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Fiji coup: Sentences unprecedented, says Judge

SUVA JUNE 27 . Two convicted traitors were today sentenced to life imprisonment with heavy minimum terms to serve for their role in Fiji's 2000 coup.

The sentences, described by the High Court Justice, Andrew Wilson, as internationally without precedent, came after Parliament retrospectively scrapped the mandatory death sentences and issued new sentencing guidelines 11 days ago.

The former politician, Timoci Silatolu, was sentenced to life with a minimum of nine years to be served from tomorrow. Journalist, Jo Nata, was given life with a minimum of seven years. The men have already served three years in Suva Prison since their arrest.

Neither man showed any emotion at the sentence, and neither had friends or supporters in the court, which was filled with lawyers, diplomats and reporters.

The two were convicted for their involvement in the May 19, 2000, coup led by George Speight that bought down the country's first Indian-led Government of Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry.

They were first charged with treason in August 2000 and in February 2002 Speight pleaded guilty and was sentenced to death. The sentence was commuted to life imprisonment within hours. Nata and Silatolu pleaded not guilty and went to trial, which started on June 4 last year. They were convicted in March.

Nata had been Speight's media organiser while Silatolu, although a member of Mr. Chaudhry's coalition Government, had coordinated the assault on Parliament by Speight and six special forces soldiers. He was on the floor of the House and joined Speight immediately, being sworn in at one point as Prime Minister. — AFP

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