The 2006 Military Takeover in Fiji: A Coup to End All Coups?

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The December 2006 military takeover breached the assumptions upon which Fiji's history had previously been written. Coups in 1987 and 2000 had overthrown governments elected largely on the basis of the Fiji Indian vote. Many had assumed that the indigenous Fijian elite would never concede political control, and that Fiji's 99% ethic Fijian military forces would always act to defend indigenous political dominance.

Yet Commodore Bainimarama's coup overthrew a largely ethnic Fijian-backed government, which had been elected into office only eight months earlier. The military takeover was in the name of good governance, anti-corruption and multi-racialism. Mahnedra Chaudhry's Fiji Labour Party -- the party which had secured the support of the vast majority of the country's Fiji India voters -- joined the interim cabinet. Bainimarama, who became interim Prime Minister, told the United Nations General Assembly in September 2007 that his coup was aimed at ending, once and for all, Fiji's coup culture.

This book explores the factors behind -- and the implications of -- the 2006 coup. It brings together contributions from leading scholars, local personalities, civil society activists, union leaders, journalists, lawyers, soldiers and politicians -- including deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and Mahendra Chaudry. This book is essential reading for those with an interest in the contemporary history of Fiji, politics in deeply divided societies, or in military intervention in civilian politics.