GRS 800A
EN CLAIR
FM SUVA 0304052
UNCLASSIFIED
HKG 380/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 - 4 JAN 1978
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
No
PA
RESISTRY Action Take
EL
TO ROUTINE FCO TELNO 2 OF 3 JANUARY
(321) HKG 386/1 (77)
Sa (87
YOUR TELNO 232 OF 9 DECEMBER TO BELMOPAN: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
1. THE FIJI CROWN LAW OFFICE, AFTER CONSIDERABLE RESEARCH,
HAS PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION.
ONE PERSON ONLY HAS BEEN EXECUTED IN FIJI SINCE 13 AUGUST 1964.
INFO REQUESTED (YOUR PARA 2) 15:
(A) EXECUTED 9 SEPTEMBER 1964
(B) NARAYAN
(C) SENTENCED 6 MARCH 1964 (APPEAL DISMISSED 7 AUGUST 1964) (D) CONVICTED FOR MURDER
NARAYAN WAS THE LAST PERSON TO BE EXECUTED IN FIJI.
2. TWO OTHER PERSONS WERE CONVICTED FOR MURDER, ON 18 MARCH
1964 AND 17 JULY 1964, BUT THE SENTENCES WERE COMMUTED TO
LIFE IMPRISONMENT AFTER THE KEY DATE OF 13 AUGUST 1964 (3Y THE
GOVERNOR).
3. THREE OTHERS WERE CONVICTED OF MURDER AFTER 13 AUGUST
1964 BUT BEFORE 20 JUNE 1966 (SEE PARA 5(8) BELOW). DEATH
SENTENCES WERE COMMUTED BY THE GOVERNOR TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
ON 6 JULY 1965, 30 OCTOBER 1965 AND 30 APRIL 1966 RESPECTIVELY.
4.
CROWN LAW OFFICE SAY THAT A FURTHER THREE (MEN), WHO WERE
SENTENCED TO DEATH AFTER 1 JANUARY 1973 (SEE PARA 5(C) BELOW)
WERE REPRIEVED BY THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL, AND HAD THEIR SENTENCES
COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT, ON THE ADVICE OF THE COMMISSION ON THE PREROGATIVE OF MERCY'.. THE FIRST WAS REPRIEVED ON
13 APRIL 1974, THE SECOND AND THIRD (JOINTLY FOUND GUILTY OF SAME MURDER) DATE OF REPRIEVE UNKNOWN BUT PROBABLY LATE 1974.
15.
14