Inside Fiji's 2000 coup
Speight of Violence 1
Speight of Violence
Inside Fiji’s 2000 Coup
‘This is a civil coup’
In May 2000 a gang of soldiers and failed politicians, with George Speight at their head,burst into Fiji’s Parliament and captured the nation’s government led by its first Indo-Fijian prime minister, Mahendra Chaudry. As the politicians were seized, hundreds of rebels ransacked Fiji’s capital Suva.
Michael Field
Tupeni Baba
Unaisi Nabobo-Baba
Isa Lei, na noqu rarawa
Niko sa na vodo e na mataka
Bau nanuma, na nodatou lasa
Mai Suva nanuma tiko ga
Isa Lei, the purple shadows fall
Sad the morrow will dawn upon my sorrow Oh forget not when you are far away
Precious moments beside the Suva bay
The phrase 'Isa Lei' emphasises one's extreme and heartfelt sense of vakanananu or nostalgia over a place, person, event, or loved one. It registers the feeling that the speaker is shedding deep emotions about their loss, grief and sense of emptiness. It encompasses the intellect, the heart and the soul.
Contents
Key Events
Abbreviations
Rabuka’s recant & new constitution
5. People's coalition: Wednesday 19 May 1999
Baba: ‘ I would be … prime minister’
Speight and Fiji’s lucrative mahogany plantations
'Word has it … likely to be a bloody affair’
6 . Civil coup: Friday 19 May 2000
Surprised to see real coup leader
7. Speight, son of Sam: 'Failed businessman'
8 . Reaction: Golf clubs in action
Rabuka: sympathise with the cause
9. Ten-day slide: Chaudhry beaten
10. Constitution's edge: Friday 26 May 2000
11. Another military coup: Monday 29 May 2000
12. Ten-point plans: Through June 2000
13 . What does God want?: 'Forgiveness'
14. Long days and nights in captivity: Carnival at Parliament
15 Clueless: 'Great' chiefs and reporters
16 Nightmare spreads: 'Darkness of Fiji'
17. Assassination or stage play?: Queen's Birthday: 12 June 2000
18. Families: John Scott and the Red Cross
19. Muanikau Accord: Sunday 9 July 2000
20. Meeting my husband's captors: Monday 10 July 2000
21. Freedom: Thursday 13 July 2000
Speight rebel group ‘...pose a risk to the people…’
22. Desert Island: Wednesday 26 July 2000
23 New coup: Thursday 2 November 2000
24. Death by hanging: Monday 18 February 2002
25. So what was it all about? More coups?
Further reading
Authors
Acknowledgements
Key events in Fiji politics
1970
October 10 (Sat.)
Fiji becomes independent with Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara founding prime minister.
1985
July 1 (Mon.)
Fiji Labour Party (FLP) founded.
1987
April 12 (Sun.)
Timoci Bavadra's FLP wins general election.
May 14 (Thurs.)
Sitiveni Rabuka stages Fiji's first coup. Rabuka's second coup.
Oct 7 (Wed.)
Fiji declared a republic.
1990
July 25 (Fri.)
New, racist constitution promulgated.
1997
July 25 (Fri.). Multiracial constitution promulgated.
1999
May 19 (Wed.)
Mahendra Chaudhry sworn in as Fiji's first Indian prime minister.
2000
May 19 (Fri.)
George Speight seizes Fiji Parliament, taking government hostage.
May 24 (Wed.)
UN special representative Sergio de Mello and Commonwealth head Don McKinnon visit Speight.
May 27 (Sat.) President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara sacks hostage Prime Minister Chaudhry.
May 28 (Sun.)
Policeman Filipo Seavula murdered by rebels, Fiji TV trashed.
May 29 (Sun.)
Fiji Military declare martial law and dump President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.
June 12 (Mon.)
Soldiers fire at Speight at a road block.
June 24 (Sat.)
Speight releases female hostages.
July 3 (Mon.) Laisenia Qarase named by military as interim prime minister.
July 9 (Sun.)
Muanikau Accord signed to end crisis.
July 13 (Thurs.)
Chaudhry and the last of the hostages freed.
July 27 (Thurs)
Speight and key coup figures arrested.
November 2 (Thurs.)
Mutiny at military headquarters - eight killed.
2001
July 1 (Sun.)
Fiji Red Cross head John Scott and partner murdered.
September 12 (Wed.)
Qarase's new government sworn in, after democratic elections.
2002
February 18 (Mon.)
Speight convicted of treason and sentenced to death - commuted to life imprisonment within hours.
2003
June 27 (Fri.)
Joe Nata and Timoci convicted of treason.
2004
April 19 (Mon.)
Mara dies.
Abbreviations
AFP Agence France-Presse
ALTA Agricultural Landlord and Tenants Act CCF Citizens Constitutional Forum
CDC Commonwealth Development Corporation CRW Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit
FAB Fijian Affairs Board
FAP Fijian Association Party
FLP Fiji Labour Party
FPSA Fiji Public Service Association
GCC Great Council of Chiefs
NBF National Bank of Fiji
NFP National Federation Party
NLTB Native Land Trust Board
PANU Party of National Unity
QEB Queen Eli zabeth Barracks
QVS Queen Victoria School
RFMF Republic of Fiji Military Forces
SVT Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei
TRM Trans Resource Management
USP University of the South Pacific
