Fiji Labour Party Leader and former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, expressed that the late Dr. Tupeni Baba provided constant support and comfort to his colleagues during the upheaval in 2000.
Reflecting on Dr. Baba’s passing, Chaudhry mentioned that as his Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Baba kept in touch with him through notes, offering his opinions and advice on critical matters.
Chaudhry highlighted that Dr. Baba was a founding member of the Fiji Labour Party and served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Labour-led Government in 1999.
He also noted that Dr. Baba was Labour’s Minister for Education, Youth and Sports in the Bavadra Government of 1987, which was ousted after just a month in Fiji’s first coup staged by Sitiveni Rabuka.
Dr. Baba later separated from the Fiji Labour Party to form the New United Labour Party and contested the 2001 general election.
He was taken hostage in both the 1987 and 2000 coups.
On May 14, 1987, he was captured by Lt. Col. Rabuka and kept under house arrest for six days along with Dr. Bavadra and other Cabinet members.
During the 2000 coup, he was held hostage at gunpoint for 56 days along with Prime Minister Chaudhry and other ministers.
“In both coups, Dr. Baba showed remarkable courage and resilience, refusing to be intimidated by armed soldiers,” said Chaudhry.
“In the 2000 hostage crisis, even though we were separated along racial lines and kept in different locations, Dr. Baba managed to stay in touch with me on developments.”
“He had a pleasant and affable personality and was a staunch advocate for social justice. He chose not to contest the 1992 and 1994 general elections under the racially biased 1990 Constitution.”
“Dr. Baba made significant contributions to Labour’s early years and will be remembered for the lasting legacy he left behind,” Chaudhry stated.
“On behalf of the Fiji Labour Party, I extend our sincere condolences to his wife, Dr. Unaisi Nabobo-Baba, and other family members,” Chaudhry added.