Yearbook 2007
Fiji. Commander Frank Bainimarama re-elected Ratu Josefa
Iloilo as President on January 4. Iloilo had been president
until December 5, 2006, when Bainimarama took power in a
coup - the fourth in the country in two decades - and
declared himself transition president. Bainimarama overthrew
Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, who he accused of being
corrupt. After Iloilo regained power, he gave his support to
the coup and swore in turn to Bainimarama as interim prime
minister on January 5. Temporary Prime Minister Jonah
Senilagakali, whom Bainimarama had appointed, resigned.
According to
CountryAAH, the influential Great Chiefs Council, which Bainimarama
failed to get support from in connection with the coup,
accepted his appointment as prime minister after Iloilo
regained executive power.
The following day, Bainimarama set up his interim
government with ministers from all the major parties. The
Finance Minister was appointed leader of the Labor Party,
Mahendra Chaudhry, who was forced to leave the post of Prime
Minister at the coup led by George Speight in 2000. The new
Foreign Minister, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, former army chief,
Deputy Prime Minister and Speaker of the House of Commons,
said relations with Fiji's neighboring countries. Several of
them condemned the coup and imposed sanctions on Fiji.
Bainimarama promised to lead Fiji to democracy, but no
date for new elections was announced. Following pressure
from the EU and the regional cooperation organization
Pacific Islands Forum, he promised to hold elections in
2010. Before that, the transitional government would carry
out a census and review the constitution. Bainimarama's goal
was that the Fijians would no longer vote based on the
candidates' ethnic affiliation. Later, at a meeting with the
leaders of the Pacific countries in October, Bainimarama
promised to hold elections as early as 2009.
On May 31, the state of emergency, which had prevailed
since the military coup, was canceled. It was a requirement
from the EU to resume aid to the country. In early
September, however, the state of emergency was reinstated
for a period of one month. It was then intended as a warning
to the overthrowing Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, who had
returned to the capital Suva and who, according to
Bainimarama, tried to destabilize the country. The state of
emergency allowed the authorities to keep people imprisoned
without charge.
In early November, 16 people were arrested accused of
planning to murder Bainimarama and carrying out a coup.
Among the arrested were senior military, politicians and
businessmen.
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