speight-got-in-first/REUMU3LLAUDGASXZKLOOZFWXFA/ |title=Coup leader Speight 'got in first' |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date= |access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref> the brother of politician [[Samisoni Tikoinasau]] and the uncle of rugby players [[Henry Speight|Henry]] and [[Sam Speight]].<ref name="Moloney">{{cite web |url=https://pmc.aut.ac.nz/index.php/pacific-media-watch/fiji-sport-uncle-george-speight-factor-7391 |title=FIJI: Sport - The 'Uncle George' Speight factor |publisher=Pacific Media Centre |author=John-Paul Moloney |date=13 April 2011 |access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dutton |first1=Chris |title=Saturday Serve: Henry Speight's siblings need a helping hand from Scott Morrison |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/saturday-serve-henry-speights-siblings-need-a-helping-hand-from-scott-morrison-20140801-zzdu6.html |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=1 August 2014 |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Speight was born in Naivicula, Fiji,<ref name=Guardian2000c>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/jun/06/fiji.johnaglionby |title=Speight: Fiji village boy with a big mouth and ambitions |work=The Guardian |author=John Aglionby |date=6 June 2000 |access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref> and educated at [[Suva Grammar School]].<ref name=SOV>{{cite book |url=https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/128824/1/Speight_of_Violence.pdf |title=Speight of Violence : Inside Fiji's 2000 coup |last1=Field |first1=Michael |last2=Baba |first2=Tupeni |last3=Nabobo-Baba |first3=Unaisi |publisher=Pandanus Books |location=Canberra |year=2005 |access-date=22 December 2022 |isbn=9781740761703}}</ref>{{rp|91}} before studying marketing in [[Australia]] and business at [[Andrews University]] in the United States.<ref name=SOV/>{{rp|91}}<ref name="Eb">{{Britannica|711301}}</ref> After graduating he worked in Australia as a bank clerk for [[Suncorp Bank|Metway Bank]],<ref name=MM2000/> and was involved in the Wattle Group pyramid scheme.<ref name=NZHWallA>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/criminal-on-a-warrior-mission/YARH6U3C6FEZJEMEHVLRZJWZNM/ |title='Criminal' on a warrior mission |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date= |access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref><ref name=MM2000>{{cite web |url=https://www.moneymanagement.com.au/news/financial-planning/fiji-coup-leader-linked-failed-wattle-scheme |title=Fiji coup leader linked to failed Wattle scheme |author=Jason Spits |publisher=Monaey Management |date=9 June 2000 |access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref> After returning to Fiji in 1996 he worked as an insurance broker for Heaths Insurance Group.<ref name=ABC2000a>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s129132.htm |title=Who is George Speight? |publisher=ABC |date=19 May 2000 |access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref> In 1998 he was appointed chair of the state-owned Fiji Pine and Fiji Hardwood Corporation by the Rabuka government, in which his father was serving as a Minister.<ref name="Eb"/><ref name=NZHWallA/> He was sacked by Heaths in April 1999 following financial irregularities,<ref name=ABC2000a/> and from his state appointments by the Labour coalition government in August 1999.<ref name=News24a>{{cite web |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/timber-behind-fiji-coup-20000905 |title=Timber behind Fiji coup? |publisher=News24 |date=5 September 2000 |access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref> It later emerged that he had been paid consultancy fees by American timber company Trans Resource Management, to advocate for them to be granted the right to harvest Fiji's mahogany.<ref name=SOV/>{{rp|64}}<ref name=News24a/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20000701&slug=4029600 |title=Money from Bellevue firm figures in Fiji allegations |publisher=Seattle Times |date=1 July 2000 |access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref>

In early 2000, just days before the coup, he pleaded not guilty to exchange rate charges and extortion.<ref name=NZHWallA/><ref name=SOV/>{{rp|92}}

== Fiji coup of 2000 ==
{{main|2000 Fijian coup d'état}}
On 19 May 2000 a group of armed men led by Speight stormed the Fijian Parliament and took the government hostage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.journalism.uts.edu.au/archive/fiji_coup/0519gunseize.html |title=GUNMEN SEIZE PRIME MINISTER HOSTAGE IN FIJI COUP BID |publisher=Fiji Crisis |author=Sheryl Ho |date=19 May 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030322085643/http://www.journalism.uts.edu.au/archive/fiji_coup/0519gunseize.html |archive-date=22 March 2003}}</ref><ref name=Guardian2000a>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/may/19/marktran |title=Fiji's PM seized in coup |work=The Guardian |date=19 May 2000 |access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref><ref name=LATimes1>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-may-19-mn-31790-story.html |title=Gunmen Storm Fiji's Parliament, Announce Government Takeover |work=Los Angeles Times |date=19 May 2000 |access-date=19 February 2022}}</ref> Speight claimed to have seized power on behalf of ethnic [[Fijians]], and purported to have revoked the [[1997 Constitution of Fiji|1997 constitution]] and appointed himself interim president and opposition MP [[Timoci Silatolu]] as interim Prime Minister.<ref name=LATimes1/><ref name=Guardian2000b>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2000/may/20/fromthearchive |title=Fiji's leaders held hostage in 'ethnic' coup |publisher=Guardian |date=20 May 2000 |access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref> The coup led to rioting and mob-violence in the Fijian capital [[Suva]],<ref name=SOV/>{{rp|85}}<ref name=Guardian2000a/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-may-29-mn-35213-story.html |title=Fijian Police Officer Killed During Melee |work=Los Angeles Times |date=29 May 2000 |access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref> and ten days later to the overthrow of President [[Kamisese Mara]] by military commander [[Frank Bainimarama]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/30/world/fiji-military-takes-control-and-declares-martial-law.html |title=Fiji Military Takes Control And Declares Martial Law |work=New York Times |date=30 May 2000 |access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.journalism.uts.edu.au/archive/fiji_coup/0530constitution.html |title=Three new decrees revoke Fiji's Constitution |publisher=Fiji Crisis |date=30 May 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030322090457/http://www.journalism.uts.edu.au/archive/fiji_coup/0530constitution.html |archive-date=22 March 2003}}</ref> Bainimarama appointed an all-indigenous Fijian interim government on 3 July, which was rejected by Speight, leading to widespread violence across Fiji.<ref name=SOV/>{{rp|206}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/jul/04/fiji1 |title=Fiji rebels wounded in parliament shooting |work=The Guardian |date=4 July 2000 |access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.deseret.com/2000/7/8/19517092/supporters-of-fiji-coup-grab-more-hostages |title=Supporters of Fiji coup grab more hostages |publisher=Deseret News |date=8 July 2000 |access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref>

On 9 July, following prolonged negotiations, Speight signed the Muanikau Accord with the military,<ref name=SOV/>{{rp|209}} agreeing to release the hostages in exchange for an amnesty for himself. All his key demands had been met.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/jul/13/qanda.marktran |title=Fiji coup |work=The Guardian |date=13 July 2000 |access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref> The last hostages were released on 13 July.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/74a198025db713e897ffb77033682308 |title=Hostage Crisis Ends in Fiji |publisher=AP News |author=Paul Alexander |date=14 July 2000 |access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/jul/13/fiji |title=Fiji hostage crisis ends |work=The Guardian |date=13 July 2000 |access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/fijis-isolation-grows-as-last-hostages-freed/article4165962/ |title=Fiji's isolation grows as last hostages freed |publisher=The Globe and Mail |date=14 July 2000 |access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref>

Following the return of hostages and weapons, Speight and his followers moved to Kalabu Fijian School on the outskirts of Suva,<ref name=SOV/>{{rp|229}} where they continued to lobby over the makeup of the interim government and demand control of key portfolios.<ref name=SOV/>{{rp|230-231}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2000/ASIANOW/australasia/07/22/fiji.unrest.reut/ |title=Fiji rebels demand PM be replaced with woman chief |publisher=CNN |date=22 July 2000 |access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref> When the government rejected his demands, his spokesman Joe Nata threatened civil war.<ref name=SOV/>{{rp|231}}

==Arrest and trial==
On 26 July Speight and three others were arrested at a military checkpoint following threats to President [[Josefa Iloilo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.journalism.uts.edu.au/archive/fiji_coup/0727arrested.html |title=REBEL LEADER GEORGE SPEIGHT ARRESTED |publisher=Fiji Crisis |date=27 July 2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030224151940/http://www.journalism.uts.edu.au/archive/fiji_coup/0727arrested.html |archive-date=24 February 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/jul/26/fiji |title=Fiji: Speight reported arrested |work=The Guardian |date=26 July 2000 |access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref> The military then stormed his headquarters, killing one person and arresting 369 supporters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.journalism.uts.edu.au/archive/fiji_coup/0727dead.html |title=MILITARY STORM REBELS - 1 DEAD, 40 WOUNDED |publisher=Fiji Crisis |date=27 July 2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030224153119/http://www.journalism.uts.edu.au/archive/fiji_coup/0727dead.html |archive-date=24 February 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/27/world/coup-leader-in-fiji-is-arrested-by-the-military.html |title=Coup Leader in Fiji Is Arrested by the Military |work=New York Times |date=27 July 2000 |access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=83055&page=1 |title=Fiji Coup Leader Speight Arrested |publisher=ABC News |author=Marie McInerney |date=27 July 2000 |access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref> On 11 August 2000 he was charged with treason and imprisoned pending trial.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/aug/12/fiji |title=Speight on treason charge |work=The Guardian |date=12 August 2000 |access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/speight-on-double-treason-charge/S4GN6Y7AQQPBXRVAFFRK6XWUUI/ |title=Speight on double treason charge |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date= |access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref>

In the [[2001 Fijian general election]], while still awaiting trial, Speight was elected to Parliament in the Tailevu North Fijian communal seat as a candidate for the [[Conservative Alliance-Matanitu Vanua]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-30022618.html |title=Fiji coup leader elected to Parliament |publisher=Irish Examiner |date=5 September 2001 |access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/sep/05/fiji |title=Fiji coup leader wins parliamentary seat |work=The Guardian |date=5 September 2001 |access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref> In December 2001 he was dismissed from Parliament for non-attendance.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/speight-loses-seat-in-parliament/TPTIT5ENMUBM4IBMAO7QQJBVMM/ |title=Speight loses seat in Parliament |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date= |access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-30032596.html |title=Fiji coup leader dismissed from parliament |publisher=Irish Examiner |date=9 December 2001 |access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref>

On 18 February 2002 Speight pleaded guilty to treason and was sentenced to death.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/speight-sentenced-to-death/332DFABXJJBGBX4EO6IER34N7I/ |title=Speight sentenced to death |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=18 February 2002 |access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/feb/18/fiji.paulkelso |title=Fiji coup leader sentenced to die |work=The Guardian |date=18 February 2002 |access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref> The sentence was commuted to life imprisonment the same day by President Ratu Josefa Iloilo.<ref name=BBCSentence>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1828650.stm |title=Jail for Fiji rebels |publisher=BBC |date=19 February 2002 |access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref> Initially imprisoned on [[Nukulau]] island, in 2006 he was transferred to the Naboro Maximum Security Prison after Nukulau's closure.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/166965/speight-back-in-fiji-mainland-jail |title=Speight back in Fiji mainland jail |publisher=[[RNZ]] |date=20 December 2006 |access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref>

In response to calls for his parole in 2020, Fijian Prime Minister [[Frank Bainimarama]] said that there would be no special treatment for him.<ref name="fbc">{{cite news|url=https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/no-special-treatment-for-george-speight/|title=No special treatment for George Speight|author=Edwin Nand|date=December 11, 2020|work=FBC News}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===2024 Pardon===
On 18 September 2024 Speight was granted a presidential pardon. He was released from prison the next day.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/528473/fiji-coup-leader-george-speight-granted-presidential-pardon |title=Fiji coup leader George Speight granted Presidential pardon |publisher=[[RNZ]] |date=19 September 2024 |access-date=19 September 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Speight, George}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:I-Taukei Fijian members of the House of Representatives (Fiji)]]
[[Category:Fijian rebels]]
[[Category:Anti-Indian sentiment]]
[[Category:Andrews University alumni]]
[[Category:People convicted of treason]]
[[Category:Fijian politicians convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:Fijian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment]]
[[Category:2000 Fijian coup d'état]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Conservative Alliance-Matanitu Vanua politicians]]
[[Category:Fijian expatriates in Australia]]
[[Category:Fijian nationalists]]
[[Category:Fijian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Politicians from Tailevu Province]]
[[Category:People expelled from public office]]
[[Category:Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Fiji]]
[[Category:1957 births]]

George Speight - Revision history

BasilGott93 at 08:15, 10 April 2026