demanding that Qarase be replaced as Prime Minister by Adi Samanunu Cakobau, and that rebels be given control of key portfolios. When the government rejected his demands, his spokesman Joe Nata threatened civil war. On 26 July Speight, Nata, and two others were arrested at a military checkpoint following threats to President Iloilo. The military then stormed his headquarters, killing one person and arresting 369 supporters. Aftermath In the wake of the coup tourism collapsed by 30%, and Fiji's economy contracted 8.2%. Despite Speight's arrest, violence by rebels continued. On 31 July Speight supporters terrorised the village of Dreketi, taking 30 hostages. Soldiers who had mutinied at the Sukunaivalu Barracks did not surrender for six weeks. On 8 August rebels ambushed a military patrol, killing one soldier and a policeman, and wounding three others. On 2 November 2000, soldiers of the Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit loyal to Speight mutinied in the Queen Elizabeth Barracks mutiny, holding officers hostage in an attempt to depose military commander Frank Bainimarama. Two soldiers were killed and ten were injured when the military retook the barracks. Four of the rebels were tortured and killed by loyal soldiers in the aftermath. On 15 November, the High Court of Fiji declared that the interim government was illegal. Mara remained the lawful President; Parliament had not been dissolved but only suspended, and should now be reconvened; and by implication, Chaudhry remained the lawful Prime Minister. Mara subsequently officially resigned, with his resignation backdated to 29 May. The Qarase government appealed the court ruling. On 1 March 2001, the Court of Appeal of Fiji confirmed the High Court decision reinstating the constitution. The government accepted the decision, and new elections were subsequently held in August and September 2001. On 18 February 2002 George Speight pleaded guilty to treason and was sentenced to death. The sentence was commuted to life imprisonment the same day by President Ratu Josefa Iloilo. Ten other rebels received sentences of between 18 months and three years for kidnapping. On 20 March 2003 Josefa Nata and Timoci Silatolu were convicted of treason. On 28 June 2003 both were sentenced to life imprisonment. In April 2005 Lands Minister Naiqama Lalabalavu, Senator Josefa Dimuri and two other Vanua Levu chiefs were sentenced to eight months imprisonment over his role in the Sukanaivalu Barracks mutiny. In November 2002 15 soldiers involved in the Queen Elizabeth barracks mutiny were sentenced