Sitiveni Rabuka

Sitiveni Ligamamada "Steve" Rabuka (* September 13 1948 in Nakobo, Cakaudrove Province, Central Division ) is a brigadier general and politician from Fiji.

Life

Rabuka resigned after the school into the armed forces of Fiji and was first in 1980 commander of the contingent of Fijian troops in Lebanon, and then as an officer in the General Staff responsible for military training. After his promotion to lieutenant colonel in 1982, he became in 1984 commander of the 2nd battalion of peacekeepers in the Sinai Peninsula, before he returned to Fiji in 1985 and general staff officer for military operations and training was and therefore took the third- highest post in the armed forces.

On 14 May 1987, he led a coup that led to the overthrow of only one month previously elected government of Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra. Rabuka justified the coup with the fact that this was necessary for peace between ethnic Fijians and Indians living in Fiji, and to protect the land rights and the political influence of the indigenous Fijians. In fact, however, the coup paved the way for some of the worst outbreaks of violence among the different population groups in the history of Fiji. After the coup Governor General Penaia Ganilau promoted him to colonel and commander of the armed forces.

Already on September 25, 1987, he commanded a second military coup to obtain a power base. However, this coup drew angry reactions from Australia and New Zealand to be that imposed economic sanctions against Fiji. On September 28, 1987, he called a meeting of diplomats larger countries, however, only the incumbent Governor-General Penaia Ganilau recognized as a legitimate head of state and party. Nevertheless, Rabuka was promoted to brigadier general.

Despite growing opposition Rabuka declared Fiji a republic on 7 October 1987, thus ending 113 years since an existing connection to the United Kingdom, which recognized the declaration of the Republic on 15 October 1987. However, after decreased the domestic and foreign confidence in Fiji and also ran the local economy in a serious crisis, he declared on December 5, 1987 his resignation and handed over power to the civilian Prime Minister Kamisese Mara.

On 2 June 1992 Rabuka was himself Prime Minister and held this office nearly seven years until 19 May 1999.

After the end of his tenure as prime minister, he was from 1999 to 2001 Chairman of the Supreme Chief Council ( Great Council of Chiefs) and then handed over this office of Brigadier General Ratu Epeli Ganilau, who was his successor as commander of the armed forces between 1992 and 1999.

Since 2002, Sitiveni Rabuka is the Chairman of the Council of his native province Cakaudrove.