3 Mar 2004

Released Fiji coup convict says no money involved in overthrow

2:42 pm on 3 March 2004

It's being claimed in Fiji that there was no financial backing for the May 2000 coup by businesses or other individuals.

The Fiji Times reports that the claim has been made by the recently released coup convict, Jim Speight.

Jim Speight says allegations that some business people had supported the coup are totally false and baseless.

He says the coup was a political event and those who stormed parliament believed in what they were doing.

The Labour party and a senior army officer, Lt Col Viliame Seruvakula, have said they know who the financiers of the coup were and have given information to the police which is currently under review.

Jim Speight also says what was important was that the government had changed but it could be better.