Goff says Speight should name the coup plotters

Coup leader George Speight could ease continued tension in Fiji by naming those people involved in May's uprising, says Foreign Minister Phil Goff.

He says that although Speight has been arrested and charged with treason, few in Fiji think he was the brains behind the coup.

Mr Goff has firmly backed New Zealand's High Commissioner in Suva, Tia Barrett, who has this week faced a barrage of criticism for saying it was "incredible" coup plotters were still to face justice.

Mr Barrett, a Maori, has also questioned indigenous Fijians' claims of paramountcy over other races.

He said in a speech in Suva that human rights for all were paramount over indigenous rights.

Speight claimed after his May 19 coup ousted the elected Government, led by Fiji-Indian Mahendra Chaudhry, that the uprising was sparked by a desire to secure power for indigenous Fijians.

But the uprising was also a power play between indigenous Fijian factions.

Mr Barrett has been criticised by ministers in the military-appointed interim Government, which came to power after the coup, and yesterday nationalist political party Soqosoqo Vakavulewa ni Taukei called for Mr Barrett's expulsion.

Mr Goff said this week that Mr Barrett's comments were totally in line with Government policy.

"The answer is in Speight's hands.

"He can speak out ... and say these were the people behind the actions that I took.

"He could appear and give evidence in court, and that would be very interesting if he survived to do it."

Mr Goff said he supported the arrest of Speight but deplored the lack of progress in investigating others involved in the coup.

"There are people who are culpable who either haven't been investigated, or have been investigated but will not be prosecuted ... because their status in Fiji makes it less easy to hold them to account for their actions.

"I deeply regret that."

- NZPA