SUVA, Fiji (1 July 2001) -- Fiji's Red Cross director who played a crucial negotiation role in last year's political hostage drama is believed to be one of two men murdered today, Fiji Television reported. Police officials told the station that a scene of "incredible violence" was found at the home of Australian director John Scott. Police would not reveal the identities of the two dead men but an unnamed official said one of them was Mr Scott. A cane knife had been found outside the home in the Suva suburb of Tamavua and two men were in custody, although no arrests have yet been made. Mr Scott on Saturday night had been present at a combined Fiji Military Forces/Red Cross ball held at the central Queen Elizabeth Barracks. He played a key role last year when coup plotters led by George Speight seized Parliament on May 19 and took Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and his government hostage for 56 days. Coup hostage negotiator For the first several days, Mr Scott was the only outsider allowed to see the hostages and he set up a system for mail and food parcels to move between the hostages and their families. | | Racist rebel leader George Speight Throughout the drama Speight and his gang would occasionally release hostages, always telephoning Mr Scott to arrange the pickups. On July 13 when Chaudhry and the bulk of the hostages were released, it was Mr Scott who made arrangements, taking two trucks up to the parliament for the handover. He kept a low profile and avoided discussing the process with the media. When Speight and 12 others were later arrested and detained on an island, Mr Scott checked on their conditions. |
