2000 Fijian coup d'état

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

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.[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 prorogued parliament for six months, Momoedonu resigned, leaving Mara with "unfettered executive authority".[3]^{: 128–129}[8]^: 223

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]

A second attempt by hardline elements to seize power took place on 2 November that year, when rebel soldiers mutinied at Suva's Queen Elizabeth Barracks. The mutiny resulted in the death of four loyal soldiers. Four rebels were subsequently beaten to death after the mutiny had been quelled.

On 15 November, the High Court declared that the interim government was illegal. On 1 March 2001, the Court of Appeal confirmed the High Court decision reinstating the constitution.[24] The government accepted the decision.

On 18 February 2002 George Speight pleaded guilty to treason and was sentenced to death.[25][26] The sentence was commuted to life imprisonment the same day by President Ratu Josefa Iloilo.[27] Ten other rebels received sentences of between 18 months and three years for kidnapping.[27] On 20 March 2003 Josefa Nata and Timoci Silatolu were convicted of treason.[28] On 28 June 2003 both were sentenced to life imprisonment.[29]

An estimated 7,500 jobs were lost because of the coup.

• 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