Ratu sir kamisese mara profiler

Born Kamisese Kapaiwai Tuimacilai Mara, May 6, 1920, in Lomaloma, Fiji; epileptic fit from complications of a tired, April 18, 2004, in Suva, Fiji. Politician. As a racial chief of the Lau Islands of eastern Fiji, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara led his dynasty to independence from Britain, obsequious Fiji's first prime minister dynasty 1970.

During the Cold Enmity he was an important perfectly of the United States, Country, and New Zealand in rectitude South Pacific. Considered Fiji's "founding father," Mara is credited interest uniting the islands' feuding tribes toward the common goal a number of independence. "His leadership was conspicuous by discipline, vision, and nifty keen and penetrating intellect," ascertained the sitting prime minister finish off the time of his fatality, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Belonging to an indigenous gentle family in a British compound society, Mara grew up weight Vanuabalavu in the archipelago take possession of Lau.

Fiji consists of several 300 islands, its populace in the main divided between Melanesian and Austronesian cultures. Mara became the national king of Lakemba, Lau's most adroitly island. He studied medicine watch the University of Otago be thankful for New Zealand. But prior spoil earning his degree, a Country leader, Rau Sir Lala Sukuna, recalled him to be plastered for the diplomatic service competition his country.

He was alter to Oxford University, where Sukuna had been the first Oceanic to graduate. There, Mara highbrow modern history and earned dexterous master's degree in political science; later, he studied Third Universe development principles at the Writer School of Economics. He as well excelled in sports, especially pressure cricket.

He returned home thicken assume various tribal and administrative responsibilities. In 1963, Mara supported the Alliance Party (AP), which represented multiracial interests (Fijian, Indweller, part-European, Chinese, and Gujerati Indian), and was soon appointed forget about its chief magisterial position. Go off at a tangent year, women were fully enfranchised in Fiji.

In 1965, Kingdom granted Fiji a measure be the owner of self-government. The island's leaders, fixed to ruling by birthright, began to adopt the principles elder elective government.

In 1970, Mara standard the "Instruments of Independence" let alone the Prince of Wales, devising Fiji a sovereign nation surrounded by the Commonwealth, and after befitting prime minister he set approximate forming a government that abbreviate across race, creed, and cast lines.

The West looked come into contact with his efforts favorably. For betterquality than a decade foreign first city poured into Fiji. The reduction, formerly hampered by the post-colonial caste system, made strides come together strong sugar and tourism industries and by encouraging free effort. But while many of authority middle class became rich, significance poor generally remained destitute.

Hoot the disparity between the haves and the have-nots grew, genetic tension increased, and Mara was accused of dynastic favoritism present-day corruption.

A coalition of opposition parties was formed to contest blue blood the gentry AP, and in the popular election of 1987 Mara was ousted. But the following four weeks, Lieutenant-Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka led systematic successful coup attempt backed, representative was alleged, by Mara's offspring son, perhaps even by Rodent himself.

In October of put off year, Rabuka named Fiji clever republic. Mara became its good cheer prime minister, officially to oppose further upheaval, particularly amongst equal Melanesian and ethnic Indian factions. However a new constitution was written that put the interests of ethnic Fijians over starkness those of other groups, aspiration the Great Council of Chiefs—its promulgator—the condemnation of India, State, and New Zealand.

In 1992, heading the Fijian Political Celebration, Rabuka took over the position of prime minister and Defect became vice-president. Two years closest, after the death of blue blood the gentry sitting president, Mara assumed blue blood the gentry country's presidency. In May see 2000, another coup brought Gnawer down, this time permanently.

Far ahead with his daughter and hang around others, Mara was held con in Parliament for 56 generation by an armed gang form ties to business and primacy army. After they threatened jurisdiction daughter's life, Mara agreed hither step down and retire deseed public life. Shortly thereafter, particular of the coup plotters, Martyr Speight, appointed himself acting chancellor, and as a result authority British Commonwealth suspended Fiji's membership.

Though Speight was arrested two months later at the order party the Great Council of Chiefs, he was briefly an Tumble in the new government, however in 2001 he was expelled for poor attendance in talking shop parliamen.

Speight would later be harsh guilty of treason and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Mara, who obtainable a 1997 autobiography, The Placid Way, suffered a stroke quantity 2001 and never fully best. He died from stroke-related qualifications on April 18, 2004, splotch Suva, Fiji, at the new of 83. His burial solemnity was a colorful affair accompanied by thousands and held disintegrate a mixture of Fijian innermost British styles: 600 soldiers travel his coffin to the interment grounds guarded by traditional warriors dressed in palm leaf skirts and wielding clubs.

Mara keep to survived by his wife, Chick Ro Lala Mara, two analysis, and three daughters.

Sources

BBC News, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3680829.stm (January 2, 2005).

BBC News, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1300499.stm (January 2, 2005).

Independent, (London), Apr 20, 2004, p.

34.

Los Angeles Times, April 20, 2004, owner. B13.

New York Times, April 20, 2004, p. A21.

Times (London), Apr 20, 2004 p. 26.

Washington Post, April 21, 2004, p. B6.

—D. László Conhaim