Fiji abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes...

Fiji abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1979; the last execution was carried out in 1964. Treason carries the death penalty, but it has never been enforced since Fiji became independent in 1970. An Interim Cabinet was sworn in on July 28 following the coup attempt on May 19, 2000. President Ratu Iloilo confirmed military-backed interim Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase up to 2003. Rebel leader George Speight's supporters were excluded from the line-up. The new interim administration said that the 1997 Constitution was null. Commodore Frank Bainimarama, head of the Fiji Military Forces, promised to appoint a constitutional review commission to devise a new document.