May 14th, 1987, the first coup in Fiji when the third ranked officer in the Fiji Military Forces, Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka overthrew the Doctor Timoci Bavadra led Labour and NFP coalition government.
Today marks 21 years of the first military coup. A lot has happened since then. The then Colonel Rabuka who ousted the Bavadra government just about one month after they won the elections, has publically said that he has regretted what he had done in 1987 and has also apologised to the people of Fiji.
Rabuka said he grew over the years but he had to take action on this day, 21 years ago, to prevent Fiji.
The 1987 coup leader who revealed in his book Rabuka Of Fiji that he was influenced by key people from the Alliance Party, which had lost the 87 elections, to carry out the coup, maintains his stand.
76 year old Harish Sharma who was the Deputy Prime Minister in the ousted government of 1987, was sitting next to the late Doctor Bavadra in the parliament house at Government Buildings on that day.
Speaking from Sydney, Sharma told Fijivillage that he will never forget the date May 14th and what happened on that day 21 years ago.
Sharma also said that although they were the demoractically elected government, they were still helpless and could not come back into power.
Kenneth Zinck who was 28 years old when the first coup occurred in 1987 said the activists fought hard to restore democracy but he said it is sad to see that Fiji has continued to witness coups as we had a coup 13 years after the 87 coups and another takeover occurred 6 years after the 2000 coup.
Zinck also recalled that the current Interim Attorney General was with them in the Back to Early May Movement in 1987 fighting for democracy and opposing the takeover. He said he and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was also locked up at the Central Police Station back in 87.
The Foreign Affairs Minister in the Bavadra government, Krishna Datt said the indigenous Fijians were led to believe by politicians during the 1987 coup that Fiji is only for the Fijians and Indians had taken over Fiji.
Datt believes that race was never the main reason for any of the coups in Fiji.
Stay with us we will have more on the first coup on May 14th, 1987 and 21 years on today, on where Fiji is heading.
21 Years Since First Coup
Related Stories
COMPOL urges Lagalaga Sanatan students to value discipline and education
Students of Lagalaga Sanatan Primary School in Labasa have been reminded of the importance of education, discipline and obedience by the Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu. Tudravu spoke to the students during
Heavy Rain Alert remains for Viti Levu, Southern Bua, Cakaudrove, Lau and Lomaiviti Groups
A Heavy Rain Alert remains in force for the Eastern half of Viti Levu from Serua, Namosi through Navua, Suva, Nausori, Tailevu, Naitasiri, Ra, Southern Bua, Cakaudrove, Taveuni, Kadavu, Lau and Lomaiviti Groups and near
Warning letter written to Prof. Narsey – Acting AG
Acting Attorney General Siromi Turaga says a strong warning letter has been written to Electoral Reform Commissioner Professor Wadan Narsey after he came out publicly with the Electoral Reform Commission report recommen
3 Fijian men from KVT gang in Sydney denied bail for AUD$12.5M drugs case
Three Fijians who are alleged to be associated with a gang supplying drugs in Sydney have been refused bail by the court. 28-year-old Eparama Nevale, 28-year-old William Ravoka, and 24-year-old George Sukanaivalu,
Proposed ‘People First’ submits application for registration
The Proposed ‘People First’ has submitted its application for registration to the Registrar of Political Parties, Ana Mataiciwa. Mataiciwa confirms that the FEO is now preparing to publish the party’s applica
Visitor arrivals on track for record year while sugar output drops
Visitor arrivals have recovered following a decline in the first quarter and based on current trends, Fiji is on track to achieve a third consecutive year of record visitor arrivals in 2025. While speaking on the p