REVIEW: Noted: Human touch, revealing media insights into Speight’s coup

Review of Speight of Violence: Inside Fiji’s 2000 coup, by Michael Field, Tupeni Baba and Unaisi Nabobo-Baba

Abstract

At 10.45am on the morning of 19 May 2000, Fiji’s Parliament was disrupted when six gunmen entered and demanded the government step down. This is how it happened:

Mr Speaker: (Standing up) What is this? Stranger No. 1: This is a civil coup, hold tight, nobody move! Mr Speaker: Yes? Stranger No. 1: This is a civil coup by the people, the taukei people and we ask you to please retire to your Chamber right now, Mr Speaker. Please co-operate so nobody will get hurt. (p. 18)

This is an extract from Speight of Violence, a book which recalls the memories of the 2000 coup as seen through the eyes of three people—Dr Tupeni Baba, a Deputy Prime Minister in the hostage government, his wife Unaisi and journalist Michael Field.