Timoci Silatolu

Timoci Qiolevu Silatolu, sometimes known by his chiefly title of "Ratu," is a former Fijian politician who is currently serving a life sentence at Korovou Prison for treason in connection with his role in the coup d'état which deposed the government, of which he was a part, in 2000.

Political career

As a candidate of the Fijian Association Party, Silatolu was elected to represent the Rewa Fijian Communal Constituency in the House of Representatives in the general election of 1999. Although his party formed part of the People's Coalition government that was subsequently formed, Silatolu was not appointed to the Cabinet. The apparently disgruntled Silatolu joined the conspiracy to oust the government.

While awaiting trial, Silatolu was appointed Assistant Minister of Health in the interim government organized by Laisenia Qarase in July 2000. He contested the general election held to restore democracy in September 2001 as a candidate of the Conservative Alliance, comprising mostly Speight-sympathizers, but lost his seat to his cousin, Ro Teimumu Kepa of the United Fiji Party.

Treason conviction and related developments

On 21 March 2003, Justice Andrew Wilson found Silatolu guilty of having alerted his co-conspirators on 19 May 2000 by making a telephone call informing them that the time to strike was right, and of taking an illegal oath of ministerial office. He was initially named Prime Minister by the coup's chief instigator, George Speight; this position was downgraded the next day to Deputy Prime Minister when Speight himself chose to assume the prime ministerial office. In June 2003, Silatolu was sentenced to life imprisonment, following his earlier refusal to plead guilty in return for a seven-year sentence.

On 26 May 2005, Silatolu claimed that his constitutional rights were being breached because he had not been informed about when he will be released. He also complained that his application to be allowed to serve his sentence extramurally had been rejected, while applications of others convicted of similar offenses had been approved.

Pardon sought

On 21 November 2005, Presidential spokesman Rupeni Nacewa revealed that Silatolu had lodged an application for a Presidential pardon with the office of the Solicitor General. Constitutionally, the President may grant such a pardon only on the advice of the Prerogative of Mercy Commission, which is chaired by the Attorney-General, Qoriniasi Bale.

Responding to Silatolu's earlier question as to why his application for permission to serve his prison term extramurally had been declined while that of other coup-convicts had been approved, Nacewa said that Silatolu did not qualify for a Compulsory Supervision Order (CSO), as he was both physically and mentally fit.

Military spokesman Captain Neumi Leweni said that the Military was monitoring the application, but would comment only if and when a pardon was approved. Attorney-General Bale thought this unlikely, saying that Silatolu had not served the required time to qualify for a pardon.

Civil lawsuit

In separate but parallel developments, deposed Prime Minister Chaudhry has been pursuing a civil lawsuit against Silatolu. At an appearance before High Court Justice Gerard Winters on 15 September, Silatolu's lawyer, Inoke Sosefa, asked the High Court 15 September to force the Military to disclose the results of an inquiry it conducted into the 2000 crisis. This request was refused when Military lawyer Major Ana Rokomokoti objected, citing Military privilege. He reiterated this position at a hearing on 21 October, saying that disclosure could threaten national security. The same day, Justice Winters adjourned the trial to 16 November.

Support for Unity Bill

At a court appearance on 8 July, Silatolu said that he supported the Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill, a controversial piece of legislation promoted by Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and Attorney-General Qoriniasi Bale. The legislation establishes a Commission empowered to compensate victims and pardon perpetrators of coup-related offenses. Silatolu said that he had applied for permission from prison authorities to deliver a submission to the parliamentary committee looking into the bill. "I believe the Bill is within the ambits of the Constitution and I fully support it," Silatolu said. On 14 September, he reiterated his support for the legislation and declared his intention to apply for amnesty when it became law.