Ratu Ovini Bokini Ratu (born 3 November 1944) is a Fijian chief and political leader. Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank An equivalent title Adi (andi is used by females of chiefly rank Events 644 - Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Muslim Caliph, is killed by a Persian slave in Medina. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Fiji (Matanitu ko Viti फ़िजी officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank An equivalent title Adi (andi is used by females of chiefly rank Bokini, who holds the chiefly title of Tui Tavua, succeeded Ratu Epeli Ganilau as Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs on 21 July 2004, and was reelected to this post for a full three-year term on 27 July 2005. Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank An equivalent title Adi (andi is used by females of chiefly rank Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Ganilau, MC, MSD, (born 10 October 1951) is a Fijian soldier and statesman who The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a formal assembly of Fiji 's senior hereditary chiefs, along with The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a now dormant 1997 constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 1214 - Battle of Bouvines: In France, Philip II of France defeats John of England. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Like many Fijian people, he rarely uses his surname, Ratu. Fijian people are the major indigenous people of the Fiji Islands, and live in an area informally called Melanesia. Naming conventions in Fiji differ greatly both between and within ethnic groups in Fiji
A formal gathering of mostly traditional chiefs chosen by the country's 14 provincial councils, along with some appointees of the national government and the Council of Rotuma, the Great Council of Chiefs functions as an electoral college to select Fiji's President, along with 14 of the 32 members of the Senate. Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank An equivalent title Adi (andi is used by females of chiefly rank The Council of Rotuma is a Municipal body on the island of Rotuma, a Fijian dependency Fiji 's Head of State is the President of the Republic of the Fiji Islands. The Senate of Fiji is the upper chamber of Parliament. It is the less powerful of the two chambers it may not initiate legislation but may amend or veto it Informally, the Council advises the Fijian government on every aspect of political life. Although not mandated by the Constitution, the Chairman's role is therefore a very influential one. The Constitution of Fiji is the supreme law of Fiji. Background The Constitution of the Republic of the Fiji Islands dates from 1997
During late April 2007, all members of G. C. C were suspended by the Interim Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama. The suspension included the Chairman, Ratu Ovini Bokini and all other members of G. C. C after the President's nomination for the Vice-President position was rejected by some G. C. C members.
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Unusual appointment
Bokini was chosen to fill this position after his predecessor, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, had become embroiled in political controversy, calling for the resignation of the then-Vice President, Ratu Jope Seniloli (who has since been convicted of treason for his role in the coup d'état that deposed the elected government in 2000), and proposing the revival of the country's former ruling political party, the Alliance Party, as a multi-racial party, hinting that he would play a role in it. The Fijian vice-presidency is a mostly ceremonial office The position was created in 1990, to provide a constitutional successor to the President, Ratu Jope Naucabalavu Seniloli (born 1939) is a Fijian chief who holds the title of Turaga Taukei Naua and who In Law, treason is the Crime that covers some of the more serious acts of disloyalty to one's sovereign or Nation. The Fiji coup of 2000 was a complicated affair involving a civilian Putsch by hardline Fijian nationalists against the elected government of Prime 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. The Alliance Party was the ruling political party in Fiji from 1966 to 1987 Many politicians feared that Ganilau was compromising the neutrality of the Council, and it is thought that government pressure played a role in the decision of the Cakaudrove Provincial Council to replace him as their representative with someone less controversial. Without membership of the Council, Ganilau was ineligible to serve as its Chairman.
The sentencing of Vice-President Seniloli to four years' imprisonment for treason on August 6, 2004 created fears of a possible power vacuum should anything happen to the ailing 83-year old President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo. Events 1538 - Bogotá, Colombia, is founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Fiji 's Head of State is the President of the Republic of the Fiji Islands. Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, CF, MBE, MSD, KStJ, (born December 29, 1920) has been the President Constitutional experts, however, said that as Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs, Ratu Bokini could choose to assume the role of Vice-President in an interim capacity. These fears turned out to be unnecessary, as Seniloli resigned on 29 November, paving the way for President Iloilo to nominate, and the Great Council to approve, Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi as the new Vice-President on 15 December. Events 1777 - San Jose California, is founded as el Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi (born 1957 was the Vice-President of Fiji from 2004 to 2006 Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of
Position on the Unity Bill
On 18 May 2005, Bokini complained that the Great Council of Chiefs had not been consulted, or even officially informed, about the government's controversial legislation to establish a Reconciliation and Unity Commission with the power, subject to presidential approval, to compensate victims and pardon perpetrators of the 2000 coup. Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Reconciliation and Unity Commission is a proposed government body to be set up if the Reconciliation Tolerance and Unity Bill which was introduced into the Fijian Fiji 's Head of State is the President of the Republic of the Fiji Islands. Attempts by the Great Council to obtain a copy of the bill for study and discussion had come to nothing, he said. On 30 May, in a speech to mark Ratu Sukuna Day in honour of Fiji's first modern statesman, Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, he cautioned that reconciliation was not something that could be forced or one-sided. Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day (commonly known as Ratu Sukuna Day) is a national public holiday in Fiji. Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna ( 22 April 1888 - 30 May 1958) was a Fijian chief scholar soldier and statesman "It must be allowed to grow through a shared understanding of what we all want and where we are all heading," he said. Only with good leadership and the support and goodwill of other ethnic groups could indigenous Fijians seriously negotiate about what to give and what to take - a process that would take time and patience. Fijian people are the major indigenous people of the Fiji Islands, and live in an area informally called Melanesia. He proposed the Fijian language as a common bond to unite Fiji's diverse ethnic communities, saying that especially in rural areas, Fijian was widely used as a common language. Fijian is an Austronesian language of the Malayo-Polynesian family spoken in Fiji.
Later, however, he came out strongly in favour of the Unity Bill.
2006 coup d'état
Bokini condemned the 2006 Fijian coup d'état, which overthrew the government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase. 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 As a former British colony, Fiji has largely adopted British political models and follows the Westminster, or Cabinet system of government in which the Laisenia Qarase (born February 4, 1941) served as the Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006 Bokini said that the Great Council of Chiefs would refuse to recognize the interim government appointed by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF with a total manpower of 3500 men is one of the smallest militaries in the world (source) He angrily denounced his predecessor, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, who claimed to sympathize with the motives though not the method of the coup, for claiming to be mediating between the Great Council of Chiefs and the Military. "I never made a request to meet the commander. Whoever said that is lying. I don't intend to see the commander. He has to make a request to me if he wants to meet me," Bokini declared. (source)
On December 7, 300 villagers blocked the entrance to Tavualevu Village, in response to a rumor that the military was coming to arrest Bokini, a rumour the army quickly denied. Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways (source)
Background and career
Bokini hails from the village of Tavualevu and holds the chiefly title of Tui Tavua, as Paramount Chief of the Tavua District of Ba Province. Ba is a province of Fiji, occupying the north-western sector of Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island He is the son of Ratu Etuate Bokini Ratu and Adi Sereima Lalavanua. He held various positions of employment in the Fiji Sugar Corporation before joining Fiji's House of Representatives. Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC is the Government-owned sugar milling company in Fiji having the monopoly on production of all raw sugar in Fiji He was a member of the House of Representatives in the 1990s, and also served in the Cabinet, holding a variety of portfolios. The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Fiji's Parliament. The 1990s collectively refers to the years between and including 1990 and 1999 Fiji has the Westminster system - executive authority is vested nominally in a President, but exercised in practice by a Cabinet of Ministers presided In addition to chairing the Great Council of Chiefs, he has also served as Chairman of the Ba Provincial Council. Ba is a province of Fiji, occupying the north-western sector of Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island Fiji is divided administratively into four divisions which are further subdivided into fourteen Provinces Each division is headed by a Commissioner He still holds both positions.
Bokini is married to Tavo Bokini,{who is from Mavana, a quaint little village in Vanuabalavu, Lau} with whom he has four children and are still married to date.
| Preceded by Ratu Epeli Ganilau |
Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs 2004-Mid April, 2007 |
Succeeded by Frank Bainimarama |
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