Josefa Iloilo
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Ratu Josefa Iloilo CF MBE MSD KStJ |
|
|---|---|
Josefa Iloilo
|
|
| President of Fiji | |
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In office 4 January 2007 – 30 July 2009 |
|
| Prime Minister | Frank Bainimarama (Acting) |
| Vice President | Epeli Nailatikau |
| Preceded by | Frank Bainimarama (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Epeli Nailatikau (Acting) |
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In office 13 July 2000 – 5 December 2006 |
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| Prime Minister |
Tevita Momoedonu Laisenia Qarase Tevita Momoedonu Laisenia Qarase |
| Vice President |
Jope Seniloli Joni Madraiwiwi |
| Preceded by | Kamisese Mara |
| Succeeded by | Frank Bainimarama (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
29 December 1920 Vuda, Ba, Fiji |
| Died | 6 February 2011 (aged 90) Suva, Fiji |
| Spouse(s) | Salaseini Kavunono |
| Profession | Teacher |
Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, CF, MBE, MSD, KStJ (29 December 1920 – 6 February 2011) was the President of Fiji from 2000 until 2009, excluding a brief period from 5 December 2006 until 4 January 2007 (see below). He held the traditional title of Tui Vuda, the paramount chief of the Vuda district in Ba Province on Fiji's northwest coast. Like many Fijian people, he rarely used his surname and was known simply as Josefa Iloilo. He announced on 28 July 2009 that he would be leaving office on 30 July. At the age of 88, he was the world's oldest head of state.
On 5 December 2006, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, seized power in a coup d'état and assumed presidential powers. This followed failed attempts on Iloilo's part to mediate a solution to the long-running impasse between the military and the government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase. However, his powers were restored by Bainimarama on 4 January 2007. Iloilo also endorsed Bainimarama's coup on the same day, in his first public address since the coup. He appointed Bainimarama as Prime Minister the following day.
After Fiji's Court of Appeal had ruled that the removal of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and the appointment of Fiji's interim regime following the military coup in 2006 was unlawful, on 10 April 2009 Iloilo dismissed the judges and abrogated the country's constitution. Iloilo claimed to have the "full support" of the security forces and directed the military to take "all reasonable steps" to maintain law and order.
After working as a teacher and civil service administrator, Iloilo later became a member of the House of Representatives. He subsequently served as a Senator in the 1990s, and was President of the Senate prior to his becoming Vice-President of Fiji on 18 January 1999. He was in this position under President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara in 1999 and 2000, when Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry's government was overthrown by Fijian nationalists led by George Speight in the Fiji coup of 2000. He was sworn in as President on 13 July 2000, but legal experts consider that he was constitutionally the President as of 29 May, the date on which Ratu Mara had been removed from office by the military, and to which his resignation in December that year had been backdated. Iloilo refused to intervene directly in the disputes among politicians, but quietly reached out to disaffected factions, including the Indo-Fijian community. In 2001, he persuaded the military to allow a return to democracy.
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