Fiji treason trial adjourned until 2002

Speight and 12 others could face the death penalty

After a brief court appearance, the trial of Fiji coup plotter George Speight has been adjourned for six months.

George Speight appeared in court briefly

The treason trial had been brought forward to Friday, so that it could begin before this weekend's parliamentary elections.

But Mr Speight was not even asked to enter a plea, before the hearing ended on a technicality.

Despite facing a possible death penalty for his role in the coup attempt in May 2000, Mr Speight is a candidate for the newly-formed Conservative Alliance in the elections.

The man he overthrew, ethnic Indian Mahendra Chaudhry, is hoping to be re-elected prime minister but his opponents say that Fiji "is not ready" to have another ethnic Indian leader.

Mr Speight justified his coup on the grounds that indigenous Fijians were not getting a fair deal and race is one of the election's key issues.

Too old

Much of Friday's session was held in chambers before Justice Peter Surman, a former English and Hong Kong lawyer.

After Mr Speight and his 12 co-accused were returned to prison, the judge the high court that Fiji had questioned his authority to hear the case, on the grounds that he would be 66 by the time the trial ends, beyond the normal retirement age of 65.

"I am 65 and the [appeals] court needs to decide on that," Mr Surman said.

In the meantime, the case has been adjourned until February 2002.

Mr Chaudhry and most of his multi-racial cabinet were held hostage for 56 days before the military struck a deal with Mr Speight and the other coup-plotters.

Mr Speight says that he and his 12 associates should be protected by an amnesty, which was part of the agreement freeing Mr Chaudhry.

But the military says he broke other conditions and so the deal was no longer binding.

Seven-day vote

The elections will last seven days throughout the 300 far-flung islands which make up Fiji.

There was a stand-off for 56 days

There are 18 parties and 351 candidates standing.

Many observers say that Mr Chaudhry's Fiji Labour Party will be a key player after the votes are counted.

Under the Fijian constitution any party polling 10% of votes is entitled to a seat in the cabinet, meaning that intense inter-party wrangling is likely after the poll.

In Fiji's first ever live televised debate two days before the polls open, Laisenia Qarase, the man installed by the military to replace Mr Chaudhry, said that indigenous Fijians would not accept having an Indo-Fijian leader for another 20 years.

Anonymous

Anonymous leaflets have been circulated warning that "A vote for Labour is a vote for bloodshed".

But Mr Chaudhry refused to be intimidated, telling his supporters: "Do not be afraid, there is threat and intimidation but stand your ground because we must fight for justice."

Chaudhry points the finger at Speight

Ethnic Indians were brought to Fiji by the British colonial regime.

They now account for 44% of the population and dominate the economy - to the anger of Fijian nationalists such as Mr Speight.

Mr Chaudhry was Fiji's first ever ethnic Indian Prime Minister, winning a landslide in 1999.

The coup badly affected Fiji's economy with tourism - a key sector - recording a 41% drop in arrivals.