Page 12 - IB April 24

Cover

George Speight addresses the media at the Parliamentary Complex in Suva at the height of the takeover. Photo: Supplied (IPI Global Journalist) / Rick
Rycroft, Associated Press

OPENING FIJI’S CAN OF WORMS

By Richard Naidu Fresh out of 24 years in prison for his role as Speight’s
media-minder in 2000, Nata, a former veteran journalist
Josefa Nata knows he’s expected to tell all, having once described as “one of Fiji’s best journalists and editors,
featured prominently in the George Speight-led takeover of arguably the outstanding investigative reporter of his era”, by
Fiji’s Parliament in 2000. In the long history of Fiji’s coups the highly regarded Pacific Journalism Review, realises people
since 1987, this was not only the bloodiest, but its supposed will want answers. What he is prepared to talk about for the
proponent also appeared more the failed businessman pushing moment, is his personal journey of reflection, remorse, and
vested business interests than the champion of the Fijian transformation.
“cause”. Nata, 66, believes there will be a time and a place for
Speight had been sacked as chief executive from the Fiji disclosure. He is working on a book but what he will say
Hardwood Corporation and the board of Fiji Pine Ltd by then- for now is that Speight was “never the main player. He was
Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry amid growing controversy ditched with the baby on his lap”.
over his involvement with the country’s lucrative mahogany What interests Nata more is closure – for the years of pain
sector and was in the process of being taken to court on that Fiji has endured since Sitiveni Rabuka’s first coup of
related charges. Then, in the middle of the Speight coup, 1987. He is willing to engage in any effort that will “bridge
the New South Wales Parliament in Australia heard that the the great divide” between the races. The 2000 takeover “can
businessman was linked to a pyramid scheme that lost more never be justified”, he says. He believes there needs to be
than AU$165 million of investors’ funds. Chaudhry’s moves to greater inter-ethnic understanding to build social cohesion.
roll back privatisation measures by the previous government In May last year, the Methodist Church initiated a
of Sitiveni Rabuka, were also seen as negating related reconciliation service during celebrations to mark the arrival
commercial interests. of Indians in Fiji as indentured labourers in 1879, seeking
Framing the coup as purely an indigenous Fijian pushback forgiveness from Fiji’s Indian community “for the hurt they
over nationalist-driven fears that Chaudhry’s proposed land had been caused over the years”, as part of the Church’s
reform measures would affect indigenous ownership of land, efforts towards rebuilding race relations.
was therefore unconvincing, given the commercial and legal
interests at play. Continued on page 19

12 Islands Business, April 2024