Tribute paid to John Scott

John Scott coming out of the Parliamentary Complex followed by an armed guard and assistant.
Photo courtesy of Reuters NZ from Asia Pacific Focus, September 2000.

John Scott discusses the day's developments with the Federation's Abbas Gullet and the ICRC's Peter Lutolf. The hostage crisis was a prime example of the International Red Cross Movement working together.

Two former Ministers of the Fijian Government, Mosese Volavola (looking towards camera) and Ponipate Lesavua, enter the Fiji Red Cross compound after eight weeks in captivity.

Tribute paid to John Scott, Fiji Red Cross Director General

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies today formally expressed its condolences to the Fiji Red Cross Society, the family, friends and colleagues of the late John Scott, Director General of the Fiji Red Cross, and his partner Gregory Scrivener. Scott and Scrivener were found dead in their home in Suva on Sunday morning. The motive behind their death is under police investigation.

Scott became the Director General of the Fiji Red Cross in 1994. He played a unique role when a rebel group stormed the Fijian parliament last year and took the then Prime Minister and his government hostage for 56 days by securing daily contact with the captives. During the crisis, the Fiji Red Cross was able to fulfil its mandate within the Red Cross Movement, providing the hostages with family messages, medicines and medical care, and carry out its humanitarian mission. When the hostages were finally released it was into the care of the Fiji Red Cross.

John Scott was the only outsider allowed into the Parliamentary Complex in Suva as the rebels held the country's elected government hostage at gunpoint for almost eight weeks. 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.

Scott described on the Federation web news page how he won the trust of the rebel group and negotiated daily visits to the detained prime minister and his government: "I went to the parliamentary building the same night they were taken captive wearing my Red Cross shirt and negotiated with the group to be allowed to see them - on the grounds that they had the right to Red Cross visits," he recalled in an interview on 13 July, 2000.

A special feature in issue 22 of the Federation's Asia/Pacific Focus magazine was dedicated to John Scott's heroism during the hostage crisis - based on excerpts from his personal diary. He wrote: "I sensed clearly that my presence was initially considered to be very unwelcome. It would appear I was seen to be on the "side" of the hostages and the Royal Fiji Military Force. Trust was minimal.

"Early on it was clear that the Red Cross neutral and impartial image was misunderstood on the inside. With the support of the ICRC we produced a quick 60 second video on the Red Cross and its principles, particularly on Neutrality. The message was played frequently on television. In addition we distributed pamphlets on the Red Cross principles and the Movement in Fijian. These initiatives helped immensely in getting people to understand what the Red Cross really was about. I was fully convinced that our message had gotten through when I received a word of thanks from the rebel who had pushed me around earlier."

And a former hostage said of John Scott: "His support during our ordeal was invaluable to us and our families. His visits were 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.

Abbas Gullet, Secretary General of the Kenya Red Cross and a former head of regional delegation in Suva, was not only John's colleague and coworker but became his close friend and confidant during the coup attempt. "I found him a simple, down to earth person and incredibly focused on what he was dealing with," Gullet said. "He was an extremely warm and generous person. For me he was a role model for the Pacific Red Cross Societies, and he changed the profile of the Fiji Red Cross. John Scott was larger than life."

Gullet added that John's bravery during the hostage crisis was only possible because of the unfailing support he received from his partner Greg throughout the ordeal.

Omar Valdimarsson, regional information delegate in Bangkok who reported on John Scott's activities during the hostage crisis, shares the same sentiments.

"John enjoyed the sincere respect of all his Red Cross staff and the citizens of Fiji. Wherever he would go, people would greet him and take their hat off to him," Omar said. "I understood their feelings when I heard him address his colleagues after the hostage crisis. He completely effaced himself - although he had been the centre of media attention for weeks, he gave all the credit to his staff. To those who had cooked the food, made the food parcels for the hostages, manned the ambulances and been on standby for almost eight weeks, practically living in Red Cross headquarters."

Mareta Tovata, Fiji Red Cross events manager and John's right hand person, sums it up perfectly: "As a person who lead the Fiji Red Cross he was invaluable. John brought out the best in everyone - and that is what made us an incredibly close-knit team. His death is not only a professional loss for the Fiji Red Cross and the Pacific region. It is a personal loss for all of us."

International Federation President Dr Astrid N. Heiberg and Secretary General Dider Cherpitel sent their condolences to the Fiji Red Cross yesterday: " John had served the Red Cross humanitarian activities with distinction for more than six years and will be greatly missed. He contributed greatly to the development of the Fiji Red Cross and was particularly associated with the Secretariat as a member of the Disaster Relief Commission; we were to meet with him in Geneva on the occasion of the next Commission meeting in September. All here at the Secretariat in Geneva wish to express their solidarity and sympathy with the Fiji Red Cross Society at this very sad time."

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.