Fiji, the key events

Key political developments in Fiji since it became independent in 1970:

October 10, 1970: Fiji gains independence from Britain. Ratu Kamisese K.T. Mara appointed Prime Minister

April 1987: Dr Timoci Bavadra becomes Prime Minister after his Indo-Fijian Labour/National Federation Party coalition government defeats Ratu Mara's Alliance Party in the elections.

May 14, 1987: Sitiveni L. Rabuka leads military coup. Becomes military ruler.

September 1987: Rabuka stages second coup. Fiji declares itself a republic and severs ties with the British Commonwealth

December 1987: Ratu Mara returns as Prime Minister of the interim government.

June 1992: Rabuka becomes Prime Minister, holds post until May 1999.

July 25, 1997: New Constitution promulgated by President Ratu Mara and comes into effect July 1998.

September 30, 1997: Fiji re-enters British Commonwealth.

May 19, 1999: Mahendra Chaudhry leads Labour coalition to election victory and becomes Prime Minister. Ratu Mara, as president since December 1993, supports the coalition.

May 19, 2000: George Speight, a businessman claiming to represent indigenous Fijian interests, enters House of Parliament with armed supporters and takes Prime Minister Chaudhry and other Ministers hostage. A long standoff begins between Speight's group and the police and military forces, with the military declaring martial law and taking over the administration of the country.

May 20, 2000: Ratu Jope Seniloli sworn in by rebels as "president".

May 27, 2000: Ratu Mara appoints Labor, Industrial & Immigration Minister Ratu Tevita Momoedonu (who was not in the parliament building when the hostages were taken) as Prime Minister for a matter of minutes so that the parliamentary session can legally be brought to an end. .

May 29, 2000: The military asks Ratu Mara to step aside and allow the declaration of martial law. Military chief Commodore Frank Bainimarama assumes executive power and abrogates 1997 Constitution.

July 4, 2000: Bainimarama appoints merchant banker Laisenia Qarase as Prime Minister and head of an interim government.

July 13, 2000: Speight frees Chaudhry and the other hostages after 56 days. Reaches agreement with military known as Muanikau Accord which guarantees immunity for him and his men.

July 18, 2000: Former vice-president Ratu Josefa Iloilo appointed president by the Great Council of Chiefs.

July 26, 2000: Speight and supporters arrested on treason charges.

July 28, 2000: President Iloilo swears in interim government with Qarase as prime minister. Government includes members nominated by Speight.

October 2, 2000: High Court judge Justice Peter Surman rules Speight's immunity was invalid because conditions of the Accord were not complied with. Speight is held under military supervision on Nukulau island prison, off Suva.

November 2, 2000: Rebel troops briefly take over Fiji's main military barracks in Suva. Army troops loyal to Commodore Bainimarama recapture Queen Elizabeth barracks. Three regular soldiers and five rebels are killed and about10 injured in gunbattles.

November 15, 2000: Justice Anthony Gates rules 1997 Constitution is still in place and hence the interim government is illegal. Calls for reconvening of pre-May 19 Parliament. Interim government announces it will appeal Gates' ruling. It had earlier said a new constitution will be promulgated by December 2001.

February 19, 2001: Fiji Court of Appeal begins hearing appeal by interim government on its legality.

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