Akuila Yabaki
Encyclopedia
Akuila Yabaki is a Fiji
an human rights
activist and Methodist clergyman. He is currently the Executive Director of the Citizens Constitutional Forum, a pro-democracy organization.
Yabaki was a strong critic of some policies and decisions of the Qarase
government of 2000 to 2006, including the early release from prison of persons convicted on charges related to the Fiji coup of 2000, and opposed controversial legislation
seeking to establish a Commission empowered to propose amnesty
for such persons.
of 5 December 2006, Yabaki strongly opposed both the coup itself and the actions of the Military in the leadup to it. Before the coup took place, Fiji Village
said on 28 November that he had written to Commodore
Frank Bainimarama
, Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces
, calling on him to tone down his rhetoric and enter into dialogue with the government. Yabaki reiterated his own opposition to the same government policies that the Military was opposing, but insisted that it was not the role of the Military to oppose an elected government.
Following the coup, Fiji Television
revealed on 16 December that he had written to Bainimarama on the 12th, urging the Military to hand power back to the civilian President
, Ratu
Josefa Iloilo
, and negotiate an amnesty for himself and his soldiers. He agreed that the Qarase government had been divisive and acknowledged that there were allegations of corruption, but said that neither posed such a credible threat to the state as to justify military intervention. On 23 December, the Fiji Sun
quoted him as endorsing a proposal from the Great Council of Chiefs
to establish an interim government of national unity.
dismissed Yabaki from the pulpit in 2001. No reason for the dismissal was given at the time, although political disagreements were widely thought to be involved, a claim endorsed by the Fiji Times
, which asserted on 27 January 2006 that Yabaki's excommunication followed church opposition to his political activism in the wake of the 1987 coups
. He continued to use the title Reverend.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
activist and Methodist clergyman. He is currently the Executive Director of the Citizens Constitutional Forum, a pro-democracy organization.
Yabaki was a strong critic of some policies and decisions of the Qarase
Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase is a Fijian political figure. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. After the military quashed the coup that led to the removal of Mahendra Chaudhry, Qarase joined the Interim Military Government as a financial adviser on 9 June 2000, until his appointment...
government of 2000 to 2006, including the early release from prison of persons convicted on charges related to the Fiji coup of 2000, and opposed controversial legislation
Reconciliation and Unity Commission (Fiji)
The Reconciliation and Unity Commission is a proposed government body to be set up if the Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill, which was introduced into the Fijian Parliament on 4 May 2005 is passed...
seeking to establish a Commission empowered to propose amnesty
Amnesty
Amnesty is a legislative or executive act by which a state restores those who may have been guilty of an offense against it to the positions of innocent people, without changing the laws defining the offense. It includes more than pardon, in as much as it obliterates all legal remembrance of the...
for such persons.
Coup of 2006
While most opponents of the Qarase government were, at the most, muted in their criticism of the military coup2006 Fijian coup d'état
The Fijian coup d'état of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and 2005-2006 Fijian political crisis....
of 5 December 2006, Yabaki strongly opposed both the coup itself and the actions of the Military in the leadup to it. Before the coup took place, Fiji Village
Fiji Village
The Fiji Village is an online news service in Fiji. Published daily, it covers political, business, sporting, cultural, and other news items, and also includes the Yellow Bucket commentary, an editorial which does not necessarily reflect the views of the Fiji Village owners or staff, according to...
said on 28 November that he had written to Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
Frank Bainimarama
Frank Bainimarama
Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, CF, MSD, OStJ, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by the chiefly title Ratu , is a Fijian naval officer and politician. He is the Commander of the Fijian Military Forces and, as of April 2009, Prime Minister...
, Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces
Military of Fiji
The Republic of Fiji Military Forces are the military of the Pacific island nation of Fiji. With a total manpower of 3,500 active soldiers and 6,000 reservists, it is one of the smallest militaries in the world. However, most of its surrounding island nations have no militaries at all...
, calling on him to tone down his rhetoric and enter into dialogue with the government. Yabaki reiterated his own opposition to the same government policies that the Military was opposing, but insisted that it was not the role of the Military to oppose an elected government.
Following the coup, Fiji Television
Fiji Television
Fiji Television Limited is Fiji's television network. It was founded on 15 June 1994 as the first permanent television broadcasting network in the country, although television had previously been introduced temporarily in October 1991 to broadcast the Rugby World Cup as well as Cricket World Cup....
revealed on 16 December that he had written to Bainimarama on the 12th, urging the Military to hand power back to the civilian President
President of Fiji
The President of the Republic of Fiji is the head of state of Fiji. The President was appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term under the terms of the now-suspended 1997 constitution. The Great Council of Chiefs is constitutionally required to consult the Prime Minister, but...
, Ratu
Ratu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
Josefa Iloilo
Josefa Iloilo
Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, CF, MBE, MSD, KStJ was the President of Fiji from 2000 until 2009, excluding a brief period from 5 December 2006 until 4 January 2007 . He held the traditional title of Tui Vuda, the paramount chief of the Vuda district in Ba Province on Fiji's northwest coast...
, and negotiate an amnesty for himself and his soldiers. He agreed that the Qarase government had been divisive and acknowledged that there were allegations of corruption, but said that neither posed such a credible threat to the state as to justify military intervention. On 23 December, the Fiji Sun
Fiji Sun
The Fiji Sun is a daily newspaper published in Fiji. Owned by Sun News Limited, it was first published in September 1999. An internet edition is also published....
quoted him as endorsing a proposal from the Great Council of Chiefs
Great Council of Chiefs (Fiji)
The Great Council of Chiefs is a now dormant 1997 constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. In April 2007 the council was suspended, due to an unworkable relationship with Frank Bainimarama, leader of an "interim government" which came to power through a military coup in December 2006...
to establish an interim government of national unity.
Pastoral role
The Methodist Church of Fiji and RotumaMethodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma
The Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma is the largest Christian denomination in Fiji, with 36.2 percent of the total population at the 1996 census...
dismissed Yabaki from the pulpit in 2001. No reason for the dismissal was given at the time, although political disagreements were widely thought to be involved, a claim endorsed by the Fiji Times
Fiji Times
The Fiji Times is a daily English-language newspaper published in Suva, Fiji. Established in Levuka on 4 September 1869, it is Fiji's oldest newspaper still operating....
, which asserted on 27 January 2006 that Yabaki's excommunication followed church opposition to his political activism in the wake of the 1987 coups
Fiji coups of 1987
The Fiji coups of 1987 resulted in the overthrow of the elected government of Fijian Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra, the deposition of Elizabeth II as Queen of Fiji, and in the declaration of a republic...
. He continued to use the title Reverend.