Word: ganilau
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...military strongman seized control hours after Governor-General Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, who represents Queen Elizabeth II in the former British colony, announced an interim solution to the Pacific island chain's political problems. Ganilau proposed a caretaker government consisting of all major political groups pending new elections. But Rabuka said he would accept nothing less than permanent political control by ethnic Fijians, who constitute 47% of the population while ethnic Indians make...
...confusion over who exactly was in control in the islands. Early in the week army officers freed deposed Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra and the 27 members of his government. The release was part of a careful plan negotiated between Rabuka and Fiji's Governor-General, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, who is an independent Commonwealth official representing Queen Elizabeth II. Ganilau had stood firm against the coup, declaring a state of emergency and ordering the troops to return to their barracks. When they refused, he began negotiations with Rabuka, who had appointed himself chairman of the Council of Ministers. But when...
...Governor-General then proposed a new scheme to bring the crisis to the "speediest possible conclusion." He suggested dissolving Parliament and organizing new elections. He also proposed a council of advisers to study the 1970 constitution and suggest changes. With no one clearly in command, Ganilau said he should become the temporary head of government...
...Great Council of Chiefs discussed the proposals for four days before accepting most of them. A 19-member advisory council was formed to help Ganilau run the country and review the constitution. New elections will be held within six months. Said Ganilau: "We are all eager to put everything behind us immediately so that we can return to the style of life and freedom that have characterized our nation...
...week's end, when Indian shopkeepers and workers went on strike to protest the coup, Rabuka abolished trade unions. He simply ignored the Governor General, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, the representative of Queen Elizabeth as Fiji's head of state, who declared a state of emergency to meet an "unprecedented situation which must not be allowed to continue...