2000 Fijian coup d'état

The Fiji coup d'état of 2000 was a civilian coup d'état by hardline i-Taukei (ethnic Fijian) nationalists against the elected government of an Indo-Fijian Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry on 19 May 2000. This was followed by an attempt on 27 May by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to assert executive authority, and then by a military coup on 29 May by Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama. The coups resulted in the removal of the elected government and its replacement by an interim regime headed by Josefa Iloilo. In March 2001 the Court of Appeal of Fiji ruled that the coups and interim regime were illegal. An elected government was finally restored by the 2001 Fijian general election.

Background

The 1999 Fijian general election saw a resounding victory for the People's Coalition, a multiracial grouping of the Fiji Labour Party, Fijian Association Party, National Unity Party and Christian Democratic Alliance. The coalition won 54 of 71 seats, while the Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei of Sitiveni Rabuka (who had come to power in the 1987 Fijian coups d'état) was reduced to 8 seats. Mahendra Chaudhry became the country's first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister.

Chaudhry's election angered hardline i-Taukei nationalists, as did his government's moves to renew agricultural leases and compensate farmers whose leases had expired. In September 1999 the Great Council of Chiefs rejected the government's plan to renew leases. Later that month, meetings were held around the country seeking the removal of the government, and former PANU leader Apisai Tora threatened to topple the government through protest marches and civil disobedience. A series of protest marches followed in April 2000, and a large march led by Iliesa Duvuloco was scheduled by 19 May.

Seizure of Parliament

On 19 May 2000, the first anniversary of Chaudhry's election, a group of armed men led by failed businessman George Speight stormed the Fijian Parliament and took the government hostage. The coup was backed by Fiji's Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit, who provided soldiers and weapons. Speight claimed to have seized power on behalf of ethnic Fijians, and purported to have revoked the 1997 constitution and appointed himself interim president and opposition MP Timoci Silatolu as interim Prime Minister. In the immediate aftermath of the takeover, participants in the protest march moved from Government House to surround parliament, while mobs of youths burned and looted Indo-Fijian-owned shops in Suva.

President Kamisese Mara responded by declaring a state of emergency and police imposed a curfew. Former Prime Minister Rabuka initially acted as a negotiator attempting to free the hostages, but was later dismissed after Speight decided he could no longer trust him. On 20 May ten hostages were released after resigning from the government. In a televised press conference Speight swore in Jope Seniloli as interim president, and was then sworn in as Prime Minister, with Silatolu as his deputy and Rakuita Vakalalabure as attorney-general. Chaudhry was beaten after refusing to resign.

Police and the RFMF failed to control access to parliament, allowing people to come and go freely while negotiations continued. On 26 May the RFMF finally attempted to establish a cordon, resulting in a confrontation with Speight in the presence of international media. The same day fifteen soldiers and two military officers defected to the rebels. The next day, 200 rebels confronted soldiers at the cordon, resulting in gunfire and two soldiers and a camera operator being wounded. The next day President Mara sacked Chaudhry for being unable to perform his functions and appointed Tevita Momoedonu, the sole cabinet member who was not in parliament when it was seized, as Prime Minister. After advising Mara to prorogue parliament for six months, Momoedonu resigned, leaving Mara with "unfettered executive authority".

Military coup

On 28 May, following the broadcast of a news segment critical of Speight, a rebel mob attacked the Fiji TV station, killing a police officer. The breakdown of law and order saw Chief Justice Timoci Tuivaga and other judges advise RFMF commander Frank Bainimarama to take control on the basis of "necessity". After a meeting with Bainimarama and Rabuka, Mara resigned. Bainimarama then declared martial law, revoked the 1997 constitution, and took control of the country, declaring himself head of state.

The Queen Elizabeth Barracks mutiny

The second mutiny, which took place on 2 November 2000 at Suva's Queen Elizabeth Barracks, was led by Captain Shane Stevens. It left three soldiers dead. In the aftermath of the failed attempt to depose the Military Commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, four of the rebels were tortured and killed by loyal soldiers.

Aftermath

On 15 November, the High Court of Fiji declared that the interim government was illegal. On 1 March 2001, the Court of Appeal of Fiji confirmed the High Court decision reinstating the constitution. The government accepted the decision.

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.

References

Further reading

* Trnka, S. (2011). State of Suffering: Political Violence and Community Survival in Fiji. United States: Cornell University Press.,
* Pretes, M. (2008). Coup: Reflections on the Political Crisis in Fiji. United States: ANU E Press.,

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Military coups in Fiji
Coup
Fiji
May 2000 events in Oceania