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2000 Fijian coup d'état

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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.

2000 Fijian coup d'état
Part of the Fiji coups

The burnt out remains of Govinda's Restaurant in Suva: over 100 shops and businesses were ransacked in Suva's central business district on 19 May.
Date19 May 2000 – 1 March 2001
(9 months, 1 week and 3 days)
Location
Fiji
Result

Coup fails:

Belligerents
Republic of Fiji
Hardline i-Taukei Rebels
    •   Fijian Army Mutineers
Commanders and leaders
Kamisese Mara
Mahendra Chaudhry
Ratu Tevita Momoedonu
Frank Bainimarama
Laisenia Qarase
Josefa Iloilo		 George Speight
Timoci Silatolu
Shane Stevens
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
4 killed in the Queen Elizabeth Barracks Mutiny 4 killed in the aftermath of the Queen Elizabeth Barracks Mutiny
Hundreds of properties ransacked.

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.

George Speight, the leader of the coup, was convicted of treason and sentenced to death. The sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.

Background

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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.[1] 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.[1] Mahendra Chaudhry became the country's first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister.[2]

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.[3]: 66  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.[3]: 66–67  A series of protest marches followed in April 2000, and a large march led by Iliesa Duvuloco was scheduled by 19 May.[3]: 69–70 

Seizure of Parliament

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On 19 May 2000, the first anniversary of Chaudhry's election, a group of armed men led by businessman George Speight stormed the Fijian Parliament and took the government hostage.[4][5][6] The coup was backed by Fiji's Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit, who provided soldiers and weapons.[3]: 76–77 [7][8]: 223  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.[6][9] 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.[3]: 85 [5]

President Kamisese Mara responded by declaring a state of emergency and police imposed a curfew.[9][10] Former Prime Minister Rabuka initially acted as a negotiator attempting to free the hostages,[3]: 86 [11] but was later dismissed after Speight decided he could no longer trust him.[12] On 20 May, ten hostages were released after resigning from the government.[12][13] 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.[3]: 95 [14] Chaudhry was beaten after refusing to resign.[14][15]

Police and the RFMF failed to control access to parliament, allowing people to come and go freely while negotiations continued.[3]: 112  On 26 May, the RFMF finally attempted to establish a cordon, resulting in a confrontation with Speight in the presence of international media.[3]: 126  The same day fifteen soldiers and two military officers defected to the rebels.[16] The next day, 200 rebels confronted soldiers at the cordon, resulting in gunfire and two soldiers and a camera operator being wounded.[17][18] 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.[15] After advising Mara to prorogue parliament for six months, Momoedonu resigned, leaving Mara with "unfettered executive authority".[3]: 128–129 [8]: 223 

Military coup and negotiations

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Main article: Resignation of Ratu Mara

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.[19][20][21] 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".[3]: 134–135  After a meeting with Bainimarama and Rabuka, Mara resigned.[3]: 135–136 [8]: 223  Bainimarama then declared martial law, revoked the 1997 constitution, and took control of the country, declaring himself head of state.[22][23] Bainimarama initially named former army commander Epeli Nailatikau as prime minister,[24][25] but withdrew the nomination the next day after objections from Speight.[26] Bainimarama then deferred the appointment of a civilian government "until the climate is right", but committed that "Mahendra Chaudhry will no longer come back as Prime Minister".[27][28] The military regime then began talks with Speight aimed at the release of the hostages.[3]: 140–141  On 4 June, talks broke down,[29] and the military issued an ultimatum, demanding Speight release the hostages and lay down his arms, and in return promising an amnesty.[30][31]

Following the breakdown in negotiations the international community began to apply pressure. On 7 June 2000, the Commonwealth of Nations suspended Fiji.[32] The European Union threatened to ban Fijian sugar if Fiji gave in to Speight's demands.[3]: 146  On 14 June, the New Zealand government applied a travel ban to Speight and 84 of his associates, as well as Fijian sports teams.[33] Australia followed with a sporting ban.[34] Unionised Australian workers refused to load Fijian cargo.[35]

On 12 June, the military fired warning shots at Speight's vehicle at a checkpoint as he was returning to parliament from talks.[36] Speight called it "a failed assassination attempt",[3]: 188  and refused to attend future negotiation sessions.[3]: 204  Despite this, negotiations continued through intermediaries. On 18 June, the military agreed to some of Speight's nominees for the interim government,[37] and Speight released four female hostages as a sign of good faith.[38] Negotiations then deadlocked on the issue of the presidency, with Speight backtracking on an initial agreement for the president to be nominated by the Great Council of Chiefs and demanding instead that Ratu Josefa Iloilo be sworn in immediately.[39] The military issued another ultimatum, which was rejected.[40]

On 3 July 2000, Bainimarama named Laisenia Qarase as prime minister, heading an all-indigenous Fijian government.[3]: 205  Speight was outraged by the decision, and a gun-battle broke out at Parliament the next day in which five people were injured.[41][42] Chaos escalated, and rebels staged a number of incidents around the country. Soldiers at the Sukunaivalu Barracks in Labasa mutinied and declared support for Speight.[3]: 206  Local landowners took over the Monasavu Dam, cutting power to Suva.[3]: 206 [43] On 8 July, rebels blocked the road between Suva and Nadi and stormed a police station in Korovou, taking 30 hostages.[44] At Naboro Prison, 50 inmates rioted, taking guards hostage.[45]

On 9 July, Speight signed the Muanikau Accord with the military,[3]: 209  agreeing to release the hostages in exchange for an amnesty for himself. All his key demands had been met.[46] Nine hostages were released on 12 July,[45] and the remainder were released the next day after Iloilo was named president by the Great Council of Chiefs.[3]: 218 [47][48][49]

Following the return of hostages and weapons, Speight and his followers moved to Kalabu Fijian School on the outskirts of Suva.[3]: 229  Speight continued to lobby over the makeup of the interim cabinet, demanding that Qarase be replaced as prime minister by Adi Samanunu Cakobau,[50] and that rebels be given control of key portfolios.[3]: 230–231  When the government rejected his demands, his spokesman Joe Nata threatened civil war.[3]: 231 

On 26 July, Speight, Nata, and two others were arrested at a military checkpoint following threats to President Iloilo.[51][52] The military then stormed his headquarters, killing one person and arresting 369 supporters.[53][54][55]

Aftermath

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Main articles: Mutinies of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and Trials since the 2000 Fijian coup d'état

In the wake of the coup tourism collapsed by 30%, and Fiji's economy contracted 8.2%.[56]

Despite Speight's arrest, violence by rebels continued. On 31 July, Speight supporters terrorised the village of Dreketi, taking 30 hostages.[57] Soldiers who had mutinied at the Sukunaivalu Barracks did not surrender for six weeks.[58] On 8 August, rebels ambushed a military patrol, killing one soldier and a policeman, and wounding three others.[3]: 234  On 2 November 2000, soldiers of the Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit loyal to Speight mutinied in the Queen Elizabeth Barracks mutiny, holding officers hostage in an attempt to depose military commander Frank Bainimarama. Two soldiers were killed and ten were injured when the military retook the barracks.[59][60] Four of the rebels were tortured and killed by loyal soldiers in the aftermath.[61]

On 15 November, the High Court of Fiji declared that the interim government was illegal. Mara remained the lawful President; Parliament had not been dissolved but only suspended, and should now be reconvened; and by implication, Chaudhry remained the lawful prime minister.[62] Mara subsequently officially resigned, with his resignation backdated to 29 May.[63] The Qarase government appealed the court ruling. On 1 March 2001, the Court of Appeal of Fiji confirmed the High Court decision reinstating the constitution in Republic of Fiji Islands v Prasad.[64][65] The government accepted the decision, and new elections were subsequently held in August and September 2001.

On 18 February 2002, George Speight pleaded guilty to treason and was sentenced to death.[66][67] The sentence was commuted to life imprisonment the same day by President Ratu Josefa Iloilo.[68] Ten other rebels received sentences of between 18 months and three years for kidnapping.[68] On 20 March 2003 Josefa Nata and Timoci Silatolu were convicted of treason.[69] On 28 June 2003, both were sentenced to life imprisonment.[70] In April 2005, Lands Minister Naiqama Lalabalavu, Senator Josefa Dimuri and two other Vanua Levu chiefs were sentenced to eight months imprisonment over his role in the Sukanaivalu Barracks mutiny.[71]

In November 2002, 15 soldiers involved in the Queen Elizabeth barracks mutiny were sentenced to prison terms ranging from ten months to life imprisonment.[72]

In 2005 the Qarase government proposed the Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill to grant amnesty to those involved in the coup, leading to the 2005–2006 Fijian political crisis and the 2006 Fijian coup d'état.

References

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  1. ^ a b "The 1999 Fiji election and the legacy of history" (PDF). Journal of Pacific Studies. 25 (1): 6. 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2022.
  2. ^ "For First Time, Ethnic Indian Will Lead Fiji". The New York Times. 20 May 1999. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Field, Michael; Baba, Tupeni; Nabobo-Baba, Unaisi (2005). Speight of Violence : Inside Fiji's 2000 coup (PDF). Canberra: Pandanus Books. ISBN 9781740761703. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  4. ^ Sheryl Ho (19 May 2000). "GUNMEN SEIZE PRIME MINISTER HOSTAGE IN FIJI COUP BID". Fiji Crisis. Archived from the original on 22 March 2003.
  5. ^ a b "Fiji's PM seized in coup". The Guardian. 19 May 2000. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Gunmen Storm Fiji's Parliament, Announce Government Takeover". Los Angeles Times. 19 May 2000. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  7. ^ Michael Field (28 May 2010). "Cloud coup coup land". Stuff. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  8. ^ a b c Alley, Roderic (2001). "FIJI'S COUPS OF 1987 AND 2000: A COMPARISON" (PDF). Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Fiji's leaders held hostage in 'ethnic' coup". The Guardian. 20 May 2000. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  10. ^ "FIJI:Civil Coup Attempt: Information Bulletin no: 2" (PDF). IFRC. 20 May 2000. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  11. ^ "2000: Fiji Parliament stormed in coup". Otago Daily Times. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  12. ^ a b Rowena Singh (22 May 2000). "Fiji Coup : Diary of Events". Fiji Crisis. Archived from the original on 22 March 2003.
  13. ^ "Coup leader says no to Fiji amnesty". The Guardian. 22 May 2000. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Coup leader bungles ceremony". BBC. 20 May 2000. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Fiji hostage drama has violent twist". The Guardian. 28 May 2000. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  16. ^ "Fiji troops defect to coup leader". BBC. 26 May 2000. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  17. ^ "CAMERAMAN, TWO SOLDIERS WOUNDED IN GUNFIRE NEAR PARLIAMENT". Fiji Crisis. 27 May 2000. Archived from the original on 24 February 2003.
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  20. ^ "Policeman dies in attack on Fiji TV". Fiji Crisis. 29 May 2000. Archived from the original on 22 March 2003.
  21. ^ "Violence escalates as mob runs riot in Fiji". The Guardian. 29 May 2000. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Fiji Military Takes Control And Declares Martial Law". The New York Times. 30 May 2000. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
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  24. ^ MITCHELL LANDSBERG (31 May 2000). "Naming of Premier Derails Fiji Talks". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  25. ^ "Fijian coup leaders force appointment of interim prime minister". The Guardian. 30 May 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  26. ^ Mark Tran (31 May 2000). "Coup leader asserts control". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  27. ^ "Speight supporters go on rampage Chaudhry govt 'not to be restored'". The Tribune. India. 31 May 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  28. ^ Rowan Callick (1 June 2000). "Reluctant ruler pledges return to stability". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  29. ^ "Military Rulers In Fiji Say Talks Break Down". The New York Times. 5 June 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
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  31. ^ "FIJI: GEORGE SPEIGHT GIVEN WARNING BY MILITARY". AP Archive. 5 June 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
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  33. ^ "Government Prohibits Entry of Speight Associates". New Zealand Government. 14 June 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  34. ^ Jilda Shem (14 June 2000). "NEW ZEALAND BLACKLISTS SPEIGHT'S REBELS". Fiji Crisis. Archived from the original on 25 March 2003.
  35. ^ "PRO-DEMOCRACY BANS MAY INTENSIFY". Fiji Crisis. 23 June 2000. Archived from the original on 25 March 2003.
  36. ^ "MILITARY OPEN FIRE AT REBEL LEADER'S CONVOY". Fiji Crisis. 12 June 2000. Archived from the original on 10 May 2003.
  37. ^ "MILITARY REGIME AGREES TO SOME SPEIGHT NOMINEES". Fiji Crisis. 18 June 2000. Archived from the original on 25 March 2003.
  38. ^ "FOUR WOMEN HOSTAGES RELEASED". Fiji Crisis. 25 June 2000. Archived from the original on 25 March 2003.
  39. ^ Joe Yaya (26 June 2000). "PRESIDENT ISSUE DEADLOCKS TALKS". Fiji Crisis. Archived from the original on 25 March 2003.
  40. ^ "REBELS REJECT MILITARY ULTIMATUM". Fiji Crisis. 28 June 2000. Archived from the original on 10 May 2003.
  41. ^ "Fiji rebels wounded in parliament shooting". The Guardian. 4 July 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  42. ^ "Gun fight inside Fiji's Parliament". Australian Financial Review. 5 July 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  43. ^ "Fiji electricity told to pay dam landowners US$31.5m". RNZ. 1 November 2005. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  44. ^ "Supporters of Fiji coup grab more hostages". Deseret News. 8 July 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  45. ^ a b "9 Fijian hostages freed, but order may unravel". Deseret News. 13 July 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  46. ^ "Fiji coup". The Guardian. 13 July 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  47. ^ Paul Alexander (14 July 2000). "Hostage Crisis Ends in Fiji". AP News. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
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  52. ^ "Fiji: Speight reported arrested". The Guardian. 26 July 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  53. ^ "MILITARY STORM REBELS – 1 DEAD, 40 WOUNDED". Fiji Crisis. 27 July 2000. Archived from the original on 24 February 2003.
  54. ^ "Coup Leader in Fiji Is Arrested by the Military". The New York Times. 27 July 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  55. ^ Marie McInerney (27 July 2000). "Fiji Coup Leader Speight Arrested". ABC News. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  56. ^ "Fiji – One year on from the coup". New Zealand Government. 18 May 2001. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  57. ^ Matthew Brace (31 July 2000). "Ethnic attack raises Fiji tension". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  58. ^ "Fiji army preaches peace in rebel stronghold". CNN. 14 August 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  59. ^ "Fiji Army Reclaims Barracks After Mutiny". ABC News. 3 November 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
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  61. ^ "Fiji commemorates 2000 mutiny". Radio New Zealand. 2 November 2020.
  62. ^ Prasad v Republic of Fiji, 2000 FJHC 121 (High Court of Fiji 15 November 2000).
  63. ^ "Ratu Mara Resigns". Scoop. 21 December 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  64. ^ "High Court upholds ruling on illegality of Fiji Government". The New Zealand Herald. 1 March 2001. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  65. ^ Republic of Fiji Islands v Prasad, 2001 FJCA 2 (Court of Appeal of Fiji 1 March 2001).
  66. ^ "Speight sentenced to death". The New Zealand Herald. 18 February 2002. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  67. ^ "Fiji coup leader sentenced to die". The Guardian. 18 February 2002. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  68. ^ a b "Jail for Fiji rebels". BBC. 19 February 2002. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  69. ^ "Fiji coup accomplices found guilty of treason". RNZ. 21 March 2003. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  70. ^ "Life sentences for Fiji treason convicts". RNZ. 28 June 2003. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  71. ^ "Fiji's lands minister jailed for 8 months for coup offences". RNZ. 4 April 2005. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  72. ^ "Fiji court martial sentences mutiny leader to life in jail". RNZ. 15 November 2002. Retrieved 21 December 2022.

Further reading

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  • Trnka, S. (2011). State of Suffering: Political Violence and Community Survival in Fiji. United States: Cornell University Press., ISBN 9780801461880 Read
  • Pretes, M. (2008). Coup: Reflections on the Political Crisis in Fiji. United States: ANU E Press., ISBN 9781921536373 Read
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