Tupeni Baba
{{Short description|Fijian academic and politician (1942–2024)|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Tupeni Baba
| honorific-suffix =
| image = Tupeni Baba 2022.jpg
| caption = Baba in 2022
| office =
| primeminister =
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| term_start4 =
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| office6 = Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji
| primeminister6 = Mahendra Chaudhry
| alongside6 = Kuini Speed
| term_start6 = May 1999
| term_end6 = 19 May 2000
| predecessor6 =
| successor6 =
| primeminister7 = Laisenia Qarase
| office8 = Minister for Foreign Affairs
| primeminister8 =
| term_start8 = 1999
| term_end8 = 19 May 2000
| predecessor8 = Berenado Vunibobo
| successor8 = Kaliopate Tavola
| office9 = Minister for Education, Youth, and Sport
| primeminister9 = Timoci Bavadra
| term_start9 = April 1987
| term_end9 = 14 May 1987
| predecessor9 =
| successor9 =
| constituency_MP10 = Samabula Tamavua Open
| parliament10 = Fijian
| term_start10 = 15 May 1999
| term_end10 = 1 September 2001
| predecessor10 = None (constituency established)
| successor10 = Manoa Dobui
| constituency_MP11 = Suva Fijian
| parliament11 = Fijian
| term_start11 = 11 April 1987
| term_end11 = 14 May 1987
| predecessor11 = David Toganivalu
| successor11 = None (Constitution abrogated)
| majority11 =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1942|06|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = Colony of Fiji
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|07|14|1942|06|14|df=y}}
| death_place =
| party = Fiji Labour Party
New Labour Unity Party
Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua
Social Democratic Liberal Party
| alma_mater =
| website =
}}
Tupeni Lebaivalu Baba (14 June 1942 – 14 July 2024) was a Fijian academic, politician, and Cabinet Minister. A founding member of the Fiji Labour Party, he served as a Cabinet Minister in the government of Timoci Bavadra until removed from office by the 1987 Fijian coups d'état, and then one of the two Deputy Prime Ministers in the government of Mahendra Chaudhry{{cite web |title=Timeline |url=https://www.fijilabourparty.org/about-4 |website=Fiji Labour Party |language=en}} until removed from office by the 2000 Fijian coup d'état. After splitting with Choudhry in the wake of the coup, he founded the New Labour Unity Party to contest the 2001 election, but failed to win a seat in Parliament. He unsuccessfully attempting to re-enter politics at the 2006 election under the banner of the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua, and again at the 2014 election as part of the Social Democratic Liberal Party.
When not in politics, Baba pursued an academic career, first at the University of the South Pacific, then at the University of Auckland's Centre for Pacific Studies, and later at the University of Fiji.
Early life
Baba was born on 14 June 1942.[https://books.google.com/books?id=Q3JmAAAAMAAJ&q=Tupeni+Lebaivalu+Baba+14+June+1942 Profile of Tupeni Lebaivalu Baba] He was educated at the University of Sydney, graduating with a master's degree in education, before working as an education lecturer at the University of the South Pacific.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-338111117/view?sectionId=nla.obj-341610587 |title=Fiji's younger and smaller cabinet |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=58 |issue=6 |page=20 |date=1 June 1987 |access-date=10 April 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} He later obtained a PhD from Macquarie University in Australia, and while there was highly critical of South Pacific Commission, attacking it as a colonial organisation.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-335671033/view?sectionId=nla.obj-340113174 |title=EDUCATION: NEW PARTNERSHIP WANTED IN ISLANDS |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=49 |issue=2 |pages=10–13 |date=1 February 1978 |access-date=13 April 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} He was later appointed registrar at USP, but resigned from the position in December 1984 to return to a teaching role.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-335163469/view?sectionId=nla.obj-339981394 |title=People |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=56 |issue=5 |page=29 |date=1 May 1985 |access-date=13 April 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-335196084/view?sectionId=nla.obj-340013714 |title=People |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=56 |issue=9 |page=53 |date=1 September 1985 |access-date=13 April 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}}
Political career
File:Tupeni Baba (cropped).jpg
Baba was a founding member of the Fiji Labour Party and in 1986 was its vice-president.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-335543010/view?sectionId=nla.obj-340054737 |title=SUVA INDEPENDENTS TO JOIN LABOUR? |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=57 |issue=3 |page=9 |date=1 March 1986 |access-date=13 April 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} He ran as a candidate for the Labour-National Federation Party Coalition at the 1987 Fijian general election and was elected to the House of Representatives of Fiji in the Suva Fijian constituency, defeating Deputy Prime Minister David Toganivalu.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-338105543/view?sectionId=nla.obj-341603580 |title=FIJI ELECTIONS Mara Government defeated |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=58 |issue=5 |page=10 |date=1 May 1987 |access-date=13 April 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} Timoci Bavadra was appointed prime minister, and Baba was appointed Minister of Education, Youth, and Sports in his Cabinet. A month later, the new government was deposed in the first of the 1987 Fijian coups d'état led by Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka. In the aftermath of the coup, he campaigned in Australia{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-338121268/view?sectionId=nla.obj-356592687 |title=Ousted Fijian Ministers will "continue the fight" |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=58 |issue=7 |page=40 |date=1 July 1987 |access-date=13 April 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} and flew to London in an effort to gain support for the ousted government.{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118296248 |title=Five union men detained |work=Canberra Times |page=5 |date=6 June 1987 |access-date=13 April 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} He was later part of the ousted government's efforts to negotiate a peaceful return to democracy through the Rabuka regime's constitutional review committee.{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118143725 |title=FIJI Former coalition members give hope of peaceful solution |work=Canberra Times |page=5 |date=14 July 1987 |access-date=13 April 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}}
Baba returned to his academic career at the University of the South Pacific, where he remained until 1999, when he was again elected to Parliament and became Foreign Minister and one of two Deputy Prime Ministers in the government of Mahendra Chaudhry.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-346164323/view?sectionId=nla.obj-346994566 |title=Chaudhry's Multi-Party Cabinet (as at May 21, 1999) |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=69 |issue=6 |page=29 |date=1 June 1999 |access-date=13 April 2023 |via=National Library of Australia}} During the 2000 Fijian coup d'état in which most members of the government were kidnapped by George Speight, Baba's courage as one of the hostages earned him considerable public respect.
Following the coup tensions within the Labour Party caused a split.{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/power-battle-looming-for-mahendra-chaudhry/5Q66QOT2T6G52BHP3J5SO76IHE/ |title=Power battle looming for Mahendra Chaudhry |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=19 January 2001 |access-date=15 April 2023}} When the Court of Appeal of Fiji legally overturned the coup in its decision on Republic of Fiji Islands v Prasad, Baba was promoted as the potential leader of a government of national unity from the reconvened parliament.{{cite journal |url=https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/eb9950f3-e80c-431f-a635-e407836e3211/content |title=Fiji in Review: Issues and Events, 2001 |last1=Tarte |first1=Sandra |journal=The Contemporary Pacific |volume=14 |issue=2 |year=2002 |pages=439–446 |doi=10.1353/cp.2002.0070 |hdl=10125/13236 |access-date=15 April 2023 |hdl-access=free }}{{rp|441}} Choudhry instead advised President Josefa Iloilo to dissolve parliament and call an election to re-establish constitutional rule.{{rp|441}} Baba then announced he was forming a new political party to contest the 2001 election.{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/politicians-form-alliances-in-lead-up-to-fiji-election/QBZVNPXZKAD2LNG4WTFTY65CJ4/ |title=Politicians form alliances in lead up to Fiji election |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=17 May 2001 |access-date=15 April 2023}} He subsequently launched the New Labour Unity Party in June 2001. Large numbers of anti-Chaudhry dissidents followed him out of the party into the New Labour Unity Party.{{cite book |url=https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p54581/pdf/ch069.pdf |title=From Election to Coup in Fiji: The 2006 campaign and its aftermath |editor1-last=Fraenkel |editor1-first=Jon |editor2-first=Stewart |editor2-last=Firth |chapter=The cycles of party politics |last1=Fraenkel |first1=Jon |first2=Stewart |last2=Firth |publisher=ANU Press |location=Canberra |year=2007 |pages=64–77 |access-date=15 April 2023}}{{rp|67}} The party won only 4.5% of the vote and two seats.{{rp|67}} Baba stood in Samabula Tamavua Open, but failed to secure election.{{cite web |url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/f/fiji/fiji20015.txt |title=REPUBLIC OF THE FIJI ISLANDS PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF 25 AUGUST TO 1 SEPTEMBER 2001 |publisher=Psephos |access-date=15 April 2023}}
Life outside politics
Baba waited until 2005 to reiterate and clarify his reasons for leaving the Labour Party. It was no longer the party he had joined under the leadership of Timoci Bavadra in the 1980s, he said on 18 September 2005. Bavadra's vision had been of a multiracial Fiji, but the present leadership of the party could not see past ethnic boundaries. All that was left of Bavadra's party was the name, he said. He expressed disappointment at Chaudhry's failure as Leader of the Opposition to work with Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase on matters of national importance, saying that when the party negotiated with the government at all, it appeared more like a trade union than a political party. In a multiethnic country like Fiji, Baba said, it was imperative that leaders look beyond ethnic boundaries.
On 22 December 2005, Baba said that he would pursue academic and consultancy work after completing his four-year contract at the University of Auckland, which expired at the end of 2005. He was happy to be away from politics, he said, and was not inclined to return to it. He found recent political trends in Fiji depressing, especially the polarization of political parties on ethnic lines. Questioned again by the Fiji Village news service on 16 February, after his return to Fiji, he refused to be drawn on whether he would contest the 2006 election or not, but made it clear that he was no longer affiliated with the FLP.
In May 2005 he published the book Speight of Violence, coauthored by Baba, his partner Unaisi Nabobo-Baba, and New Zealand journalist Michael Field.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/155011/new-book-about-fiji-coup-to-be-launched-in-new-zealand |title=New book about Fiji coup to be launched in New Zealand |publisher=RNZ |date=12 May 2005 |access-date=13 April 2023}} The book gave a history of the 2000 coup, informed by excerpts from Baba’s secret diary kept while he was a hostage, and generated controversy with its claims that the Labour coalition had been planning to oust Chaudhry before the coup.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/155145/fiji-labour-government-planned-to-sack-prime-minister,-mahendra-chaudhry |title=Fiji Labour government planned to sack prime minister, Mahendra Chaudhry |publisher=RNZ |date=19 May 2005 |access-date=13 April 2023}}
2006 return to politics
In March 2006 the SDL party approached Baba and asked him to be a candidate.{{cite web |url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=38751 |title=Dr Tupeni Baba offered SDL Party ticket |publisher=Fiji Times |date=17 March 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060317035927/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=38751 |archive-date=17 March 2006}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/160966/former-labour-minister-baba-to-stand-for-fiji's-sdl |title=Former Labour minister Baba to stand for Fiji's SDL |publisher=RNZ |date=20 March 2006 |access-date=13 April 2023}} He was subsequently approved as the party's candidate for the Tamavua Samabula Open Constituency. His appointment was controversial as it bypassed the SDL's normal selection procedures.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/161041/baba-nomination-queried-withing-fiji's-ruling-sdl-party |title=Baba nomination queried withing Fiji's ruling SDL Party |publisher=RNZ |date=23 March 2006 |access-date=13 April 2023}} Following his selection baba denounced the Fiji Labour party and the leadership of Mahendra Chaudhry, saying that the party was negative and had no future and that Fiji needed to end racial politics.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/161054/former-senior-fiji-labour-mp-says-the-party-has-no-future,-that's-why-he's-now-with-the-sdl |title=Former senior Fiji Labour MP says the party has no future, that's why he's now with the SDL |publisher=RNZ |date=23 March 2006 |access-date=13 April 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/161047/former-fiji-deputy-pm-baba-calls-for-end-to-race-politics |title=Former Fiji deputy PM Baba calls for end to race politics |publisher=RNZ |date=23 March 2006 |access-date=13 April 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/161568/fiji's-former-deputy-prime-minister-criticises-labour-party |title=Fiji's former deputy prime minister criticises Labour Party |publisher=RNZ |date=21 April 2006 |access-date=13 April 2023}} However, he failed to secure a seat in Parliament.{{cite web |url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/f/fiji/fiji20065.txt |title=REPUBLIC OF THE FIJI ISLANDS PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF 6 MAY 2006 |publisher=Psephos |access-date=13 April 2023}}
Following the election, Baba was he was appointed to the Senate of Fiji as one of nine nominees of the Fijian government. In October 2006 he was nominated as Fiji's Ambassador to the United Nations.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/165215/fiji-names-former-academic-and-politician-as-next-ambassador-to-un |title=Fiji names former academic and politician as next ambassador to UN |publisher=RNZ |date=10 October 2006 |access-date=13 April 2023}} This plan was aborted, however, by the 2006 Fijian coup d'état on 5 December.{{cite web |url=http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2007/January/01-11-fj04.htm |title=FIJI CANCELS UN REPRESENTATIVE APPOINTMENT |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=10 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183443/http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2007/January/01-11-fj04.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/167180/fiji's-military-appointed-interim-administration-revokes-un-appointment,-dr-tupeni-baba |title=Fiji's military appointed interim administration revokes UN appointment, Dr Tupeni Baba |publisher=RNZ |date=11 January 2007 |access-date=13 April 2023}} The Military later announced that Baba might face investigation for his alleged links to international fraudster Peter Foster.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldpress.org/Asia/2559.cfm |title=Fiji: Military vs. Government |publisher=Worldpress |date=10 November 2006 |access-date=13 April 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/165649/fiji-military-calls-for-a-hold-on-dr-baba's-appointment-to-un |title=Fiji Military calls for a hold on Dr Baba's appointment to UN |publisher=RNZ |date=26 October 2006 |access-date=13 April 2023}}
2014 return to politics
Following the imprisonment of former prime minister and SDL leader Laisenia Qarase in 2012, Baba emerged as a de facto spokesperson for the party.{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2013/01/14/baba-on-sdl/ |title=Baba on SDL |publisher=Fiji Sun |date=14 January 2013 |access-date=13 April 2023}} When the SDL was dissolved by the military regime, he helped to found the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SDLP) as its successor.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/209670/sdl-says-fiji-name-change-requirement-is-ridiculous |title=SDL says Fiji name change requirement is ridiculous |publisher=RNZ |date=17 January 2013 |access-date=13 April 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/210818/fiji's-proposed-sodelpa-party-registration-'spot-on'-so-far |title=Fiji's proposed SODELPA party registration 'spot on' so far |publisher=RNZ |date=13 March 2013 |access-date=13 April 2023}} He briefly led the party in 2014, but made way for Ro Teimumu Kepa, a high chief and former Cabinet Minister. He was a candidate in the 2014 Fijian general election,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/254052/sodelpa-candidate-renews-call-for-sayed-khaiyum-debate |title=SODELPA candidate renews call for Sayed-Khaiyum debate |publisher=RNZ |date=8 September 2014 |access-date=13 April 2023}} but was not elected.
In September 2013 he was one of a number of prominent politicians arrested for protesting against the new constitution imposed by the military regime.{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/9134655/Fiji-police-seize-political-leaders |title=Fiji police seize political leaders |publisher=Stuff |date=6 September 2013 |access-date=15 April 2023}} He was arrested again and detained for a weekend in September 2016 after participating in a meeting to discuss the country's constitution.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/313059/prominent-fijians-released-after-weekend-in-police-cells |title=Prominent Fijians released after weekend in police cells |publisher=RNZ |date=12 September 2016 |access-date=13 April 2023}} No charges were laid.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/315845/no-charges-for-detained-prominent-fijians |title=No charges for detained prominent Fijians |publisher=RNZ |date=17 October 2016 |access-date=13 April 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/315896/former-fiji-mp-says-arrests-prompted-by-'orders-from-on-high' |title=Former Fiji MP says arrests prompted by 'orders from on high' |publisher=RNZ |date=18 October 2016 |access-date=13 April 2023}}
In February 2017 following Sitiveni Rabuka becoming SODELPA leader he resigned from the party{{cite web |url=https://www.fijitimes.com/dr-baba-resigns-from-sodelpa/ |title=Dr Baba resigns from SODELPA |publisher=Fiji Times |date=2 February 2017 |access-date=13 April 2023}} and joined the HOPE Party as a advisor.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/323682/veteran-fijian-politician-moves-from-sodelpa-to-hope |title=Veteran Fijian politician moves from Sodelpa to HOPE |publisher=RNZ |date=3 February 2017 |access-date=13 April 2023}}
Death
Baba died on 14 July 2024, at the age of 82.[https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Late-former-Deputy-PM-Professor-Tupeni-Baba-passes-away-rxf845/ Late former Deputy PM Professor Tupeni Baba passes away]
References
{{Wikiquote|Tupeni Baba}}
{{reflist}}
{{Social Democratic Liberal Party |state=expanded}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baba, Tupeni}}
Category:People educated at Lelean Memorial School
Category:University of Sydney alumni
Category:Macquarie University alumni
Category:Academic staff of the University of the South Pacific
Category:Academic staff of the University of Auckland
Category:Fiji Labour Party politicians
Category:I-Taukei Fijian members of the Senate (Fiji)
Category:I-Taukei Fijian members of the House of Representatives (Fiji)
Category:Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua politicians
Category:Social Democratic Liberal Party politicians
Category:Deputy prime ministers of Fiji
Category:Ministers for foreign affairs of Fiji