Tevita Mara

Ratu Tevita Kapaiwai Lutunauga Uluilakeba Mara is a Fijian career soldier.

Biography

He held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel as of early 2006. On 3 February, he was named Army Chief of Staff, succeeding Colonel Meli Saubulinayau, who was a close relative of his. This position is the fourth highest in the Fijian Military, behind that of the Military Commander (Commodore Frank Bainimarama), Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff RFMF (Captain Esala Teleni) and the Land Force Commander (Lieutenant Colonel Pita Driti). Mara held the position for several months, before he was appointed Commanding Officer of the Third Infantry Regiment, a key position in the Fiji Army as he controls the infantry division, that has about 500 gun-carrying soldiers.{{cite book |title=The 2006 military takeover in Fiji: the coup to end all coups? |last=Firth |first=Stewart |author2=Fraenkel, Jon |year=2009 |publisher=ANU E Press |page=128 |isbn=9781921536519 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NoUxrbSlylYC&dq=%22Tevita+Mara%22&pg=PA128 |accessdate=27 December 2010}} He attended his staff course at Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College, Haigate, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2005 (Class 34/2005).

In May 2011 he was charged with mutiny and accused of attempting to overthrow Bainimarima's government. He fled Fiji on 9 May 2011{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/75278/bainimarama-seeks-to-extradite-fiji-army-officer |title=Bainimarama seeks to extradite Fiji army officer |publisher=RNZ |date=15 May 2011 |access-date=11 March 2023}} with the aid of the Royal Tongan Navy, and has been declared a fugitive by the Fijian government under the Extradition Act.{{cite web |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10725909 |title=Former Fiji army chief hits out at 'hateful dictatorship' |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=16 May 2011 |accessdate=16 May 2011}} Mara released a video on 14 May criticising Bainimarima and the Fijian Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.{{cite web |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/5007045/Fijian-strongman-demands-rebellious-colonels-return |title=Fijian strongman demands rebellious colonel's return |first=Michael |last=Field |work=stuff.co.nz |date=16 May 2011 |accessdate=16 May 2011}} He subsequently met with officials in Australia and New Zealand.{{cite web |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5316974/Exiled-Fijian-army-chief-meets-with-officials |title=Exiled Fijian army chief meets with officials |work=Stuff.co.nz |year=2011 |accessdate=31 July 2011}}{{cite web |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/5116373/Tevita-Mara-seeks-exemption-from-NZ-sanctions-ban |title=Tevita Mara seeks exemption from NZ sanctions ban |work=Stuff.co.nz |year=2011 |accessdate=31 July 2011}}

Mara is the only surviving son of the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Fiji's longtime Prime Minister and President.{{cite news |title=Fiji's Troubles |author=Rory Callinan |url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1563019,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061224234114/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1563019,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 December 2006 |newspaper=TIME |date=27 November 2006 |accessdate=27 December 2010}} He first joined the Army in 1988. His older brother, Ratu Finau Mara, has also served in the Army. His older sister, Adi Koila Nailatikau is married to the military-appointed President of Fiji, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau. Mara currently serves as an advisor to the King of Tonga, where he enjoys the privileges of a noble in the Pacific island kingdom.{{cite web |url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Ratu-Tevita-Uluilakeba-Mara-back-in-the-country-after-almost-12-years-r48xf5/ |title=Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara back in the country after almost 12 years |publisher=Fiji Village |date=11 March 2023 |access-date=11 March 2023}}

Mara returned to Fiji in March 2023, following the defeat of the Bainimarama regime in the 2022 Fijian general election. He was cleared of charges against him and accepted the hereditary title of Tui Lau as the only surviving son of the last title holder and as voted upon by the Vuanirewa Clan Tui Lau.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/486094/ratu-tevita-mara-to-confirm-if-he-will-be-next-tui-lau |title=Ratu Tevita Mara to confirm if he will be next Tui Lau |publisher=RNZ |date=16 March 2023 |access-date=16 March 2023}}

In July 2025 he was invested with the titles of Turaga Tui Nayau, Sau Ni Vanua Ko Lau and Tui Lau.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/566307/tonga-s-king-and-queen-in-fiji-for-historic-chiefly-investiture |title=Tonga's King and Queen in Fiji for historic chiefly investiture |publisher=RNZ |date=8 July 2025 |access-date=8 July 2025}}

He has only been married once and since divorced.