Timeline of Fiji crisis of 2005-2006
Encyclopedia
The following timeline
chronicles the crisis
that saw a virtual breakdown in relations between Fiji
's government and military fores
in late 2005 and early 2006, until it was resolved on 16 January with a truce brokered by Acting President Ratu
Joni Madraiwiwi
.
Source: Fiji Times
, 15 January 2006; some details from other sources.
9 January 2006 (Monday), 8.00 a.m.: Commodore
Josaia Vorege (Frank) Bainimarama
, the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces
, meets senior officers and allegedly orders them to free him by force in the event of his arrest.
Despite his role in the appointment of an interim government in 2000, many of whose members form the nucleus of the present government, Bainimarama has since grown disenchanted with it, accusing it of dealing too leniently with convicted perpetrators of a civilian coup
and two army mutinies
that rocked Fiji in 2000.
10 January 2006 (Tuesday), 8.30 a.m.: Acting Land Force Commander Lieutenant Colonel
Jone Baledrokadroka meets with Senior Military Officers to solicit their endorsement.
11 January 2006 (Wednesday), 10.30 a.m.: Baledrokadroka explains to Bainimarama that the purpose of the previous day's meeting had been Reverse psychology
, a military tactic to expose traitors. Bainimarama claims to have believed him.
12 January 2006 (Thursday):
13 January 2006 (Friday):
14 January 2006 (Saturday): Bainimarama accuses Baledrokadroka of having threatened to shoot him. Baledrokadroka angrily denies this.
16 January 2006 (Monday): Acting President Ratu
Joni Madraiwiwi
brokers a truce between the Military Commander and the government.
Chronology
Chronology is the science of arranging events in their order of occurrence in time, such as the use of a timeline or sequence of events. It is also "the determination of the actual temporal sequence of past events".Chronology is part of periodization...
chronicles the crisis
Fiji crisis of 2005-2006
The tension between Fiji's government and Military forces, which had been simmering for more than two years, appeared to escalate in late December 2005...
that saw a virtual breakdown in relations between Fiji
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...
's government and military fores
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...
in late 2005 and early 2006, until it was resolved on 16 January with a truce brokered by Acting President 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"...
Joni Madraiwiwi
Joni Madraiwiwi
Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi is a Fijian lawyer, politician and was the Vice-President of Fiji from 2004 to 2006. He was sworn in on 10 January 2005, following his nomination by President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo and his subsequent approval by the Great Council of Chiefs on 15 December 2004...
.
Source: 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....
, 15 January 2006; some details from other sources.
9 January 2006 (Monday), 8.00 a.m.: 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...
Josaia Vorege (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...
, the 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...
, meets senior officers and allegedly orders them to free him by force in the event of his arrest.
Despite his role in the appointment of an interim government in 2000, many of whose members form the nucleus of the present government, Bainimarama has since grown disenchanted with it, accusing it of dealing too leniently with convicted perpetrators of a civilian coup
Fiji coup of 2000
The Fiji coup of 2000 was a complicated affair involving a civilian putsch by hardline Fijian nationalists against the elected government of a non-native Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, on 19 May 2000, the attempt by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to assert executive authority on 27 May, and...
and two army mutinies
Mutinies of Fiji coup of 2000
Two military mutinies took place in connection with the civilian coup d'état that rocked Fiji in 2000, the first while the rebellion instigated by George Speight was in progress, and the second four months after it had ended....
that rocked Fiji in 2000.
10 January 2006 (Tuesday), 8.30 a.m.: Acting Land Force Commander Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Jone Baledrokadroka meets with Senior Military Officers to solicit their endorsement.
11 January 2006 (Wednesday), 10.30 a.m.: Baledrokadroka explains to Bainimarama that the purpose of the previous day's meeting had been Reverse psychology
Reverse psychology
Reverse psychology is a technique involving the advocacy of a belief or behavior that is opposite to the one desired, with the expectation that this approach will encourage the subject of the persuasion to do what actually is desired: the opposite of what is suggested...
, a military tactic to expose traitors. Bainimarama claims to have believed him.
12 January 2006 (Thursday):
- Bainimarama calls Baledrokadroka to cancel a scheduled meeting.
- 8.30 a.m.: Baledrokdroka meets with all senior officers to outline plans as new Acting Land Force Commander, and orders closure of gates, which reopen at 2 p.m..
13 January 2006 (Friday):
- 9.30 a.m.: Baledrokadroka confronts Bainimarama, asking for his resignation.
- 10.00 a.m.: Bainimarama dismisses Baledrokadroka, claiming to have established that the true purpose of meetings held on the 10th was to plot against him as Commander.
14 January 2006 (Saturday): Bainimarama accuses Baledrokadroka of having threatened to shoot him. Baledrokadroka angrily denies this.
16 January 2006 (Monday): Acting President 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"...
Joni Madraiwiwi
Joni Madraiwiwi
Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi is a Fijian lawyer, politician and was the Vice-President of Fiji from 2004 to 2006. He was sworn in on 10 January 2005, following his nomination by President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo and his subsequent approval by the Great Council of Chiefs on 15 December 2004...
brokers a truce between the Military Commander and the government.