Tragic death of Fiji Red Cross Director General
1 July 2001

John Scott, Director General of Fiji Red Cross Society, was found dead in his house in Suva on Sunday morning. The motive for his tragic death is under police investigation.

Scott became the Director General of the Fiji Red Cross in 1994. He played a unique role when a group stormed the Fijian parliament last year and took the then Prime Minister and his government hostage for 56 days. Scott negotiated daily visits to the hostages, where he delivered family messages, food, medicine and clean clothes to the captives. He also played a crucial part in their release One former hostage said of John Scott: "His support during our ordeal was always the highlight of our day."

When the leaders of the attempted coup were arrested two months later, Scott carried out visits to them as well. "We will continue to carry out our humanitarian mission the same way, whoever is involved," he said.
The Fiji Red Cross involvement in the hostage crisis earned John Scott and the Society immense respect in the Pacific region and throughout the world.

"We are devastated by these tragic news. John Scott's death is a great loss to the whole Red Cross Red Crescent Movement," said Hiroshi Higashiura, Head of the Asia/Pacific Department at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva today. "John was devoted to the Red Cross humanitarian activities throughout his life."

John Maurice Scott was born in Suva, Fiji in 1948. John was educated in Fiji and New Zealand and held a number of prominent public positions for various national, regional and international councils and programmes. He leaves a son and brother in London, and a mother in New Zealand.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

Solveig Olafsdottir, Information Officer Tel: +41 22 730 4296/ +41 79 217 3372

Chris Black, Information Officer Tel: +41 22 730 4377/ + 41 79 416 3881

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.