Tupou Draunidalo
Encyclopedia
Tupou Draunidalo is a Fiji
an lawyer
. On 9 September 2006, she was elected Vice-President of the Fiji Law Society
, defeating Rajesh Gordon. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/09/10/10fijilive01.html http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/09/09/09Fijilive0904.html
sworn in on 8-9 January 2007. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_35082.shtml
She was arrested by soldiers in civilian clothes http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/30/30Fijilive04.html at a Sigatoka
hotel on 30 January. Apprehended at the same hotel was another government critic, Angie Heffernan
, Director of the Pacific Centre for Public Integrity, http://www.fijiworldnews.com/news/publish/News_1/Activists_Caught_-_Digitaki_Sought_for_Statement.shtml to which Draunidalo also belongs. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/31/fijilive17.html Both women were taken in for interrogation by the Military and police. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_35509.shtml
Senior Superintendent of Police Jahir Khan
said that Draunidalo had been questioned with respect to possible sedition
charges, but had been released for lack of evidence. Colonel
Pita Driti
, the Military's Land Force Commander, revealed that military officers had found Draunidalo by accident while searching for someone else, but arrested her for having "incited the public to oppose the military led government". http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/31/fijilive17.html
The next day, Draunidalo denied Khan and Driti's version of events, saying that she had voluntarily asked to be interviewed by officers. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_35571.shtml
Kuini Speed
, a Paramount Chief
from Nadroga-Navosa
and former Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji, whose government was deposed in 2000 in a civilian coup orchestrated by George Speight
, and her first husband, Savenaca Draunidalo
, a Cabinet Minister
in the government of Laisenia Qarase
, which was deposed in a military coup
on 5 December 2006. Her stepfather, Timoci Bavadra
(the second husband of her mother) was briefly Prime Minister of Fiji
in 1987, before being ousted in a military coup by Sitiveni Rabuka
.
Draunidalo herself was a candidate for the Fijian Association Party
(FAP) in the parliamentary election
of 2001. She contested the Laucala
Open Constituency
and polled only 248 votes out of more than 11,500 votes cast.
Draunidalo was educated at Draiba, Veiuto Primary, Suva Grammar, Canberra Girls' Grammar School
, the University of the South Pacific
and the Australian National University
.
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 lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. On 9 September 2006, she was elected Vice-President of the Fiji Law Society
Fiji Law Society
The Fiji Law Society is the official body that registers and regulates the activity of all lawyers in Fiji. Devanesh Sharma was elected to replace Graeme Leung as President of the Fiji Law Society on 9 September 2006, and as such he holds membership ex officio on the Judicial Service Commission...
, defeating Rajesh Gordon. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/09/10/10fijilive01.html http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/09/09/09Fijilive0904.html
Political activism and arrest
Draunidalo condemned the 2006 coup and threatened a possible court challenge to the legitimacy of the interim CabinetCabinet (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...
sworn in on 8-9 January 2007. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_35082.shtml
She was arrested by soldiers in civilian clothes http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/30/30Fijilive04.html at a Sigatoka
Sigatoka
For the banana disease, see Black sigatoka.Sigatoka is a town in Fiji. It is found on the island of Viti Levu and is situated at the mouth of the Sigatoka River, after which it is named, some 69 kilometers from Nadi. In Fiji's last census the population of Sigatoka was at 9622...
hotel on 30 January. Apprehended at the same hotel was another government critic, Angie Heffernan
Angie Heffernan
Angenette Heffernan is a Fijian human rights and democracy activist and Executive Director of the Pacific Centre for Public Integrity . Prior to PCPI she was a prominent regional environmental political campaigner for Greenpeace Australia for eight years...
, Director of the Pacific Centre for Public Integrity, http://www.fijiworldnews.com/news/publish/News_1/Activists_Caught_-_Digitaki_Sought_for_Statement.shtml to which Draunidalo also belongs. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/31/fijilive17.html Both women were taken in for interrogation by the Military and police. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_35509.shtml
Senior Superintendent of Police Jahir Khan
Jahir Khan
Mohammed Jahir Khan is a senior Fijian police officer of Indian descent. As of January 2007, he holds the position of Senior Superintendent. He resigned from the Fiji Police force to take up his new post in Solomon Islands as the new Police Commissioner in May 2007, a position which he held until...
said that Draunidalo had been questioned with respect to possible sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
charges, but had been released for lack of evidence. Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Pita Driti
Pita Driti
Lieutenant Colonel Pita Driti is a Fijian soldier. As of January 2007, he serves as the Land Force Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, the third most senior position in the Military...
, the Military's Land Force Commander, revealed that military officers had found Draunidalo by accident while searching for someone else, but arrested her for having "incited the public to oppose the military led government". http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/31/fijilive17.html
The next day, Draunidalo denied Khan and Driti's version of events, saying that she had voluntarily asked to be interviewed by officers. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_35571.shtml
Background
Draunidalo hails from a politically active family that is no stranger to upheaval. She is the daughter of the late AdiAdi (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....
Kuini Speed
Kuini Speed
Adi Kuini Teimumu Vuikaba Speed was a Fijian chief and politician, who served as Deputy Prime Minister in 1999 and 2000....
, a Paramount 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"...
from Nadroga-Navosa
Nadroga-Navosa
NADROGA NAVOSA is one of the fourteen provinces of Fiji, and one of eight based in Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island. It is about 2,385 square kilometers and occupies the South-West and Central areas of Viti Levu, Fiji's largest and principal island. The province includes the Mamanuca Archipelago,...
and former Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji, whose government was deposed in 2000 in a civilian coup orchestrated by George Speight
George 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...
, and her first husband, Savenaca Draunidalo
Savenaca Draunidalo
Savenaca Uluibau Draunidalo , known sometimes by his chiefly title of Ratu, was a Fijian politician, who served in the Cabinet from 2001 to 2006, when a military coup ended his ministerial career. He died in a fishing accident on 22 December 2007, when his outboard boat capsized and hit him...
, a Cabinet Minister
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...
in the government of 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...
, which was deposed in a military coup
2006 Fijian coup d'état
The Fijian coup d'état of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and 2005-2006 Fijian political crisis....
on 5 December 2006. Her stepfather, Timoci Bavadra
Timoci Bavadra
Timoci Uluivuda Bavadra was a medical doctor who served for one month as the second Prime Minister of Fiji in 1987 and who founded the Fiji Labour Party....
(the second husband of her mother) was briefly Prime Minister of Fiji
Prime Minister of Fiji
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji is the head of government of Fiji. The Prime Minister was appointed by the President under the terms of the now-suspended 1997 constitution....
in 1987, before being ousted in a military coup by Sitiveni Rabuka
Sitiveni Rabuka
Major-General Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, OBE, MSD, OStJ, is best known as the instigator of two military coups that shook Fiji in 1987. He was later democratically elected the third Prime Minister, serving from 1992 to 1999...
.
Draunidalo herself was a candidate for the Fijian Association Party
Fijian Association Party
The Fijian Association Party is a former political party in Fiji. It played a significant role in Fijian politics throughout the 1990s, but lost all of its seats in the House of Representatives in the parliamentary election of 2001....
(FAP) in the parliamentary 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...
of 2001. She contested the Laucala
Laucala (Open Constituency, Fiji)
Laucala 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...
and polled only 248 votes out of more than 11,500 votes cast.
Draunidalo was educated at Draiba, Veiuto Primary, Suva Grammar, Canberra Girls' Grammar School
Canberra Girls' Grammar School
Canberra Girls' Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school predominantly for girls, located in Deakin, a suburb of Canberra, the capital of Australia....
, the University of the South Pacific
University of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific is a public university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting students...
and the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
.