28 Dec 2002

Fiji soldiers want to reveal truth about November 2000 mutiny

8:11 am on 28 December 2002

A report from Fiji says soldiers still awaiting court martial after two years in custody say they are willing to reveal the whole truth behind the November 2000 mutiny.

The Fiji Sun newspaper says the soldiers disclosed this to relatives during a Christmas visit this week.

One soldier is quoted as saying that if the mutiny leader, Shane Stevens, who is now serving a life sentence, had revealed the whole truth his group could have been freed.

He says the soldiers held in custody were used and are suffering in silence while the real culprits are still free.

The detained soldier says the public would be surprised to hear the names of the real masterminds of the mutiny which was aimed at assassinating the military commander, Rear Admiral Frank Bainimarama, and freeing George Speight.

Eight soldiers were killed in the gun battle and more than 30 people, including some civilians were injured.