La legge potrebbe salvare la vita a responsabili golpe 2000

Roma, 13 feb.  - La repubblica di Figi ha intenzionedi abolire la pena di morte per tradimento e pirateria attraverso una riforma che potrebbe salvare la vita a George Speight, responsabile del golpe attuato da un gruppo di nazionalisti melanesiani nel 2000.

Il procuratore capo dell'ex colonia britannica, Qorinasi Bale ha reso noto che - nella sua riunione di ieri - il governo di Suva ha approvato una bozza di legge per abolire la pena di morte. Il decreto dovrebbe essere approvato prima della fine del processo a Speight e ai suoi collaboratori, come fa notare il sito d'informazione Ananova.

Il processo contro i responsabili del golpe si aprir� luned� prossimo. Gli imputati sono accusati di tradimento per l'assalto al parlamento del maggio 2000, che spodest� il governo di Mahendra Chaundry, il primo leader politico del Paese di etnia indiana.

13 February

Fiji to abolish death penalty

Coup leader Speight goes on trial on Monday

 Fiji is abolishing the death penalty for treason ahead of a trial of 13 coup plotters for the same crime.

Coup leader George Speight and 12 associates are due in court on Monday on charges relating to their armed occupation of parliament in May 2000.

 The death penalty should go

 Attorney General Qoriniasi Bale 

Their action led to the toppling of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and his cabinet.

 Under the current law, Mr Speight and his co-conspirators would face a mandatory death sentence if convicted. The abolition of the death penalty is expected to be ratified before verdicts are handed down.

 Capital punishment was scrapped for most crimes in 1967, but was retained for treason and piracy.

 Attorney General Qoriniasi Bale on Tuesday denied accusations that the change was designed to appease Mr Speight.

 "It is not intended to satisfy George Speight and his supporters but to allow us to deal with Speight's case and to deal with the death penalty." he said.

 "This government is very firmly of the view that the death penalty should go."

 Capital punishment has not been used since the mid-1960s when a convicted murderer was hanged.

 Constitutional challenge

 The government was expected to present its case on Wednesday against a legal challenge from the opposition Fiji Labour Party.

  Mr Chaudhry is backed by ethnic Indians

 The Labour Party says it has been excluded from Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's coalition government contrary to the country's 1997 constitution

 Labour's leader, former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, has said his party, which draws most of its support from the ethnic-Indian community, should have been given at least six of the 21 cabinet positions.

 Analysts warn defeat for the government could prompt a nationalist backlash.

 Racial tensions have dogged Fiji and correspondents say Mr Qarase, a nationalistic ethnic Fijian, has done little to foster reconciliation.

 The court hearing, which is being held under tight security, is expected to end on Friday.