Salesi Temo | |
---|---|
Chief Justice of Fiji | |
Assumed office 30 January 2023 Acting | |
Preceded by | Kamal Kumar |
Salesi Temo is a Fijian jurist. In January 2023 he was appointed acting Chief Justice of Fiji.
Temo worked as a magistrate,and played a prominent role in prosecutions following the 2000 Fijian coup d'état. [1] [2] [3] He continued in office after the 2006 Fijian coup d'état,and accepted reappointment following the military regime's abrogation of the 1997 Constitution of Fiji during the 2009 Fijian constitutional crisis. [4] In June 2009 he was appointed to the High Court of Fiji as an acting Puisne judge by the military regime. [5]
In September 2011 he criticised the New Zealand government for refusing to cooperate with Fiji's military regime or extradite people wanted for political offences by the dictatorship. [6]
On 30 January 2023 he was appointed acting chief justice following the suspension of Kamal Kumar for misbehaviour. [7] [8]
In October 2020,he was awarded the 50th Anniversary of Independence Medal for his services to the judiciary. [9]
Josaia Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama is a Fijian former politician and naval officer who served as the prime minister of Fiji from 2007 until 2022. A member of the FijiFirst party,which he founded in 2014,he began his career as an officer in the Fijian navy and commander of the Fijian military. Despite being suspended from Parliament,he served as the opposition leader from 24 December 2022 until 8 March 2023,when he resigned and was replaced by Inia Seruiratu.
The Fiji coup d'état of 2000 was a civilian coup d'état by hardline i-Taukei nationalists against the elected government of an Indo-Fijian Prime Minister,Mahendra Chaudhry on 19 May 2000. This was followed by an attempt on 27 May by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to assert executive authority,and then by a military coup on 29 May by Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama.
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Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto is a Fijian soldier,politician and former Cabinet Minister. After serving as Commander of the Republic of Fiji Navy,he was appointed as a Minister in the military regime of dictator Frank Bainimarama. He was later appointed commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces,before being elected to the Parliament of Fiji in December 2022.
In April 2009,Fiji underwent a constitutional crisis when the Court of Appeal ruled that the 2006 Fijian coup d'état had been illegal. The Court dismissed the Interim Cabinet led by Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama that had governed Fiji since the coup. However,President Josefa Iloilo announced on a nationwide radio broadcast that he was abrogating the Constitution. He dismissed all judges and constitutional appointees,and reinstated Bainimarama and his cabinet. He also instituted emergency rule which increased police powers and allowed media censorship.
Fiji's fourth constitution,the 2013 Constitution of Fiji,was signed into law by President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau on 6 September 2013,coming into effect immediately. It is the first to eliminate race-based electoral rolls,race-based seat quotas,district-based representation,the unelected upper chamber,and the role of the hereditary Council of Chiefs. It vests sole legislative authority in a single-chamber,50-seat,at-large Parliament,to be first convened following general elections in 2014. It is also the first ever to grant the right to multiple citizenship,and lowers the voting age to 18.
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