Timoci Uluivuda Bavadra (22 September 1934[1] – 3 November 1989) was a Fijian medical doctor who founded the Fiji Labour Party and served as the Prime Minister of Fiji for one month in 1987.
He was born in Viseisei, Viti Levu, and was medical doctor and politician by profession.[1]
Contesting his first election in 1987, Bavadra forged an electoral coalition between his Labour Party and the much older, Indo-Fijian-dominated National Federation Party. Although much larger, the NFP agreed to play a junior role in the coalition, aware that much of the ethnic Fijian community was not ready to accept an Indo-Fijian Prime Minister; even a government with a significant Indo-Fijian presence was itself bound to stretch the patience of ethnic Fijians.
The election was a stunning upset. The Labour-NFP coalition captured 28 seats, four more than the Alliance Party, thereby ending the twenty-year reign of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, who, first as Chief Minister and subsequently as Prime Minister, had led Fiji since its pre-independence years. Although an ethnic Fijian, Bavadra had been elected mostly with the support of Indo-Fijians. Of the 28 members of his parliamentary caucus, only seven were ethnic Fijians, all of them elected from predominantly Indo-Fijian constituencies, a factor which caused considerable resentment among extremist sections of the Fijian population. Only nine percent of the ethnic Fijian electorate had voted for Bavadra's coalition, but even this was an unprecedented feat – a point that was largely overlooked.
Bavadra was opposed to nuclear testing and had hinted that visits by nuclear-armed warships of the United States Navy might not be welcome. Allegations have been made that the United States either supported or allowed Lieutenant-Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka to stage the coup on 13 May 1987 that brought down Bavadra's government.[2] Unable to reverse the coup, Governor-General Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau formally dismissed Bavadra on 19 May. Bavadra made a tour of Commonwealth capitals, attempting to rally support, but got little more than sympathy. In London in June, Queen Elizabeth, on advice of the Fijian Governor-General, refused to meet him.[3] After a period of negotiations, another coup, and a period of military rule, Ratu Mara again took office as Prime Minister on 5 December.
Bavadra died of cancer in 1989.
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^ abLal, Brij V.; Fortune, Kate (1 January 2000). The Pacific Islands: An Encyclopedia. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 9780824822651.
^Blum, William (2002). Rogue State. Monroe: Common Courage Press. pp. 153–154. ISBN 184277221X.
^"Queen Refuses to See Deposed Prime Minister". AP NEWS. 8 June 1987. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
Timoci Uluivuda Bavadra (22 September 1934 – 3 November 1989) was a Fijian medical doctor who founded the Fiji Labour Party and served as the Prime Minister...
Timoci is a Fijian masculine given name. Notable people with the name include: TimociBavadra (1934–1989), Fijian medical doctor and former Prime Minister...
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Labour Party, he served as a Cabinet Minister in the government of TimociBavadra until removed from office by the 1987 Fijian coups d'état, and then...
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Great Council of Chiefs, Ratu Ovini Bokini. Former prime ministers TimociBavadra and Mahendra Chaudhry, both of whom were deposed in coups and Ratu Tevita...
1987, Mara was finally defeated by a multiracial coalition led by Dr TimociBavadra. His retirement was to be short-lived, however. Two military coups led...
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1977 elections, which prevented a smooth transfer of power. In 1987, TimociBavadra became Prime Minister and formed a cabinet which included a majority...
Reddy briefly served as Attorney-General and Minister for Justice in the Bavadra government, in April and May 1987. Following the military coups of 1987...
British Columbia, Canada Speed, Adi Kuini former MP and wife of former PM TimociBavadra Tuqiri, Lote – represented Fiji and the Wallabies at both league and...
Association Party, led by Adi Kuini Speed (the widow of former Prime Minister TimociBavadra), won 11 seats (10 ethnic Fijian and 1 open) against only 8 seats (5...
massacre occurs in Chalatenango, El Salvador. 1987 – Fijian Prime Minister TimociBavadra is ousted from power in a coup d'état led by Lieutenant colonel Sitiveni...
Name Lifespan Tenure Took office Left office 1 Kamisese Mara 1920–2004 10 October 1970 13 April 1987 2 TimociBavadra 1934–1989 13 April 1987 14 May 1987...
captain, first officer and flight engineer hostage, demanding that the TimociBavadra-led government be restored after they were ousted in a military coup...
Rabuka resulted in the overthrow of the government of Prime Minister TimociBavadra, who had been appointed following the general election that year. The...
won by the Labour-National Federation Party coalition. On 13 April, TimociBavadra becomes Prime Minister for a month. 14 May – Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni...
16 years, 185 days Alliance 1972 1977 (Mar) 1977 (Sep) 1982 Elizabeth II TimociBavadra (1934–1989) 13 April 1987 14 May 1987 31 days Labour 1987 Elizabeth...
Melanesians became the majority. In April 1987, a coalition led by TimociBavadra, an ethnic Fijian who was nevertheless supported mostly by the Indo-Fijian...
military officials May 14, 1987: Sitiveni Rabuka overthrows Prime Minister TimociBavadra September 28, 1987: Sitiveni Rabuka overthrows Governor General Ratu...
Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka overthrew the government of Prime Minister TimociBavadra. After temporarily handing power to a council of ministers, in September...
which was deposed in the 2006 Fijian coup d'état. Her stepfather, TimociBavadra was briefly Prime Minister of Fiji in 1987, before being ousted in the...
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