Kolinio Rokotuinaceva
Encyclopedia
Ratu
Kolinio Rokotunaceva (1936 - 14 June 2008 http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=92313) was a Fiji
an chief
and politician, who served as a Senator
from 2001 to 2006 as one of 14 nominees of the Great Council of Chiefs
. He held the traditional title of Tui Levuka.
Prior to his appointment to the Senate, Rokotunaceva served as Assistant Minister for Education in the interim Cabinet
formed by Laisenia Qarase
in the wake of the Fiji coup of 2000
. He held office till an elected government took power in September 2001.
reportedly tried to kidnap Rokotunaceva in early July 2000. The failed abduction reportedly coincided with the burning down of Levuka
's historic Masonic
lodge, the oldest in the South Pacific.
Rokotunaceva was known for his outspoken opinions. On 28 October 2001, the Fiji Sunday Times reported that he had strongly opposed Australia
n proposals to bring asylum-seekers from Afghanistan
to an island in the Lomaiviti group for processing. Fiji's racial mix was already complicated enough, he claimed. Children born during the application-processing period would be constitutionally
entitled to Fijian citizenship
, he said, creating a legal crisis. He drew attention to the historical arrival of the first India
n cane-cutters, many of whom were never repatriated. "We have enough problems to deal with right now," he declared.
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"...
Kolinio Rokotunaceva (1936 - 14 June 2008 http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=92313) was 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 chief
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"...
and politician, who served as a Senator
Senate (Fiji)
The Senate of Fiji is the upper chamber of Parliament. It is the less powerful of the two chambers; it may not initiate legislation, but may amend or veto it. The Senate's powers over financial bills are more restricted: it may veto them in their entirety, but may not amend them...
from 2001 to 2006 as one of 14 nominees of the Great Council of Chiefs
Great Council of Chiefs (Fiji)
The Great Council of Chiefs is a now dormant 1997 constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. In April 2007 the council was suspended, due to an unworkable relationship with Frank Bainimarama, leader of an "interim government" which came to power through a military coup in December 2006...
. He held the traditional title of Tui Levuka.
Prior to his appointment to the Senate, Rokotunaceva served as Assistant Minister for Education 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...
. He held office till an elected government took power in September 2001.
Experiences and opinions
During the coup crisis, rebels supporting insurrectionist George SpeightGeorge Speight
George Speight , occasionally known as Ilikimi Naitini, was the principal instigator of the Fiji coup of 2000, in which he kidnapped thirty-six government officials and held them from May 19, 2000 to July 13, 2000...
reportedly tried to kidnap Rokotunaceva in early July 2000. The failed abduction reportedly coincided with the burning down of Levuka
Levuka
Levuka is a town on the eastern coast of the Fijian island of Ovalau, in Lomaiviti Province, in the Eastern Division of Fiji. It was formerly the Capital of Fiji. At the census in 2007, the last to date, Levuka town had a population of 1,131 , about half of Ovalau's 8,360 inhabitants...
's historic Masonic
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
lodge, the oldest in the South Pacific.
Rokotunaceva was known for his outspoken opinions. On 28 October 2001, the Fiji Sunday Times reported that he had strongly opposed Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n proposals to bring asylum-seekers from Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
to an island in the Lomaiviti group for processing. Fiji's racial mix was already complicated enough, he claimed. Children born during the application-processing period would be constitutionally
Constitution of Fiji
The 1997 Constitution of Fiji was the supreme law of Fiji from its adoption in 1997 until 2009 when President Josefa Iloilo purported to abrogate it. It was also suspended for a period following the 2000 coup d'état led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama....
entitled to Fijian citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
, he said, creating a legal crisis. He drew attention to the historical arrival of the first India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n cane-cutters, many of whom were never repatriated. "We have enough problems to deal with right now," he declared.