Major-General Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, OBE, MSD, OStJ, (born September 13, 1948) is best known as the instigator of two military coups that shook Fiji in 1987. He was later democratically elected Prime Minister, serving from 1992 to 1999. He later served as Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs, and is currently Chairman of the Cakaudrove Provincial Council, a position he has held since 24 May 2001. He was reelected to this position for another three-year term on 13 April 2005. is the 153rd day of the year (154th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 139th day of the year (140th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 123rd day of the year (124th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Fiji received its independence in 1970. ... The Great Council of Chiefs The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a formal assembly of Fijis senior hereditary chiefs, along with some representatives of the national government and provincial councils, who may or may not be hereditary chiefs themselves. ... The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. ... The Right Honourable Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara GCMG KBE CF, (May 6, 1920 – April 18, 2004) is considered the founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. ... Mahendra Pal Chaudhry (born 9 February 1942) is the leader of the Fiji Labour Party and currently the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. ... Ratu Epeli Ganilau Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Ganilau, MC, MSD, (born 10 October 1951) is a Fijian soldier and statesman, who currently heads the National Alliance Party of Fiji. ... September 13 is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years). ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... Vanua Levu is the second largest island of Fiji, and was formerly known as Sandalwood Island. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues with the aim to participate in power, usually by participating in elections. ... The Fijian Political Party (better known by its initials SVT, which stand for its Fijan name, Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei) is a party which dominated politics in the 1990s and was the mainstay of coalition governments from 1992 to 1999, but which is currently without representation in the House... Major General or Major-General is a military rank used in many countries. ... The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions; in decreasing order of seniority, these are Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GBE) Knight Commander... The Fijian honours system dates from independence in 1970, when the Fijian Independence Medal was awarded to participants in the Fijian independence celebrations. ... HRH The Duke of Gloucester is Grand Prior of the Venerable Order of Saint John. ... September 13 is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years). ... Fiji Coups of 1987 refers to the 1987 overthrow of the government of Fiji by Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka, then third in command of the Royal Fiji Military Forces. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Fiji received its independence in 1970. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... The Great Council of Chiefs The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a formal assembly of Fijis senior hereditary chiefs, along with some representatives of the national government and provincial councils, who may or may not be hereditary chiefs themselves. ... The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. ... Cakaudrove is one of fourteen Provinces of Fiji, and one of three based principally on the northern island of Vanua Levu, occupying the south-eastern third of the island and including the nearby islands of Taveuni, Rabi, Kioa, and numerous other islands in the Vanua Levu Group. ... Fiji is divided administratively into four divisions, which are further subdivided into fourteen provinces. ... is the 144th day of the year (145th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year (104th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Early life and military career

The son of Kolinio Epeli Vanuacicila Rabuka and Salote Lomaloma Rabuka, he comes from the village of Drekeniwai on Vanua Levu, one of Fiji's two major islands. He was educated at Queen Victoria School becoming the head boy in his final year. Rabuka was trained initially in New Zealand army schools, from which he graduated in 1973, and later did postgraduate work at the Indian Defence Services Staff College in 1979, and at the Australian Joint Services Staff College in 1982. He was a senior operation plans manager for UNIFIL peacekeeping troops in Lebanon in 1980 and 1981. On his return home, he was appointed Army Chief of Staff. From 1982 to 1987, he was an operations and training officer for the Fijian army, except for a two-year absence (1983-1985) when he commanded the Fiji Battalion as part of a peacekeeping force in the Sinai. Vanua Levu is the second largest island of Fiji, and was formerly known as Sandalwood Island. ... Year 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Forces In Lebanon) was created in 1978 by the United Nations to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, restore the international peace and security, and help the Lebanese Government restore its effective authority in the area. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... Sinai Peninsula, Gulf of Suez (west), Gulf of Aqaba (east) from Space Shuttle STS-40 For other uses of the word Sinai, please see: Sinai (disambiguation). ...

The 1987 coups

Rabuka, by now a colonel, emerged suddenly from obscurity on 14 May 1987 when he staged the first of two military coups to reassert ethnic Fijian supremacy, following the 1987 election, which had brought an Indo-Fijian (ethnic Indian)-dominated government to power. Deposing the elected government, he handed power over to the Governor-General, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, a high chief whom he expected to implement ethnic Fijian interests. When, however, Ganilau attempted to reinstate the abrogated constitution, Rabuka carried out a second coup on 28 September that year. At first he pledged his allegiance to the Queen, but later proclaimed a republic, abolishing the 113-year link to the British Monarchy. He handed over power on December 5 to an interim administration, headed by Ganilau as President and Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara as Prime Minister, but remained Commander of the Army and Minister of Home Affairs, the National Youth Service, and the Auxiliary Army Service. Ganilau and Mara did not feel strong enough to dismiss Rabuka, but the public support they enjoyed as high chiefs was such that he did not feel strong enough to depose them. An uneasy truce existed between Ganilau and Mara on the one hand and Rabuka on the other. This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Fiji Coups of 1987 refers to the 1987 overthrow of the government of Fiji by Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka, then third in command of the Royal Fiji Military Forces. ... Indigenous Fijians are the major indigenous people of the Fiji Islands. ... The general election of April 1987 was Fijis fifth since the country had gained its independence from the United Kingdom seventeen years earlier. ... Indo-Fijians are people born in Fiji, but are ethnically Indian. ... Fiji became a British Crown Colony in 1874, and an independent dominion in the British Commonwealth in 1970. ... Ratu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu Ganilau GCMG KCVO KBE DSO (28 July 1918-15 December 1993) was the first President of Fiji, serving from 8 December 1987 till his death. ... Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. ... Indigenous Fijians are the major indigenous people of the Fiji Islands. ... is the 271st day of the year (272nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ... The British monarchy is a shared monarchy; this article describes the monarchy from the perspective of the United Kingdom. ... December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Fiji became a republic in 1987, when Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom formally abdicated as Queen of Fiji, following two military coups led by Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka. ... The Right Honourable Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara GCMG KBE CF, (May 6, 1920 – April 18, 2004) is considered the founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. ... The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), with a total manpower of only 3500 men, is one of the smallest in the world. ...

During the time of the coup, Rabuka was sometimes referred to in the press as "Colonel Steve Rambo." ^[1]

In 2006, Rabuka finally apologised for having executed the coups. Fiji Live reported on 28 March that Rabuka had told India's Ahmedabad Newsline, while visiting India for medical treatment, that he regretted his role in the coups, which he described as "democratically wrong." For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Fiji Live is an online newspaper and business and cultural directory in Fiji. ... is the 87th day of the year (88th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Prime Minister of Fiji

Following the adoption in 1990 of a new Constitution that guaranteed ethnic Fijian domination of the political system, Rabuka was chosen to lead the newly-formed Fijian Political Party in 1991. This party won the parliamentary election of 1992 and Rabuka became Prime Minister. His government was weakened from the outset, however, by a leadership challenge by former Finance Minister Josefata Kamikamica. In 1994, Kamikamica left the party with five of his supporters, depriving Rabuka of a parliamentary majority. A parliamentary election to resolve the impasse was held three years early; the Fijian Political Party won a plurality but fell two seats short of an absolute majority in the 70-member House of Representatives. Rabuka formed a coalition with the small General Voters Party, a small party supported almost entirely by General Electors, who comprised Europeans, Chinese, and other minorities. He also agreed to negotiate with moderate leaders of the Indo-Fijian community to draft a controversial new Constitution, which removed most of the provisions that had biased the political system in favour of indigenous Fijians. Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... The Fijian Political Party (better known by its initials SVT, which stand for its Fijan name, Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei) is a party which dominated politics in the 1990s and was the mainstay of coalition governments from 1992 to 1999, but which is currently without representation in the House... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... A general election was held to restore Fiji to democracy in 1992. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Fiji received its independence in 1970. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ... Fiji held a general election in 1994, three years earlier than scheduled. ... Overview The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Fijis Parliament. ... General Electors is the term used in Fiji to identify citizens of voting age who belong, in most cases, to ethnic minorities. ...

The elections of 1999 were the first in many years to see real competition between ethnic Fijians and Indo-Fijians for power. Rabuka lost these elections, and was replaced by Mahendra Chaudhry, the first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister. The general election to the Fijian House of Representatives, held in May 1999, was historic. ... Mahendra Pal Chaudhry (born 9 February 1942) is the leader of the Fiji Labour Party and currently the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. ...

The 2000 coup and Queen Elizabeth Barracks mutiny

Following his electoral defeat, Rabuka was elected Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs. He was forced to relinquish this post in 2001, however, in the wake of allegations made against him by former President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara of complicity in the Fiji coup of 2000, which deposed both Mara and the Indo-Fijian Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, on May 19, 2000. Claiming that the coup leader George Speight - who was then in custody and has since been convicted of treason - was only a front, Mara appeared on Close-Up on Fiji Television on April 30, 2001, and revealed that on May 21, 2000, two days after the coup, he had confronted Rabuka and Isikia Savua, the police chief, about their possible involvement in it. "I could see it in their faces," Mara declared. Ratu Mara told the programme that within half an hour of Speight's forcible occupation of the Parliament, Rabuka had telephoned Government House (the official residence of the President) to offer to form a government. He further alleged that the Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit of the Army had been involved in the coup after receiving training on a farm owned by Rabuka. The Fiji coup of 2000 was a complicated affair involving a civilian putsch by hardline Fijian nationalists against the elected government of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry on 19 May 2000, the attempt by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to assert executive authority on 27 May, and his own resignation, possibly... The Great Council of Chiefs The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a formal assembly of Fijis senior hereditary chiefs, along with some representatives of the national government and provincial councils, who may or may not be hereditary chiefs themselves. ... The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Fiji became a republic in 1987, when Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom formally abdicated as Queen of Fiji, following two military coups led by Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka. ... The Right Honourable Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara GCMG KBE CF, (May 6, 1920 – April 18, 2004) is considered the founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. ... The Fiji coup of 2000 was a complicated affair involving a civilian putsch by hardline Fijian nationalists against the elected government of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry on 19 May 2000, the attempt by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to assert executive authority on 27 May, and his own resignation, possibly... Fiji received its independence in 1970. ... Mahendra Pal Chaudhry (born 9 February 1942) is the leader of the Fiji Labour Party and currently the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. ... is the 139th day of the year (140th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... George Speight George Speight, occasionally known as Ilikimi Naitini (born 1957), was the principal instigator of the Fiji coup of 2000, in which he kidnapped thirty-six government officials and held them from May 19, 2000 to July 13, 2000. ... Fiji Television Limited is Fijis television network. ... is the 120th day of the year (121st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... May 21 is the 141st day of the year (142nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Isikia Savua Isikia Rabici Savua is a senior Fijian diplomat, who has previously had a distinguished career in the Military and police forces before taking up his present post as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations on 4 March 2003. ... The Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit or CRW was the common name for the First Meridian Squadron (F.M.S), now disbanded. ...

In an interview with Fiji's Daily Post on 2 July 2001, Rabuka angrily denied the allegations, saying that they were the ravings of "an angry old man" and "very unbecoming of a national leader and of a statesman." The charges, however, were repeated on the floor of the Senate on 23 October 2004 by Adi Koila Nailatikau, Mara's daughter. Fijis Daily Post - logo The Fijis Daily Post is a newspaper that was formerly majority owned by the Fijian government, but is now independent, the government having sold its shares. ... is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... The Senate of Fiji is the upper chamber of Parliament. ... October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Adi Koila Mara Nailatikau Adi Koila Mara Nailatikau is a Fijian lawyer, who has served as a career diplomat and politician. ...

Former Attorney-General Sir Vijay Singh published a memoir in 2006, supporting the allegations against Rabuka. Fiji Village quoted Singh on 18 August 2006 as saying, at the launch of his memoir, "Speaking Out", that Rabuka had told him personally that he was one of the ring-leaders and that real target of the coup was not the Chaudhry government, but Ratu Mara, and that Mara had voiced his own suspicions about Rabuka to Singh. "On Monday (following the Friday coup) I had a telephone conversation with the President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. He had no doubts that it was Mr Sitiveni Rabuka and Mr Isikia Savua (the then Commissioner of Police who had organised the miserable affair at parliamentary complex," Singh said. // Fijis chief governmental legal officer is the Attorney General. ... Look up sir in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Sir Vijay Singh Sir Vijay R. Singh is a Fijian lawyer and former politician, who held Cabinet office in the 1970s. ... As a literary genre, a memoir (from the Latin memoria, meaning memory) forms a subclass of autobiography, although it is an older form of writing. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Fiji Village is an online news service in Fiji. ... is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Isikia Savua Isikia Rabici Savua is a senior Fijian diplomat, who has previously had a distinguished career in the Military and police forces before taking up his present post as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations on 4 March 2003. ... The Fijian Commissioner of Police title has been held by Australian police officer Andrew Hughes since 2003. ...

Rabuka refused to comment on Singh's allegations, citing sub judice. In law, sub judice, Latin for under judgment, means that a particular case or matter is currently under trial or being considered by a judge or court. ...

Alleged role in mutiny

Rabuka was also accused of instigating or supporting the mutiny that took place at Suva's Queen Elizabeth Barracks on 2 November 2000. In an interview with the Fiji Times on 12 November 2000, the Military Commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama charged that while the revolt was in progress, Rabuka had visited the barracks with his army uniform in the car, ready to take over command of the army. He also allegedly started issuing orders to soldiers. "Rabuka's words to one of my colonels at the height of the shootings raised my suspicions," Bainimarama said. "He said the Colonel should listen to his instructions. He also criticised my leadership." Bainimarama accused Rabuka of leading soldiers astray by using "confusing" and "deceiving" words. Suva is the capital city of Fiji. ... Queen Elizabeth Barracks is a Fijian Army base, located in the Suva suburb of Nabua. ... November 2 is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 59 days remaining. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Fiji Times Online The Fiji Times is a daily newspaper published in Fiji. ... is the 316th day of the year (317th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Commodore is a military rank used in some navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a Captain, but is less than that of a Flag Officer. ... Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, MSD, OStJ, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by his chiefly title, Ratu[1] (born 27 April 1954) is the Commander of the Fijian Military Forces and, as of 5 January 2007, Interim Prime Minister. ...

Bainimarama also accused Rabuka of having "politicized" the Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW) unit, which he had founded as a bodyguard in 1987, to favour both the mutiny and the earlier takeover of parliament in May. Members of the CRW were involved in both the May coup and the November mutiny. Counter Revolutionary Operations is a term used to describe military operations against irregular guerrilla forces such as the British military has been engaged in including: Modern Iraq after the end of the conventional phase The Troubles in Northern Ireland post 1969 Cyprus Kenya Mau Mau Operations in the Malayan Emergency... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... The Fiji coup of 2000 was a complicated affair involving a civilian putsch by hardline Fijian nationalists against the elected government of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry on 19 May 2000, the attempt by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to assert executive authority on 27 May, and his own resignation, possibly...

Bainimarama's version was supported by Lieutenant Colonel Viliame Seruvakula, who led the counteroffensive to put down the mutiny. On 13 November 2000, he said that rebels interrogated by the military had implicated Rabuka. He accused Rabuka of trying to take civilians into the barracks to act as human shields for the mutineers, and stated that Rabuka's intention was to "claim military leadership and ultimately overthrow the Government of the day." Viliame Seruvakula is a former Fijian Military officer, who played an instrumental role in the aftermath of the Fiji coup of 2000. ... is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Rabuka, a retired officer, denied supporting the mutiny, but refused to comment on an accusation from Bainimarama that he had called a meeting of senior officers loyal to him to depose Bainimarama.

2006 arrest

Rabuka's denials of the allegations against him did not end the controversy. On 14 May 2005, the New Zealand Herald reported in its Weekend Herald edition that the Fiji police force was close to making a decision on whether to charge certain unnamed individuals, one of whom the Herald believed to be Rabuka. The report quoted Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes as saying that a major hindrance to their investigation was a "cone of silence" among the close associates of the suspects. May 14 is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The New Zealand Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Auckland, New Zealand. ... The Fijian Commissioner of Police title has been held by Australian police officer Andrew Hughes since 2003. ... Assistant Commissioner Andrew Andy Hughes is a senior officer of the Australian Federal Police (AFP). ...

Rabuka was arrested on 11 May 2006 on charges of inciting Lieutenant Colonel Viliame Seruvakula to commit a military mutiny on 2 November 2000, in the aftermath of the 2000 coup. He is alleged to have approached Seruvakula back on 4 July that year, with a view to overthrowing the Military Commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama. He entered no plea, was released on $F 1000 bail, and was required to surrender his passport. He was ordered to report to the Namadi police station between 6am and 6pm every Monday and Saturday, and was warned not to try to influence any witnesses, according to a Fiji Live report. It was announced on 17 June that at the request of the Director of Prosecutions, the case had been transferred to the High Court due to the serious nature of the charge. is the 131st day of the year (132nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and inferior to a colonel. ... Viliame Seruvakula is a former Fijian Military officer, who played an instrumental role in the aftermath of the Fiji coup of 2000. ... Two military mutinies took place in connection with the civilian coup détat that rocked Fiji in 2000, the first while the rebellion instigated by George Speight was in progress, and the second four months after it had ended. ... November 2 is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 59 days remaining. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Fiji coup of 2000 was a complicated affair involving a civilian putsch by hardline Fijian nationalists against the elected government of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry on 19 May 2000, the attempt by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to assert executive authority on 27 May, and his own resignation, possibly... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Commodore is a military rank used in some navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a Captain, but is less than that of a Flag Officer. ... Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, MSD, OStJ, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by his chiefly title, Ratu[1] (born 27 April 1954) is the Commander of the Fijian Military Forces and, as of 5 January 2007, Interim Prime Minister. ... Fiji Live is an online newspaper and business and cultural directory in Fiji. ... is the 168th day of the year (169th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The High Court of Fiji is independent of the legislative and executive branches of the acting government. ...

Rabuka appeared in the High Court on 30 June and pleaded not guilty, Fiji Village reported. The trial was set for 20 October, but this was later changed to 6 November. is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Fiji Village is an online news service in Fiji. ... October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Fiji Village reported on 6 September that Rabuka had been refused permission to travel to Papua New Guinea for a golf tournament. Judge Gerard Winter ruled that the charges against Rabuka were serious and that he must not be allowed to abscond. Permission to leave Fiji would therefore be granted for medical emergencies only; the golf tournament did not qualify, he declared. September 6 is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years). ... This article is about the sport. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

On 11 December 2006, Rabuka was found not guilty on two counts of inciting a mutiny. The judge cast a deciding vote after the panel of assessors was split.^[2] December 11 is the 345th day of the year (346th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Present and recent controversies

In 2004, the Fijian government announced that Rabuka would be Fiji's next Ambassador to Washington D.C. Continuing suspicions about his involvement in the 2000 coup, however, thwarted the appointment, with the American State Department reportedly rejecting him as unsuitable. On 27 May 2005, the Fijian government finally appointed Jesoni Vitusagavulu, a businessman and former banker, to the post instead. shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... An ambassador, rarely embassador, is a diplomatic official accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization, to serve as the official representative of his or her own country. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United States Department of State, often referred to as the State Department, is the Cabinet-level foreign affairs agency of the United States government, equivalent to foreign ministries in other countries. ... is the 147th day of the year (148th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jesoni Vitusagavulu Jesoni Vitusagavulu is a Fijian businessman and diplomat, who was appointed as Fijis fifth Ambassador to the United States on 26 May 2005, succeeding Anare Jale. ...

Views on non-Indigenous Fijians as Prime Minister

Rabuka is noted for his propensity to walk both sides of the street politically. On 15 September 2001, he called on Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase to include the Indo-Fijian-dominated Labour Party in the Cabinet, as per the constitution, saying that to exclude it threatened the future of the Indo-Fijian community. It would make them feel marginalized, he said, which could lead to an increase in emigration. In 2004 he called for Chaudhry to be reinstated as Prime Minister, despite his having lost the 2001 election that was held to restore democracy. is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Laisenia Qarase (born February 4, 1941) was Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. ... The Fiji Labour Party is a political party in Fiji. ... Fiji has the Westminster system - executive authority is vested nominally in a President, but exercised in practice by a Cabinet of Ministers, presided over by the Prime Minister. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Constitution of Fiji was restored by a Supreme Court decision, following the failure of the Fiji coup of 2000. ...

On March 17, 2005, however, he declared that no Indo-Fijian should ever expect to lead Fiji, and called on Indo-Fijians to follow the example of Sonia Gandhi, who, despite her assimilation to Indian culture, declined to become Prime Minister of India. He later qualified this statement on 28 March however; Fiji Live quoted him as telling India's Ahmedabad Newsline that Gandhi's decision was a good example for Indo-Fijians to follow, but that it should be voluntary, not legislated. is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sonia Gandhi (Hindi: , IPA: ), born Sonia Antonia Maino on December 9, 1946, is an Italian-born Indian politician, the President of the Indian National Congress and the widow of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. ... The culture of India had history, all the while absorbing customs, traditions, and ideas from both invaders and immigrants. ... The Prime Minister of India is, in practice, the most powerful person in the government of India. ... is the 87th day of the year (88th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Fiji Live is an online newspaper and business and cultural directory in Fiji. ...

The Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill

Rabuka took a measured position in relation to the government's proposed Reconciliation and Unity Commission, which will be empowered to recommend amnesty for perpetrators of the 2000 coup and compensation for its victims. This is in contrast to the great majority of politicians, who have taken a hard stand either for it or against it. On 19 May 2005, Rabuka said that the objective of the commission should not merely be to grant amnesty and compensation, but to uncover the truth about who was involved in the coup, directly or indirectly. "It should be able to get to all those who were behind the coup and not only us who were widely accused of taking part. It should be able to reveal those who planned it, financed it and executed it," Rabuka said. The prospect of amnesty, he said, might encourage some individuals to come forward who might otherwise be unwilling to talk. The Reconciliation and Unity Commission is a proposed government body to be set up if the Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill, which was introduced into the Fijian Parliament on May 4, 2005, is passed. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 139th day of the year (140th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Despite his own qualified support for the legislation, Rabuka criticized the Great Council of Chiefs for endorsing it. So many among them were on the side of the coup perpetrators in 2000, he said, that their decision to support the bill could not be seen to have been made objectively. The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Rabuka spoke out on 21 October to oppose proposals to establish a separate but parallel indigenous system of justice, saying that such a system would be unable to deal with more serious criminal offences. October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 71 days remaining. ...

Views on military unrest

On 12 January 2006, Rabuka called on the government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase to get tough with the Military Commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama. Commenting on recent Military threats to remove the government, Rabuka said that instead of fearing the power of the Army, the government should realize that the Commander was not indispensable and could be replaced. January 12 is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Laisenia Qarase (born February 4, 1941) was Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. ... Commodore is a military rank used in some navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a Captain, but is less than that of a Flag Officer. ... Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, MSD, OStJ, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by his chiefly title, Ratu[1] (born 27 April 1954) is the Commander of the Fijian Military Forces and, as of 5 January 2007, Interim Prime Minister. ... The tension between Fijis government and Military forces, which had been simmering for more than two years, appeared to escalate in late December 2005. ...

Views on the chiefly system

Rabuka found himself embroiled in controversy in September 2006, when he called for the abolition of Fiji's chiefly system and for the nationalization of land owned by indigenous Fijians. Fiji Television quoted him on 1 September as saying that the way to solve problems associated with land and resources. "The indigenous Fijians will argue that this will leave them with nothing but in the end, it's for the good of all. We'll all benefit in the end," Fiji Live quoted him as saying. September 2006 is the ninth month of 2006 and has begun on a Friday. ... Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. ... Fiji Television Limited is Fijis television network. ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... Fiji Live is an online newspaper and business and cultural directory in Fiji. ...

Senior Fijian chiefs strongly criticized Rabuka for his stance. Great Council of Chiefs Chairman Ratu Ovini Bokini was quoted by [[Fiji Village on 4 September as saying that if Rabuka, a commoner, did not believe in the traditional chiefly system, he should consider resigning his life-membership of the Great Council, which was granted to him. Bokini's predecessor, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, had voiced similar views the previous day, with Fiji Live quoting him as accusing Rabuka of hypocrisy. Rabuka had executed the 1987 coups in the name of upholding the chiefly system, Ganilau claimed. Another high chief, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, told the Fiji Sun that as a commoner, Rabuka was privileged to be allowed membership of the Great Council of Chiefs, and had no right to attack the system. The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. ... The Great Council of Chiefs The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a formal assembly of Fijis senior hereditary chiefs, along with some representatives of the national government and provincial councils, who may or may not be hereditary chiefs themselves. ... Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. ... Ratu Ovini Bokini is a Fijian statesman. ... is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A commoner, in British law, is someone who is neither the Sovereign nor a noble. ... Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. ... Ratu Epeli Ganilau Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Ganilau, MC, MSD, (born 10 October 1951) is a Fijian soldier and statesman, who currently heads the National Alliance Party of Fiji. ... Fiji Live is an online newspaper and business and cultural directory in Fiji. ... Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. ... Ratu Epenisa Seru Cakobau () is a Fijian chief. ... The Fiji Sun is a daily newspaper published in Fiji. ...

Rabuka also came under attack from the Methodist Church. General Secretary Reverend Ame Tugaue said that it was the chiefs who had accepted and upheld Christianity in Fiji, and thought it dangerous to tamper with the system. "It is a dangerous call," he said. Nationalization of land would also disempower the people, the Fiji Sun quoted Tugaue as saying. "If all assets are given to the Government to control, how can we claim ownership of the land? In future, there will not be any hope for us." The Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma is the largest Christian denomination in Fiji, with 36. ... The Reverend is an honorary prefix added to the names of Christian clergy and ministers. ... Christianity percentage by country, purple is highest, orange is lowest Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch...

2006 candidate?

In early 2005, Rabuka ruled himself out of contesting the 2006 parliamentary election, but on May 7 said he was reconsidering, following appeals from Fijian businessmen and former politicians to be part of a move to unite all ethnically Fijian parties in a joint ticket to contest the next election. "I am genuinely interested because I have always been for Fijian unity," he said. He has stressed that he believes that political unity among indigenous Fijians is essential to prevent the election of an Indo-Fijian dominated government in 2006. He admitted, however, that he was seen as "a stumbling block" by many, but added, "I want to change all that." On 29 May, he said that political unity among the Fijian people should not be looked at half-heartedly as a possibility but wholeheartedly as a need. He accused Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, who has also called for unity among ethnic Fijians, of hypocrisy, saying that in the 1990s there was only one mainstream Fijian party, but that others had split from it and founded numerous competing groups. Qarase and his Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) were implied to be among those responsible for the disunity. Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Constitution of Fiji requires general elections for the House of Representatives to be held at least once every five years. ... is the 127th day of the year (128th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Indigenous Fijians are the major indigenous people of the Fiji Islands. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Laisenia Qarase (born February 4, 1941) was Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... The United Fiji Party (Fijian: Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua) is a political party in Fiji. ...

On 21 August, Rabuka said he was of the opinion that Prime Ministers defeated at the polls should not stand again. Former Prime Ministers remaining politically active led to instability, he said, pointing to recent political upheavals in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands as examples. "It is healthy for party leaders who become prime ministers after being defeated at general elections to take the responsibility for the defeat and bow out of active politics and just become an adviser or remain as a party supporter but not in the front seat running for another election." is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

On 19 October, Rabuka said that the current parliamentary team representing Cakaudrove enjoyed his full support. He said he would follow the will of the people, however, in deciding whether or not to contest the 2006 elections. Current members of Parliament from Cakaudrove include Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, the Paramount Chief of the Tovata Confederacy, Manasa Tugia, and Niko Nawaikula. is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Cakaudrove is one of fourteen Provinces of Fiji, and one of three based principally on the northern island of Vanua Levu, occupying the south-eastern third of the island and including the nearby islands of Taveuni, Rabi, Kioa, and numerous other islands in the Vanua Levu Group. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu is a Fijian high chief and politician, who was the Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, prior to his resignation on 7 April 2005. ... The Tui Cakau is the Paramount Chief of Cakaudrove Province in Fiji. ... Tovata is one of three confederacies comprising the Fijian House of Chiefs, to which all of Fijis chiefs supposedly belong. ... Hon. ... Niko Nawaikula Niko Nawaikula is a Fijian politician, who was appointed to the House of Representatives on 22 June 2005. ...

Despite his role in the formation (30 July 2005) of the Grand Coalition Initiative Group, an electoral pact of five political parties supported mostly by indigenous Fijians, to contest the 2006 elections, Rabuka expressed doubts about its workability on 27 December. Public feuding threatened to derail the project, he warned. The recent attack on the 1997 Constitution by Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party leader Iliesa Duvuloco had upset him, he said. is the 211th day of the year (212th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Grand Coalition for Fiji, formerly known as the Grand Coalition Initiative Group, is a coalition of five predominantly indigenous Fijian political parties in Fiji, forged for the purpose of contesting the general election scheduled for 2006 under a single umbrella and forming a coalition government subsequently. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (362nd in leap years). ... Year 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar). ... The Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party (NVTLP) is a Fijian political party which champions Fijian ethnic nationalism. ... Iliesa Duvuloco is a Fijian politician, who leads the Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party, which was formed in 1999 through a merger of his own Vanua Tako Lavo Party and Sakeasi Butadrokas Fijian Nationalist Party, both of which championed ethnic nationalism and indigenous Fijian political supremacy. ...

At the same time, Rabuka said that another coup would be unlikely, and that given the disunity among indigenous Fijians, attitudes towards a non-indigenous Prime Minister would not matter. The multi-party Cabinet provisions of the Constitution could not be implemented if either the SDL or the Fiji Labour Party (FLP) won the election, he said; if the two parties found the provision unworkable, they should have amended the Constitution and had had five years in which to do so. The Fiji Labour Party is a political party in Fiji. ...

On 7 February 2006, Rabuka said that he was still considering whether to contest the forthcoming elections. He thought it "unwise", without elaborating, to contest seats in his native Cakaudrove, or those held by members of the Grand Coalition, and might contest only if an urban open constituency was available. He considered, however, that given his lengh of time out of politics, making a comeback would be difficult. He also called for all political parties to be, and be seen to be, representing all ethnic groups. Otherwise, the racial faultline in Fijian politics would not be overcome, he said. is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Cakaudrove is one of fourteen Provinces of Fiji, and one of three based principally on the northern island of Vanua Levu, occupying the south-eastern third of the island and including the nearby islands of Taveuni, Rabi, Kioa, and numerous other islands in the Vanua Levu Group. ... Crowded Shibuya, Tokyo shopping district An urban area is an area with an increased density of human-created structures in comparison to the areas surrounding it. ... Open constituencies represent one of several electoral models employed in the past and present in the Fijian electoral system. ...

In the end, Rabuka decided not to contest the election, and his party fielded only one candidate.

Rabuka and the 2006 coup

The Fiji Times reported on December 15, 2006 that Rabuka stated that he saw no possibility of Laisenia Qarase, deposed as Prime Minister in a 2006 Fijian coup d'état on 5 December, would return to power. He denied supporting the coup, but said that Qarase, along with deposed President Ratu Josefa Iloilo, were weak leaders who had done nothing to forestall the coup by negotiating with the Military while there was still time. Qarase should have seen the coup coming, Rabuka said.^[3] Fiji Times Online The Fiji Times is a daily newspaper published in Fiji. ... is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Laisenia Qarase (born February 4, 1941) was Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. ... The Fijian coup détat of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup détat and 2005-2006 Fijian political crisis. ... December 5 is the 339th day (340th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. ... Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, CF, MBE, (born December 29, 1920) has been the President of Fiji since 2007. ...

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Sitiveni Rabuka

Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Wikiquote is a sister project of Wikipedia, using the same MediaWiki software. ... The Right Honourable Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara GCMG KBE CF, (May 6, 1920 – April 18, 2004) is considered the founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. ... Fiji received its independence in 1970. ... Mahendra Pal Chaudhry (born 9 February 1942) is the leader of the Fiji Labour Party and currently the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. ... The Great Council of Chiefs The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a formal assembly of Fijis senior hereditary chiefs, along with some representatives of the national government and provincial councils, who may or may not be hereditary chiefs themselves. ... The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. ... Ratu Epeli Ganilau Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Ganilau, MC, MSD, (born 10 October 1951) is a Fijian soldier and statesman, who currently heads the National Alliance Party of Fiji. ... Categories: Fijian politicians | Stub ... Cakaudrove is one of fourteen Provinces of Fiji, and one of three based principally on the northern island of Vanua Levu, occupying the south-eastern third of the island and including the nearby islands of Taveuni, Rabi, Kioa, and numerous other islands in the Vanua Levu Group. ...

References