8 Jan 2003

Fiji government unlikely to grant Supervision Orders to coup perpetrators

6:36 am on 8 January 2003

Well placed government sources in Fiji say the government is highly unlikely to release any of the May 2000 coup perpetrators on Compulsory Supervision Orders.

Nine of the eleven prisoners serving time for the coup have applied to be released on CSO, but the sources say approval of their requests would cause a lot of tension because of the gravity of their offences.

Fiji's attorney general Qoriniasi Bale, says he has not yet received the applications.

However the prisons department has confirmed that nine prisoners incarcerated on Nukulau island have applied to be released on CSO.

Coup leader, George Speight, who is serving a life sentence is not on the list of applicants.

Fiji's Commissioner of Prisons, Aisea Taoka, says the applications are assessed on the prisoners behaviour in prison and the gravity of their crime.

Mr Bale says he will comment after he sees the applications.