On this date 29 years ago, this newspaper published the army had seized power without a shot being fired.
Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka, who was 38 years old at the time and third in command of the then Royal Fiji Military Forces, assumed total control of the country at 10am after having staged a lightning coup a day earlier.
I was only two years old and was on my way to Qeleni, Taveuni where I was to remain until returning to Suva to begin Year 1. So I did not know what transpired during and after the events of May 14, 1987.
All that I was aware of was that I was going to enjoy the waterfall at Tobu ni Tavo, green pool of Tobu ni k’a dro’a and being stuffed with fresh fish sourced off the coast of Wainikeli by a grand aunt, Vikatoria Marama, who helped raise me.
My first experience of a coup was the events of May 19, 2000 — back then I was a Year 10 student at Marist Brothers’ High School. The events of 2000, and to hear the first one was 17 years earlier, stirred a desire to know more.
As the years unfolded and with seven years’ experience in the mainstream media, I managed to fully grasp what a coup is and many other intricate details. I was with Communications Fiji Ltd and was at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks with other journalists, when current Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, who was then commander of the RFMF, took over government in 2006.
This article takes a look into the 1987 coup which according to my findings, the idea of a coup d’etat may have formed in the years after the 1977 election — following the surprise win by the National Federation Party .
The idea to delve into the 1987 coup is simply for those in my age bracket and the younger ones to have a fair idea of what transpired leading up to May 14.
In the book “Rabuka of Fiji” by John Sharpham, the result of the 1977 election had a profound impact on Rabuka because he had been forced to consider resigning from the military.
Rabuka had just been promoted to temporary major by then commander, Colonel Paul Manueli.
While returning from an overseas trip, he was reported to have spoken loudly and strongly at the QVS Old Boys Club.
“The school we went to is supposed to be the one to train future leaders. I believe we need to do more than concentrate on the social side of our association. We must work towards having this club as the core of a new political grouping to shape the Fijian leadership of the future.” (Sharpham, 2000, p.84)
Rabuka was on his way to his home following the 1977 election result to draft his resignation letter simply because he could not work under a new government led by a Fijian of Indian descent.
“I cannot, in all honesty serve this government as a professional, dedicated. I have searched my heart and I am going to resign,” Rabuka is quoted to have told his fellow officers.
Col. Manueli had called his officers together and told them to tender in their resignation if they could not serve under an “Indian government” as he termed it.
Rabuka was just about to put pen on paper when he heard loud cheers and applause and as he ran out he was informed that a new government had been appointed.
While the NFP was arguing as to who should be the leader of the new government, the Governor-General, Ratu George Cakobau, is said to have prevented a possible civil war, following news that Fijian delegates from the North had visited him and were ready to regain control of the country for the Fijians (iTaukei).
Ratu George then appointed Ratu Mara to form a minority government.
In November of 1978, Rabuka was selected to attend the Indian Armed Forces Staff College in Tamil Nadu, India.
As Sharpham highlighted “it was an important learning exercise for Rabuka. For a significant part of the course took him into academic examination of key military concepts. It was part of the career path Manueli had mapped out for him.” (Sharpham, 2000, p.66)
According to Sharpham, the college had a relationship with the University of Madras so the course that Rabuka was studying could result in a Masters Degree in defence studies.
“A number of subjects were given to the officers from which they selected the topic of choice for their thesis. Rabuka chose the role of the army in the socioeconomic development of developing countries and added the element of socio-political development as well. He investigated coups and their aftermath in a number of African and Latin American countries.
“He explored ways in which the army could play a role in assisting a country move forward after a coup. He was also becoming intrigued at the possible links that could be found between the army and other government areas in a time of crisis.” (Sharpham, 2000, p.66)
After his return, Rabuka went on duty serving and leading the Fiji Battalion on several peacekeeping duties in the Middle East.
His bravery in saving a French officer under heavy fire was recognised and commended, his ability to lead a disciplined life was a highlight of his military career.
However his concerns of the Fijian (iTaukei) people and the nation remained.
On Monday May 11, 1987 the new parliament opened one month after Dr Timoci Bavadra had been sworn in as PM. Bavadra had led the Fiji Labour Party, in a coalition with the National Federation Party, to victory and for many Fijians the result was surprising. It would take some accepting.
There were concerns many Fijians of Indian descent would be taking up senior posts with the new government signalling major new policies, trouble was brewing somewhere.
“The three colleagues, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, Viliame Gonelevu and Jone Veisamasama, talked with Rabuka about the situation, telling him that something had to be done soon.” (Sharpham, 2000, p.96)
“By 10:10am on the morning of May 14, Rabuka and his troops had secured the target — the government members were on their way to temporary quarters under the armed guard. (They) were escorted to the military cells at the barracks, let them telephone their families, gave them lunch and arranged for any medical needs to be supplied. The new government nevertheless spent time in the cells.
“The army had taken charge led by its number three man, Lt-Col Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka. Nothing had gone wrong. He was now in control of the country. (Sharpham, p.109)
“I felt cool and confident, God was with me, and I had rehearsed the scene in my mind many times over the past four weeks. I saw that my uncle, the speaker, wasn’t believing what he was seeing and hearing. The look on his face suggested he wasn’t totally taking the situation seriously — as though he believed or hoped, that it was just an exercise
“I thought to myself, ‘God is telling me to do this, and if God tells me, nothing will go wrong’.”
Twenty-five years later and on February 29, 2012 Radio Australia reported Rabuka finally apologised for the wrongs of leading the coups of 1987.
“I just feel that I need to tell them that I feel remorse for the tough things they went through.
“Here are people who resigned or just went without resigning from the civil service because they were worried about their future. They thought it was the ultra nationalistic fervour that was going through the land at the time, and misread the initial assessment.
Well, there were self-assessments on their part, but as was proven by those that stayed and remained committed to their civil service staff they progressed well. But I cannot blame anybody who was apprehensive at the time.”
The Government has highlighted Fiji will have to do away with the coup culture, however in order to this we, and that is everyone, will need to be established, comfortable and secure.
As in the words of Rabuka himself “when the Fijians are secure, Fiji will be secure. When the Fijians are insecure, they will seek to see that everyone else is insecure and we go back to the third world country we are known for”.
