Fiji Labour Party leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, praised the late Dr. Tupeni Baba for his remarkable strength and resilience during two significant coups in Fiji—1987 and 2000.
On May 14, 1987, Dr. Baba was taken captive by Lt. Col. Sitiveni Rabuka and placed under house arrest for six days alongside Dr. Bavadra and other cabinet members.
In the 2000 coup, he endured a 56-day hostage ordeal at gunpoint along with then-Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, other ministers, and members.
“During both coups, Dr. Baba demonstrated exceptional courage and remained undeterred by the armed soldiers,” Mr. Chaudhry remarked in a tribute to the late politician and academic.
“In the 2000 hostage situation, despite being separated along racial lines and held in different locations, Dr. Baba managed to communicate with me about ongoing developments.”
“He was a continuous source of strength and reassurance for his colleagues. As my Deputy PM, he kept in touch through notes, offering his insights and advice on critical matters.”
“Dr. Baba had a congenial and pleasant nature and was a staunch advocate of 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 his lasting legacy.”
Dr. Baba, a founding member of the Fiji Labour Party, served as Deputy PM and Minister for Foreign Affairs under Mr. Chaudhry’s Labour-led government. He was also the Minister for Education, Youth, and Sports in the 1987 Bavadra Government, which was ousted after one month by Mr. Rabuka’s first coup.
Later, Dr. Baba parted ways with the Fiji Labour Party and established the New United Labour Party to contest the 2001 general election.