56 years separates these images but there’s a striking timelessness about father and son – Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and Ratu Tevita Mara – being installed as Tui Nayau, the high chief of Lau.
It was a significant event in the vanua then – July 1969 – and it is a significant event now as the people of Lau officially regain their traditional leader 21 years after Ratu Sir Kamisese’s passing.
The difference is one of national significance. Back then, Ratu Mara was the acknowledged leader not only of Lau but the entire nation – the Chief Minister who 15 months later would lead Fiji to Independence as our first prime minister.
It is inevitable that Ratu Tevita, his son – commonly known as Roko Ului – lives in his father’s shadow only because Ratu Sir Kamisese was such a towering figure. Yet he now has a unique opportunity to seize the mantle of leadership of his own people and have a much bigger influence on Fiji as a whole.
This is not a time for politics. Yet having spent my earliest years in Lau – in the old Methodist mission house high above Tubou Village in Lakeba – I hope that Ratu Tevita can use his influence to revive some of the grandeur of the Mara years and his father’s unparalleled contribution to nation building.
He has made a good start with a speech reminding his own people of their duty to uphold the welfare of the wider community as opposed to their personal interests. And it is a message that must be repeated time and again in terms of the nation as a whole.
Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara continually preached the message that Fiji could only be great if its people worked together as one nation. And it is a message as relevant today as it was then, if not more so.
Ratu Tevita is said to be unhappy with much of the nation’s direction under Sitiveni Rabuka and believes his father’s legacy has been traduced. The minorities in Fiji, for one, will be hoping that he uses his position as Tui Nayau – coupled with his deputy leadership of the Great Council of Chiefs – to advance the multiracial agenda of which his late father was chief proponent.
It is time to be great again, Ratu Mara. For Lau and the nation as a whole. Destiny awaits. And as always, it favours the brave.
Our best wishes to you and every Lauan on this great occasion.
UPDATE THURS AM:
Speculation has already begun about Ratu Tevita Mara entering politics, with Professor Steven Ratuva predicting that he could eventually wind up as prime minister like his father. But in what political grouping were he to decide to do so?
Grubsheet can at least answer one question raised in the following Radio New Zealand story – what Mara’s attitude is to the People’s Alliance under Sitiveni Rabuka.
We’ve already reported that the new Tui Nayau and Tui Lau is unhappy with Rabuka and believes he has trashed his father’s legacy. And there is certainly confirmation of a rift between the two men in the Prime Minister’s decision not to attend the installation ceremonies in Lau.
The Prime Minister is clearly not welcome.
I don’t know about anyone else but the whole thing looked very Third World and silly with the head dress and the “throne” and “traditions”. Sorry, I almost forgot, we are in the Third World.
Population of Nayau – I read somewhere approximately 660. What a waste of time and tax payers money for the benefit of a privileged few.
And what will change? What changed with the installation of the Vunivalu and with all the other chiefs in the last 2 years? More drugs, moral decay, incest and domestic violence and the list goes on.
But the vulagis will never understand.
No, it is YOU who doesn’t understand. Everyone else is an idiot to you but take a look in the nearest mirror. Qori.
Time was when people in Fiji kept opinions like this to themselves. If you don’t show respect to others, what hope do you have to gain respect in return?
These traditions are important to the nation, not just the i’Taukei. You may as well say that King Charles looks ridiculous in his crown and garter or that an Indian maharaja looks ridiculous in his turban. It is a question of respecting tradition and other people’s customs.
A very disappointing attitude that explains some of the hostility that comes the way of non-indigenous people in Fiji.
I am not a monarchist so I am not a fan of royalty – anywhere. Traditions are fine, stupidity is not fine.
You forgot to mention the arrogance and racism of the GCC and the iTaukei elite towards the vulagis who built the nation. You forget to mention the entitled attitude of these people and treating those who built the nation as second class.
I am not going to sit back and be silent about made up bullshit traditions with endless fancy names practiced by fake Christians and who are not sure if they are now Israelites living in the Pacific. What benefit has Fiji obtained from all the chiefs who have been installed in the last two years. What did Fiji lose in the last 16 years before that when they were banned?
There are some 6,089 chiefs in Fiji for a iTaukei population of some 600,000. That equates to 1 chief for every 100 iTaukei. That is laughable. It has nothing to do with tradition. When you see bullshit, you call it out. What benefit will the Tui Nayau bring to Fiji? What has Indians brought to Fiji?
It is a case of just too many chiefs and not enough Indians.
If more Indians leave, there will be civil war amongst the provinces like they have in PNG and Solomon Is.
Get rid of the arrogance and racism please and all the bullshit.
By all means, compound your folly. There is a time and place for any observation. And this was neither the time nor place. Proof conclusive of your own idiocy. But do go on.
Your judgement about voting for NFP and Baimaan was dodgy. You could not see that a vote for the NFP was a vote for the Baku. How idiotic.
You did not say anything when the Tui Cakau was made speaker, but he suddenly became a pedo when he was appointed President. Again it is all about convenience and the agenda at the time I guess.
Your judgement about tradition and the bullshit we see in Nayau is equally dodgy. No one will benefit from this rubbish, least of all the 600 people in Nayau.
But, I fully support your current campaign against the government.
Idiots everywhere make some great points. #justsaying
The kai India who belong to India also had home-spun chiefs or Maharajahs who wore silly turbans and head dfess that is very ‘Third World’.
So the 600 or so poople on Nayau are not alone.
This is about Third World Fiji, not about India. So do not distract from the issue.
You need to learn how to use the toilet properly and how to dispose your rubbish properly.
Do you think installing the Tui Nayau with a Third-Rate standard ceremony and “tradition” will change that?
Spend the money where required, not on bullshit.
Everything here is about Fiji and not another country. So your attempt to distract will not work here.
The good people of Fulaga might hold a different view of the new “Tui.”
#justsaying
‘Home spun chiefs and Maharajas’ were wealthy mofkers. WEALTHY.
Until the British arrived, they used them a la Fijian chiefs to control the pesky Indian subjects who were prone to uprisings and violence at the drop of a turban.
The Maharajas felt even more important not unlike the much vaunted Fijian chiefs to keep their subjects in check and not to mingle with slave labor – knowing as the native subjects were prone to start spontaneous lovo feasts.
The British couldn’t offer trinkets to trick the Maharajas of their astounding wealth.
The British were chagrined to learn of the very real gold, diamonds, and other valuable jewels. Much as trinkets worked like a charm in Fiji, it was of no use to the Maharaja.
So, after much robbing and pillaging from said Maharajas, the British still retain much of the pillaged wealth as the Crown Jewels now, including the 105c diamond worth around $600m now.
The Brits were fun people.
@idiot, you claim that itaukei are arrogant, but it is you who are. Know this you lunatic and pretentious lowbrow, the itaukei are entitled to all their deeds, this is their land. As for the vulagi building this land, they are most welcome, many persevered, respect to that. It has been noted in this blog, for Fiji to be secular, prosperous, multiracial and ‘the way the world should be’, it must be ‘gifted’ by the itaukei. There is no other way.
Its the ‘kai India’ of the ilk of Ketan Lal and this uncircumcised ‘Idiot’ who are putting we indigenous people down.
We cannot be equal with them if they do not respect us.
So go shove your equal citizenry claims up where the sun don’t shine.
He is still part of the cabal that wants to strip constitutional rights away from persons of minority persuasion.
Is he? Don’t forget he was part of the 2006 Bainimarama coup to level the playing field in Fiji. His quarrel with Bainimarama came later and as far as I understand it, was related to the belief by Driti and Mara that Frank was being too influenced by Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. That doesn’t make him an enemy of the minorities because I, for one, came to believe the same thing when I was working for Qorvis as their communications advisor.
Idiots everywhere should change his/her name to Idiots over here🖐️
You are right. I have always maintained “over here” is full of idiots. Why else is the country where it is?
They cannot get enough of the chief idiot leading them even after 40 years. Very proud.
@idiots everywhere is both dumb and stupid — the biggest idiot. He’s too simple-minded to understand the basic fact that neither Fiji nor the world is like a jigsaw puzzle where everything falls neatly into place. The real world is full of problems and it will always be like that. Fiji is a developing country, and what we’re seeing now is the evolutionary process of a democracy — however imperfect.
The idiot thinks all of Fiji’s problems can be solved overnight. He acts like we live in a perfect world. It’s very easy to say “I told you so” in hindsight. I wonder if he even understands the concept of hindsight.
He doesn’t seem to realise that in the real world, you have to make compromises — that’s the nature of politics and governance.
We’re not in a utopia. But I don’t think he’ll comprehend any of this. It’s too deep for him. As far as he’s concerned, everything is either perfect or broken — no in-between, no nuance.
His simplistic post and stupid rantings are becoming unbearable.
You mean Fijians are in the process of developing their primitive minds? I agree. I just wish it was a little faster, in our lifetime. I doubt that will happen. Just look at all the rubbish and the toilets in Fiji. Should I mention all the rubbish people in parliament and in high offices. It’s a developing democracy eh? These minds have not worked out that the COI report must be implemented, it’s a legal obligation. But they may get there in the next 50 years as they are developing their primitive minds
Traditions are a lovely memory of years gone by. May we all join in celebrating the installation of the Tui Nayau,who has done a lot for Fiji in quelling the rebels of 2000 in Kalabu.
I am thankful for his intervention at the appropriate time otherwise the George Speight inspired rebellion would have had a very negative impact on the vulagis.
Bravo Ratu, you’re an Officer, a Ratu and a gentleman.
May God bless you abundantly in your new tenure as the Tui Nayau. Thank you for all that you did to save the vulagi from certain misadventures during the year 2000.
We are on the same boat as far as what happened to a great revolution that went awry once a certain individual,his brother and his mousi( mother’s sister) got involved and screwed the whole game plan.
Best wishes for your leadership.
Peter
How unfortunate that centuries of tradition and dignity are lost on someone so determined to sound clever. There’s a certain irony in calling others backwards while parading one’s ignorance so confidently.
It’s remarkable to witness someone speak with so much certainty, and yet say so little of substance. Culture is not diminished by the mockery of the uninformed.
Roads, jetties, hospitals, airports in that far-flung insignificant islands are upgraded while those same infrastructures in the main two islands are ignored where the major economic activities remains dilapidated.
Jury has been out Ratu KKT Mara and his commitment to multiracialism. He espoused it as well as a government of national unity to break up racial politics but when he had a chance to join the NFP in March 1977 he did not. His later politics is muddied water with the Mac Patel paid for 1982 political strategy based on race. His role post 1987 did not exactly promote an inclusive Fiji.
I wouldn’t join the NFP either. Did you ever hear Ratu Mara refer to “vulagi’? No. Did he refuse to have “Indians” or “Europeans” in his cabinets? No. Did he discriminate against non-iTaukei in appointments to the civil service and offices of state? No. Did he abolish the monarchy without consulting anyone? No.
The “jury may be out” but there is some compelling evidence in his favour.
Did the current Tui Nayau abuse and torture his own people?
People don’t usually forget and the fanfare of this installation is all but a distraction to some of the underlying issues that have been there for decades?
Asking a man to lead his people to be great again is a hard ask for a man whose past is tainted.
If it works out then it works out…for now the statement rings true, “A saint was once a sinner”
One week after the event everything will be forgotten. When the books are balanced there will be no food left on the table.
Can someone tell us how much of taxpayers money was spent on this rubbish? Asking on behalf of a friend.
This whole pageantry and peoples dedication to it have been educational and interesting. As I understand, this is to install Ratu Tevita as high chief of Fiji after so many years because he rowed all the way to Tonga and stayed there to avoid imprisonment. I am hoping that other readers can please educate me of the following:
– what did Ratu Tevita do to have faced going to jail in Fiji?
– the traditional largesse that we see to install a high chief of Lau is a week long affair. Does the installation of high chiefs in other provinces are equally as elaborate eg Rewa, Bau etc but perhaps not covered in the media so much?
From what I understand, Ratu Tevita was a very humble soldier during his military days. I hope he still has the same qualities. As a close advisor to Tongan monarchy, he would have learnt the ropes of politics. Let’s hope he cherry picks the good bits for Fiji.
He is remebered as a human rights abuser extraordinaire.
A violent bully-ask those who had the misfortune getting hauled to delainabua during the “tui’s” reign of terror and torture in uniform.
Many from civil society, the NGOs, and others that opposed coups might attest to this fugitive’s previous thuggery.
His partner in crime (plot to kill a pm) served 5+ years while this coward was sheltered by the Tongan royal family for years.
The meddling Tongans sent a navy boat and picked him up at sea – pre-arranged, pre-planned “rescue operation” when the “tui” went “fishing” one night while out on bail
Thus, the large Tongan delegation with navy boat and all. Didn’t know Lau was an international port of entry, but there you go-Fisi style. Everyone is equal. Even the brash arrogant Tongans, who think so little of Fisi and its people.
Then, Rolex Rabaku Snake came in in 2022 and promptly canceled the “Tui’s” arrest warrant.
Conveniently followed, of course, by the ODPP dropping pending criminal charges.
Following which the fugitive, no longer a wanted man made a low- key entry back in Fisi.
He quickly quickly high-tailed it back to his beloved Tonga, where he remained as soon as it was realized the military court marshall was still pending.
In true Fisi style, equal law and order, and equal justice for all, Rolex Rabaku nudged marshmallow balls at delainabua to then drop the pesky court marshal charges for desertion, and other transgressions.
No doubt, ‘Tui’ will be a positive force for Fisi’s future. The Tongans will have no say on how and what he may do for Fisi. The ‘Tui’ is the best thing that has happened to Fisi in the last 20 years.
His creditors will be happy to know he is back.
Look, squirrel.
I have covered much of this in detail in previous stories and have been strongly critical of the fact that Pita Driti did his time and Roko Ului fled to Tonga and escaped justice. Indeed there is strong evidence that the real reason for Christopher Pryde’s removal as DPP was because he wasn’t prepared to accept one rule for Driti and one rule for Mara. But I made the decision that this material is for another time in deference to the wishes of the people of Lau that Ratu Tevita lead them and the positive influence he may be able to wield now in national life in his late father’s former position.
Just plug his name into the Grubsheet search engine on the right for these other stories, including the details of his flight to Tonga.
So all is forgiven and forgotten when you put on a silly headdress and get taxpayers to spend hundreds of thousands and put out a red carpet for a tinpot king from a tinpot shithole country like Tonga. A country which aided and abetted in the great escape. I guess “tradition” trumps what happened. All will be forgotten next week, nothing will change in Fiji or in Nayau, just like it did in Bau after the throning of the Vunivalu. I cannot fathom what is wrong with people and their judgement and assessment of things. Maybe that is why Fiji is where it is. People choose to be stupid and they are totally unaware they make such choices.
The installation of the Tui Nayau is of huge traditional significance to the people of Lau and the rest of Fijians who share traditional and cultural links. There are also vulagi who understand and appreciate the significance of these events.
We hope that Ratu Tevita Mara will follow in his father’s footsteps and embrace the values of multilateralism.
Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara was a statesman who consistently championed inclusiveness, meritocracy, and cooperation across communities. His leadership left a lasting legacy grounded in unity and principled governance.
Tragically, he was betrayed in 1987 by none other than Sitiveni Rabuka—who has once again returned to power, exhibiting the same divisive tendencies.
Let us hope that Ratu Tevita Mara rises to the moment, and honours his father’s vision through leadership rooted in integrity and inclusivity.
Ratu Mara was a true statesman with great Mana as they say in NZ. Jury still out on his entitled children – they really couldn’t follow their father’s footsteps – this may be an opportunity to continue his fathers legacy for Tevita provided he isn’t corrupted and influenced by businessman like Weila who helped him escape Fiji last time – he needs to forge his own destiny and start with a new mandate.
GD. Racism begets racism. Plain and simple. The indo fijians have been enduring racism on every front from the time it was given a public birthing in 1987. Sure not all itaukeis are racists but the majority of them are quiet when it happens around them.
The culture of not speaking up and being subservient to the leaders/chiefs as they spread their hate filled division and poison has not changed much. For much of the past 40 years, indo fijians have been told privately and increasingly publicly that they do not belong, that their rights are inferior to the native population, that they are weak, they are lamu, that they were and will remain slaves, that they are dirty cos they wash their bums with water ( i still cant get that one) that they smell, they eat weird inferior food, that they should go back to India and better still live in slums, that they are not circumcised so they are inferior ( many dumb bastards forget that christian and Muslim indo fijians are circumcised) that they haven’t fought in the army, that they are sneaky, greedy and manipulative, that they don’t share, that they are rich and hoard wealth, that they dont have any land and any culture, that they are cheeky and viavialevu, that they worship false Gods and that they don’t love nor contribute towards Fiji’s development.
So do you really think that after decades of enduring such increasing abuse together with increasing physical bullying, buturaki and butako there will no racist feelings being expressed in return? Don’t you get it old chap?
Not everyone will respond to such abuse and insults in a calm way. Some will retaliate in other ways. I have personally known of indo fijians who didn’t have a stitch of racism in their bones but have over the years turned into small time racists because of the racism they have endured for so long, especially when it became obvious to them that very people who planted the seeds of hate and racism within the itaukei have successfully managed to lead our nation and institutionalize racism in the very fabric of our nation.
Sure, you have many indo fijians who aren’t racists but you have an increasing number who now view everything through the lenses of race simply because of what they have been subjected to. Its the same as the Palestinians being subjected to decades of violence, hate and racism…some will and have responded with the same. So stop being so bloody naive.
In the meantime the evil bastard who started this race hate game continues to fool his own people while continuing to point out to them that it’s the indo fijians need to be blamed for all their shortcomings and failures in life. And sadly any itaukeis for all these evil lies and a new generation of racists are born.
Just a few months ago rabuka the baku made a statement in labasa that he was very concerned about the alarmingly growing online hate and racism against indo fijians. Fast forward a bit to about 2 weeks ago and rabaku says he doesn’t care to comment about online racist, vile and hate comments against the indo fijian community made by the PS itaukei affairs. There’s supposed to be an inquiry about this, but we all know nothings going to come of it. And that is why racism will increase even more in our country.
And please don’t get me started about Ratu Mara and his selective benevolence. Bugger lost all his so called father of the nation bullshit status when he lost the elections in 87 and cajoled baku to carry out his coups to get back into power but ended up falling out with baku.
The nation got destroyed, the itaukeis got fooled and the indo fijians suffered enduring racism while Mara stayed quiet. Mara and baku both deserve hell. You know this is all true so stop being so silly.
But you had the opportunity to show your loyalty to Fiji in the face of the Japanese threat in 1941 but your leaders in Fiji chose to support Subhas Chandra Bose and his pro Jap Army in India.
We will never forget.
The army of the British Raj in India during World War Two fought in Ethiopia against the Italian Army, in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Algeria against both the Italian and German armies, and, after the Italian surrender, against the German Army in Italy.
However, the bulk of the Indian Army was committed to fighting the Japanese Army, first during the British defeat in Malaya and the retreat from Burma to the Indian border; later, after resting and refitting for the victorious advance back into Burma, as part of the largest British Empire army ever formed.
These campaigns cost the lives of over 87,000 Indian servicemen, while 34,354 were wounded, and 67,340 became prisoners of war. Their valour was recognised with the award of some 4,000 decorations, and 18 members of the Indian Army were awarded the Victoria Cross or the George Cross.
Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from 1942, asserted that the British “couldn’t have come through both wars (World War I and II) if they hadn’t had the Indian Army.” British Prime Minister Winston Churchill also paid tribute to “The unsurpassed bravery of Indian soldiers and officers.
Thank you for setting the record straight about this longstanding myth among iTaukei that Indians wouldn’t fight. In fact, a very impressive record.
Stop trying to rewrite history with your bulshit racist narrative. Stop being a dumb racist and read up on history. Stop your racist threats.
It’s because of arseholes like you that ordinary itaukei have for decades been poisoned against their indo fijian neighbors. The British certainly taught their divide and rule tactics well to some pricks like you and your lord rabaku.
Indo-Fijians did not participate in World War II on a large scale primarily due to discriminatory pay and service conditions offered by the colonial government, which led to the disbandment of the Indo-Fijian platoon. Yes there already was an info fijian platoon based on the division rules of the british. While some Indo-Fijians volunteered, the British military leadership in Fiji was hesitant to integrate them fully, fearing it would create unrest among the mainly Indigenous Fijian soldiers who were also part of the Fiji Defence Force.
So pls f**k off with your racist shit and do some good for the country instead of trying to divide people with your made up racist historical narrative.
BS tea pot. The British wanted to retain as many indentured indo slaves to work the cane fields in Fiji and in other many colonialized dominions.
The British were wise to recognize that all slave labor soldiers would be sent to the frontlines as cannon fodder. A dead slave can no longer work in the cane fields, you see.
Other than the fact, of course, the Indo slaves refused to extend slaving into war and demanded fair payment for certain deaths.
Get off the pot and learn more, for starters, here:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_in_World_War_II:
Indians fought throughout the world, including in the European theatre against Germany, North African Campaign against fascist Italy, and in the southeast Asian theatre; while also defending the Indian subcontinent against the Japanese forces, including British Burma and the Crown colony of Ceylon. Indian troops were also redeployed in former colonies such as Singapore and Hong Kong, with the Japanese surrender in August 1945, after the end of World War II.
Over 87,000 Indian troops, and 3 million civilians died in World War II.[2][3] Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, former Commander-in-Chief, India, stated that Britain “couldn’t have come through both wars [World War I and II] if they hadn’t had the Indian Army.”[4][5].
Friend, your narrative is so very appropriate to the current situation in Fiji, and thank you!
Well said. That’s why this forum is valued and a popular blog.
Frank exchange of opinions, different perspectives, and agreeing to disagree are all part of a healthy democratic process.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is bullshit compared to these pages.
Real heartfelt exchanges of grief and grievance, hate and love, ignorance and arrogance plus acknowledgement of brother and sisterhood, anger and apologizing, truth and lies all contribute to reconciliation and recovery better the BS of TRC fake tears and hugs fests ever will.
Thankyou, GD, for this blog and your continuing excellence in addressing matters of national interest and for allowing Tomu, Dike, and Hari to be a part of this journey of life.
You’re welcome. Vinaka.
All this chief stuff going on on that island is not cool. I have no respect for any of that.
HIV, TB, Dengue, NCDs, poverty, unhygienic living conditions disproportionately affect the itaukei but they willing to contribute their last cents to a chief who comes from a family that in their father’s time as the PM invested in real estate and other businesses that only benefitted their family. But hey if they think their chief is there for them, good on them.
I read grubsheet because I don’t always agree but I acknowledge another perspective – this one, 100% good story.
I am a proud Fijian with Indian ethnicity, my parents got slammed in 1987 by the coup, I am very successful overseas and I don’t hold animosity against Fiji anymore, totally support Frank B as he stood for one fiji, absolutely hate and will always do – hate Rabuka ( my parents never recovered from what he did too us directly – he is a war criminal).
Ratu Mara was a great leader and my parents always said that after 1977/78 elections, the division in Indians with religion is their own fault, Ratu Mara preached one Fiji but the likes of Chaudhry, Reddy etc preached division – us against them even within us – Biman carried the same with ASK and now he will see the wrong. Sad but true.
Scum like Ratu Mara knew about the planned 1987 coup and supported it. The Fiji Times is polluted with that chief stuff currently going on. And it is supposed to be a big deal for the people of Fiji.
Who the hell invited the Maori queen? She’s in Fiji to simply freeload. Are tax dollars being used to feed her? If that is so, then people have a right to oppose all this garbage.
For the record, part of Ratu Tevita Mara’s anger with Sitiveni Rabuka is said to be rooted in the fact that Rabuka keeps hinting that Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara at least knew of the planned coup in 1987, if not partly instigated it.
Will the Truth and Reconciliation Commission finally get to the truth about the events of 38 years ago? Was that a pig flying over Suva just now?
Graham on that note I will add something I was told in 1982, a month before the general elections, the first after the 1977 debacle. Did Ratu Mara know of ” an army takeover” in the event the NFP won again in 1982?
I was a 6th form student in a technical drawing class at Suva Grammar and sitting next to me was the son of the Foreign affairs minister Mr Qionibaravi. The late Timoci Qionibaravi, one of the best human beings born to any parents was asked this question , if NFP won the 1982 elections what will happen? He was drawing as was I when without batting an eyelid he categorically stated that there’ll be an army takeover.
That statement from son of the number 2 minister in the Alliance government was plain, unadulterated, and to the point.Everyone in the Alliance government knew what would happen should NFP win the 1982 elections.But the Alliance won and the takeover was shelved for another day. The Commander was Ratu Epeli Nailatikau whose mission to conduct a take over in 1982 was over. He may have been given the task for 1982 only.
Then comes a vibrant party called Labour that swept through all municipal council elections and then the 1987 elections. No orders were issued for a takeover, so a junior Lieutenant Colonel Rabuka who had disagreements with his superior Commander decided to be a hero for the indigenous people. Those are pretty much the facts about who knew and who didn’t.
Is this the same Māori queen who flew in to Fiji to specifically offer her support and encouragement to the ultra-nationalist racists holding hostages in Veiuto circia 2000?
No, she is a young woman who had nothing to do with the events of 2000. For God’s sake, it is 25 years ago.
Did he not have a younger brother that the family ostracized if I am not wrong.
GD seems the Jury is definitely out on Ratu KKT Mara and as the many varied points of view in these comments with good reason. The involvement of Rambo and Coalition Government to the hilt is a big give away of the reasons for the big hoopla over the installation. More of the same ethnonationalist drivel couched under traditions and culture. And a Dracula-like grinning Baimaan.