Fiji Coup of 2000
This is a timeline of the coup in Fiji in 2000.
May 19, 2000
May 20, 2000
==May 26, 2000
- Fifteen soldiers and two officers defect to the coup.
May 27, 2000
- The rebels try and break the siege. Gunfire is exchanged.
- Mahendra Chaudhry sacked as Prime Minister by the President, upon the order of the Great Council of Chiefs, and offers Speight a pardon. The offer is rejected.
May 29, 2000
- Commodore Frank Bainimarama declares himself President of Fiji, with the backing of the previous president, and declares martial law. Epeli Nailatikau is named interim Prime Minister.
June 7, 2000
- Fiji is suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations.
June 20, 2000
- Speight rejects an ultimatum demanding he signs an accord.
July 4, 2000
- Laisenia Qarase made interim Prime Minister.
July 6, 2000
- Rebels cut off Suva's power supply.
July 7, 2000
- Rebels overrun an army based on Vanua Levy
- Gunfire between rebels and military in Suva
July 9, 2000
- Speight and the military sign an accord.
- There is rioting in Levuka
July 12, 2000
- Speight's group release 9 hostages.
July 13, 2000
- Chaudry and the other hostages are released. Josefa Iloilo named as interim President. Jope Seniloli is vice President.
July 27, 2000
- Speight is arrested.
November 2000
- A Fijian court rules that the Iloilo government is illegal, and that Mahendra Chaudry is still Prime Minister.
