Finau Tabakaucoro
Encyclopedia
Adi
Finau Tamari Tabakaucoro is a Fiji
an politician, who served as Assistant Minister for Women, Culture, and Social Welfare in the interim Cabinet
formed by Laisenia Qarase
in the wake of the Fiji coup of 2000
. She held office till an elected government took power in September 2001. She stood as an independent candidate in the Tailevu South Lomaiviti
Open Constituency
in the 2001 election
, but was not successful.
Tabakaucoro is a member of the Tui Kaba clan, the royal family
of Tailevu
and of the Kubuna Confederacy
. She has been outspoken in her calls for the next Vunivalu of Bau
(generally recognized as Fiji's highest chiefly title) to be elected by the whole of the Tui Kaba clan, rather than appointed by a few elders.
escalated towards the end of 2006, Tabakaucoro called on the embattled government of Laisenia Qarase to resign. Fiji Live
quoted her on 3 December as calling for the appointment of an interim government that would implement the demands of the Military Commander, Commodore
Frank Bainimarama
. The government refused to resign, and after the Military seized power on 5 December, she blamed the government for failing to give way. The Fiji Times
quotes her as saying that the coup was going to happen anyway, as the government and the Military had been trying to communicate along parallel lines that would never meet. She excused the ousting of her close relative, Vice-President
Ratu
Joni Madraiwiwi
and his eviction from his official residence by the Military, saying that he had been resisting the demands of the Military and advocating a literal interpretation of the law.
, Cakaudrove and raised in the village of Nagigi. She was the second of four children. Her father, Ratu
Josefa Tabakaucoro (died 1993 aged 93), was from Ra
. During Tabakaucoro's childhood he would sell copra
to assist the family finances. Her mother, Eka (died 1992 aged 73), was a housewife. Finau Tabakaucoro has five children.
, Draiba Fijian School, Adi Cakobau School
and Suva Grammar School
. She studied history at the Victoria University of Wellington
from 1964-1967. To supplement her government scholarship she had several part-time jobs. She worked as a babysitter and a waitress. She was also employed in a candle shop and in a factory sewing headscarfs and pillowcases. After graduating, she undertook teacher training at Epsom Secondary Teachers College
.
Adi (title)
Adi is a title used by Fijian women of chiefly rank, namely female members of chiefly clans. It is the equivalent of the Ratu title used by male chiefs. It is in general use throughout most of Fiji, although on Kadavu Island, Bulou is used instead....
Finau Tamari Tabakaucoro is a Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an politician, who served as Assistant Minister for Women, Culture, and Social Welfare in the interim Cabinet
Cabinet (Fiji)
Fiji has the Westminster system - executive authority is vested nominally in a President, but exercised in practice by a Cabinet of Ministers, presided over by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is formally appointed, but not chosen, by the President: the President must appoint as Prime...
formed by Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase is a Fijian political figure. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. After the military quashed the coup that led to the removal of Mahendra Chaudhry, Qarase joined the Interim Military Government as a financial adviser on 9 June 2000, until his appointment...
in the wake of the Fiji coup of 2000
Fiji coup of 2000
The Fiji coup of 2000 was a complicated affair involving a civilian putsch by hardline Fijian nationalists against the elected government of a non-native Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, on 19 May 2000, the attempt by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to assert executive authority on 27 May, and...
. She held office till an elected government took power in September 2001. She stood as an independent candidate in the Tailevu South Lomaiviti
Tailevu South Lomaiviti (Open Constituency, Fiji)
Tailevu South Lomaiviti Open is an electoral division of Fiji, one of 25 open constituencies elected by universal suffrage . Like the other open electorates, it came into being in 1999 and was used for the parliamentary elections of 1999, 2001, and 2006...
Open Constituency
Open constituencies (Fiji)
Open constituencies represent one of several electoral models employed in the past and present in the Fijian electoral system. They derive their name from the fact that they are "open": unlike the communal constituencies, the 25 members of the House of Representatives who represent open...
in the 2001 election
Fiji election of 2001
The Constitution of Fiji was restored by a High Court decision on 15 November 2000, following the failure of the political upheaval in which the government had been deposed and the constitution suspended in May that year. On 1 March 2001, the Appeal Court upheld the decision. An election to...
, but was not successful.
Tabakaucoro is a member of the Tui Kaba clan, the royal family
Royal family
A royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term imperial family appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate to describe the relatives of a reigning...
of Tailevu
Tailevu
Tailevu is one of the 14 provinces of Fiji. One of eight Provinces based in Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island, its 755 square kilometers occupy the south-eastern fringe of the island, along with some central areas. At the 2007 census, the most recent to date, it had a population of 55,692, the...
and of the Kubuna Confederacy
Kubuna Confederacy
Kubuna is one of three confederacies which comprise Fiji's House of Chiefs, to which all of Fiji's chiefs belong.-Details of Kubuna:It consists of the provinces of Tailevu, Naitasiri, Lomaiviti, and parts of the western provinces of Ba, Ra...
. She has been outspoken in her calls for the next Vunivalu of Bau
Vunivalu of Bau
Turaga na Vunivalu ni Bau is the Paramount Chief of the Kubuna Confederacy, loosely translated the title means Warlord of Bau or Root of War. The succession to the title does not follow primogeniture, but the candidate must be a high ranking member of the Tui Kaba clan.-A brief history:The...
(generally recognized as Fiji's highest chiefly title) to be elected by the whole of the Tui Kaba clan, rather than appointed by a few elders.
2006 coup d'état
As the tension between the Fijian government and the MilitaryMilitary of Fiji
The Republic of Fiji Military Forces are the military of the Pacific island nation of Fiji. With a total manpower of 3,500 active soldiers and 6,000 reservists, it is one of the smallest militaries in the world. However, most of its surrounding island nations have no militaries at all...
escalated towards the end of 2006, Tabakaucoro called on the embattled government of Laisenia Qarase to resign. Fiji Live
Fiji Live
Fijilive is an online newspaper and business and cultural directory in Fiji. The site is owned by the Future Group of Companies owned by Fiji entrepreneur Yashwant Gaunder....
quoted her on 3 December as calling for the appointment of an interim government that would implement the demands of the Military Commander, Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
Frank Bainimarama
Frank Bainimarama
Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, CF, MSD, OStJ, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by the chiefly title Ratu , is a Fijian naval officer and politician. He is the Commander of the Fijian Military Forces and, as of April 2009, Prime Minister...
. The government refused to resign, and after the Military seized power on 5 December, she blamed the government for failing to give way. The Fiji Times
Fiji Times
The Fiji Times is a daily English-language newspaper published in Suva, Fiji. Established in Levuka on 4 September 1869, it is Fiji's oldest newspaper still operating....
quotes her as saying that the coup was going to happen anyway, as the government and the Military had been trying to communicate along parallel lines that would never meet. She excused the ousting of her close relative, Vice-President
Vice-President of Fiji
The Fijian vice-presidency is a mostly ceremonial office. The position was created in 1990, to provide a constitutional successor to the President, in the event of the latter's death or resignation, or of his otherwise being unable to carry out his duties...
Ratu
Ratu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
Joni Madraiwiwi
Joni Madraiwiwi
Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi is a Fijian lawyer, politician and was the Vice-President of Fiji from 2004 to 2006. He was sworn in on 10 January 2005, following his nomination by President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo and his subsequent approval by the Great Council of Chiefs on 15 December 2004...
and his eviction from his official residence by the Military, saying that he had been resisting the demands of the Military and advocating a literal interpretation of the law.
Personal Life
Tabakaucoro was born in SavusavuSavusavu
Savusavu is a town in the Fijian Province of Cakaudrove. The town is located on the south coast of Vanua Levu Island and had a population of 3,372 in the 2007 census.Savusavu is known as "the hidden paradise of Fiji."- Geography :...
, Cakaudrove and raised in the village of Nagigi. She was the second of four children. Her father, Ratu
Ratu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
Josefa Tabakaucoro (died 1993 aged 93), was from Ra
Ra Province
Ra is one of the fourteen provinces of Fiji. Occupying the northern area of Viti Levu, the largest island, it is one of eight Viti Levu-based Provinces. With a land area of 1341 square kilometers, it had a population of 29,464 at the 2007 census, the last to date...
. During Tabakaucoro's childhood he would sell copra
Copra
Copra is the dried meat, or kernel, of the coconut. Coconut oil extracted from it has made copra an important agricultural commodity for many coconut-producing countries. It also yields coconut cake which is mainly used as feed for livestock.-Production:...
to assist the family finances. Her mother, Eka (died 1992 aged 73), was a housewife. Finau Tabakaucoro has five children.
Education
Tabakaucoro attended Navatu district School in NasinuNasinu
Nasinu is an urban area on the island Viti Levu in Fiji. It is officially designated a "Town" despite its population . Nasinu is the most populous municipality in Fiji, having overtaken that of Suva , and is one of Fiji's fastest-growing towns...
, Draiba Fijian School, Adi Cakobau School
Adi Cakobau School
Adi Cakobau School in Fiji was founded in 1948 by the Fijian government as a boarding school to provide a "refined" intermediate education for Fijian girls of rank. It was named for King Cakobau's great-grand daughter. It became a full fledged secondary school in 1954. Its English language...
and Suva Grammar School
Suva Grammar School
Suva Grammar School, is a secondary school in Suva, Fiji.The school caters for forms 3 to 7 and has a school population of about 1000 students...
. She studied history at the Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
from 1964-1967. To supplement her government scholarship she had several part-time jobs. She worked as a babysitter and a waitress. She was also employed in a candle shop and in a factory sewing headscarfs and pillowcases. After graduating, she undertook teacher training at Epsom Secondary Teachers College
Auckland College of Education
Auckland College of Education was a college of education located in Auckland, New Zealand. On 1 September 2004 it amalgamated with the University of Auckland and formed a new Faculty of Education with the university’s School of Education.-History:...
.