Speight wants new lawyer in Fiji treason case

Speight and his co-accused arrive in Suva Tuesday for their preliminary inquiry

By CNN's Geoff Hiscock

SUVA, Fiji -- Fiji coup plotter George Speight made a surprise demand for a new lawyer Tuesday morning, forcing the adjournment of this South Pacific nation's first treason case.

Speight is the failed businessman who led the May 2000 coup attempt that ultimately saw the removal of Fiji's elected government last July.

Speight appeared in court with 12 co-accused for the start of a preliminary inquiry that could last up to six months.

Fiji's chief magistrate, Salesi Temo, who is hearing the inquiry, adjourned it to chambers Thursday morning after Speight's attorney Rabo Matebalavu said Speight wanted to be represented separately.

The full hearing will resume next Tuesday.

Inquiry to hear from more than 200 witnesses

The inquiry, which will hear from more than 200 witnesses, will determine whether Speight and his co-accused will be committed to the High Court for trial on treason and other charges.

Treason is a capital offense, though it is highly unlikely that Speight would face the death penalty if convicted.

Speight and his co-accused arrived in Suva Tuesday morning aboard a Navy patrol boat from their island prison of Nukulau. Speight wore his usual sulu, or traditional Fiji skirt. He told waiting reporters he was not nervous.

Because of security concerns, Speight and his group are to be ferried between the island and Suva every day of the preliminary inquiry.

Prosecutor Gerard McCoy said the charges against the accused were:

Seavula was shot dead by rebels as he patrolled downtown Suva.

Situation quiet in Suva

A government spokesman said the situation in Suva after the court case started Tuesday was "very quiet".

Suva was the scene of inter-racial violence and looting after Speight and an armed gang stormed Parliament on May 19 last year and took then Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry hostage, along with many of his cabinet ministers.

The accused are expected to rely heavily in their defense on an immunity granted to them by the military in return for their surrender and the safe release of the hostages.

Speight claimed to be acting to protect the rights of indigenous Fijians, who make up 51 percent of the South Pacific nation's 830,000 people.

There is much suspicion and economic envy among indigenous Fijians towards Fiji's large community of ethnic Indians, who make up 44 percent of the population. Speight and his backers -- who are said to include military, political and business figures -- sought to exploit this.

Qarase, Chaudhry to contest August elections

Caretaker prime minister Laisenia Qarase will contest the August elections

After Speight's attempted coup, the military took charge on May 29. Armed forces commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama negotiated Chaudhry's release on July 13 after the hostages had spent 56 days in captivity.

But instead of Chaudhry returning to government, Bainimarama installed his own civilian administration under Qarase on July 18.

As a consequence of the Fiji Court of Appeal ruling that the Qarase government is illegal, Fiji will hold general elections on August 28. Qarase, who still heads a caretaker government, is a candidate in those elections, as is Chaudry.

A police spokesman told CNN on Monday night that security for the preliminary inquiry would be tighter than that prevailing during the landmark Court of Appeal hearing in February, when the interim government of Laisenia Qarase was ruled illegal.

At that time, the Government buildings in central Suva -- where the preliminary inquiry will take place -- were ringed by heavily armed soldiers and police.

But security was relatively light Tuesday, with the defendants allowed to talk to supporters during a court recess.