That was the former Minister for Information in the People's Coalition Government Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi speaking in an interview days after being released from Parliament, where he and other members of the Mahendra Chaudhry-led government were held hostage by George Speight and his men in May 2000.
Eight years ago on this day, May 19th, 2000 Speight with the help of the CRW Unit staged a civilian coup, which saw a standoff at Parliament House with ousted Ministers held hostage for 56 days.
Speight announced a few hours after storming parliament that he had suspended the Constitution and removed the Mahendra Chaudhry-led government.
The hostages in Parliament were released after the signing of the Muanikau Accord between Speight's group and the Fiji Military Forces 56 days after the takeover on 19th May, 2000.
Looking Back
Meanwhile, the only female Indo-Fijian Member of Parliament in the Coalition government said 19th May, 2000 morning was a frightening one.
Suruj Mati Nand said when they taken out to other rooms, she could see many people in the Parliament compound.
However, Nand said during the 56 days in captivity, she was never harmed by the coup leader George Speight or any other rebel.
"These people were making their own decisions – people in the compound were looking viciously – young peopke mostly. And compared to the men we were safe – I was safe. Only reason everybody was fearful was that I was pushed towards all the Indian men with the Indian community. And the Fijian ladies were all away from me and they were thinking “What is my fate?’ But I was treated well". Suruj Mati Nand
Former FLP parliamentarian, Ragho Nand, who was also held hostage during the 2000 coup, said the future of the country is still in the dark as the concerns of the indigenous Fijians and other communities have not been addressed.
Meanwhile, the president of Fiji Retailers Association, Himmat Lodhia said most of the shops were closed due to the march that day.
He said he quickly had to take action for the safety of the employees and other traders after hearing of the parliament takeover.
"As soon as we heard on the radio about all these events taking place in parliament, that’s when we sounded the alarm and quickly asked the staff to start packing up. The second thing I had in my mind was to ring up a few business people and inform them so that they could pass on the message quickly.
Within an hour, the store was shut and the staff for their safety were asked to find the quickest and easiest transport back home". Himmat Lodhia President Fiji Retailers Association.
Meanwhile, the Fiji Labour Party has expressed dismay that eight years on since the 2000 coup and certain key supporters and financiers of the coup have still not been brought to justice.
In a statement FLP President, Jokapeci Koroi said the ghost of 2000 will not be laid to rest unless all those responsible for the pain and suffering associated with the coup are held accountable for the misdeeds.
Koroi said the party remembers with deep sadness the nineteen people who lost their lives and the trauma inflicted on members of the People's Government held hostage for 56 days at gunpoint in the 2000 coup.
According Koroi the political mayhem of 2000 remains the darkest blotch in the modern history of Fiji. She said it plunged the nation into months of chaos, unleashed untold violence, terror and destruction and brought suffering to hundreds of innocent rural families from Muaniweni to Dreketi in the North.
Investigations to 2000 Coup Now Closed
Police have today confirmed that all the investigations in relation to the May 2000 coup which happened exactly 8 years ago today are now closed.
Manager Major Crime, SP Luke Navela who was leading the investigations told Fijivillage News that the files are now closed and no further investigations will be conducted into the upheavals of May 200.
SP Navela also revealed that some prominent people were also investigated however due to insufficient evidence, no charges were laid.
He said upon the reviewing of the files it was established that no further investigations will be conducted and the decision was made to close all investigations into the May 2000 coup.
File Closure Not Surprising-Baba
The Former of Labour Party MP and Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tupeni Baba said he was not surprised that police have closed investigations into the May 2000 coup are now closed.
Baba said the perpetrators have gone to jail over the issue, however that was under the leadership of a different Police Commissioner.
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"A number of arrests and the number of peopke have been charged – maybe a thousand people have been charged. And the leading people who took part have been to jail and are in jail at the moment. Few others have been released and so forth. Major work has been done by the police but that was the police under a different commissioner.
At the moment I don’t see to o much in the way of happening under the present leadership of the new commissioner of police.
Carry ing on with what they have at the moment with the investigation regarding the 2006 coup, there’s very little happening. It’s taken so long for many of the cases to come before the court. So I’m not surprised that police have closed the case."
Meanwhile, the Fiji Labour Party has expressed dismay that eight years since the 2000 coup - certain key supporters and financiers of the coup have still not been brought to justice.
In a statement FLP President, Jokapeci Koroi said the ghost of 2000 would not be laid to rest unless all those responsible for the pain and suffering associated with the coup are held accountable for the misdeeds.
Koroi said the party remembers with deep sadness the 19 people who lost their lives and the trauma inflicted on members of the People's Government held at gunpoint for 56 days during the 2000 coup.
According Koroi the political mayhem of 2000 remains the darkest blotch in the modern history of Fiji. She said it plunged the nation into months of chaos, unleashed untold violence, terror and destruction and brought suffering to hundreds of innocent rural families from Muaniweni to Dreketi in the North.
Police today confirmed that all the investigations in relation to the May 2000 coup which happened exactly 8 years ago today are now closed.
