Masked gunmen, armed with AK47 rifles, stormed Fiji’s Parliament in Suva and took first Prime Minister of India origin Mahendra Pal Choudhary and his entire Cabinet hostage on May 19, 2000. The leader of what has been called a “Civilian Coup” George Speight announced he had seized power on behalf of every individual member of the indigenous Fijian community”.
The objective, said Speight, was to put control back into the hands of indigenous Fijians. Speight announced that he had revoked the constitution and named Ratu Timoci Silatolu. An opposition law-maker interim Prime Minister. But the then President of Fiji, Mr. Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, declared the takeover illegal.
Mobs rampaged through the streets Suva after the coup, burning and looting shops (Predominantly Indian owned) while thousands of people gathered outside parliament cheering in support of the attack the hostages were released on July 13, after 55 days captivity. Soon after their release, the Great Council of Chiefs, appointed Ratu Josefa lollop a supporter of Speight, as the new President of Fiji.
However, she coup plotters surrendered their weapons most of them .stolen from Fiji’s military forces and on July 28, a new interim Government, headed by Mr. Laisenia Qarase. It has just one person of Indian origin, in the post of on assistant minister. Mr. Geogre Shia Raj New President announced that within three years, Fiji will have its new Constitution and new election: and also made clear that Mr. Choudhary or any Indian origin will never be allowed to take higher post in Fiji.
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Observers, feel that within a year, the public. Support for Choudhary waned because of his failure to deal with the economy effectively. There were also allegations of misuse of government funds not only by cabinet members, but by Mr. Choudhary himself. People were also angry because he gave many Indo-Fijian administrative posts. Ethnic- Fijians feared that the Choudhhary government, if allowed to continue would bring forward land reforms legislation.