Minister for Fijian Affairs, Heritage, Provincial Development, and Multiethnic Affairs Epeli Ganilau of Fiji

Ganilau is another son-in-law of Ratu Mara, a former commander of the FMF, and the son of former Deputy PM, and former Governor General, the late Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau.

Ganilau has joined her husband and her younger sister, Senator Adi Koila Nailatikau, in opposing the government's controversial Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill, which proposes the establishment of a Commission empowered, subject to presidential approval, to compensate victims and pardon perpetrators of the coup d'état of May 2000, in which her father was deposed from the presidency and her sister, then a Minister in the government of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, was kidnapped and held as a hostage by gunmen led by George Speight, the principal instigator of the coup.

Speaking on 25 June 2005, Ganilau said that the Mara family had not been consulted about the legislation, was opposed to it, and would accept no compensation offered by the Commission to be established.

Ganilau said that her family was still reeling from the effects of the coup.

Ganilau said she was opposed to granting amnesty to people implicated in coup-related charges.

In a further statement on 25 July, Ganilau said that the 2000 coup had not been spontaneous, but a premeditated and carefully planned act, which she accused some members of the present Senate of knowing about in advance.

Adi Ateca Ganilau is a Fijian public figure.

Ganilau is a vocal opponent of the government's controversial legislation to establish a Commission empowered to compensate victims and pardon perpetrators of the coup d'état which deposed her father from the Presidency in May 2000.

A former chairman of Fijis influential council of tribal chiefs has urged the council to accept the military leadershipthat toppledthe democratically elected government on December 5.

Ratu Epeli Ganilau said by not accepting the military government of Commodore Frank Bainimarama, the coup leader, the chiefs "run the risk of being sidelined.

Maintaining a stance whereby you still recognize the ousted government I think is unrealistic," Ganilau said at the meeting.

Ganilau said the chiefs were "failing to accept that the military are calling the shots.

Ratu Ganilau has also been chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs.

PHILIPPA MCDONALD: Ratu Epeli Ganilau is the leader the National Alliance of Fiji, a previous chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs, and a former Commander of Fiji's military forces.

But Ratu Epeli Ganilau says he says he may be interested in a place on Commodore Bainimarama's interim government.

PHILIPPA MCDONALD: Ratu Epeli Ganilau has previously been reported as saying his country could not afford to have any more coups.

Epeli GanilauEpeli Ganilau Ratu Epeli Ganilau is a Fijian soldier and statesman, who currently heads the National Alliance Party of Fiji.

Ganilau was elected Chairman of the Bose Levu Vakaturanga in 2001, after the previous Chairman, Sitiveni Rabuka stepped down amid accusations that he may have been involved in the coup d'état that deposed Fiji's elected government in May 2000.

Ganilau is the son of the late Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, the first President of the Republic of Fiji (1987-1992.

Ratu Epeli Ganilau said that although the revocation of the interim regime’s suspension of the GCC had been made, the membership issue was misinterpreted.

Fijis Immigration Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau says Fiji Times publisher Evan Hannah was deported today because he was a prohibited immigrant.

Ratu Epeli Ganilau says he is very happy with his new portfolio of interim Defence, National Security and Immigration minister.

Interim Defense Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau said he will refer the matter to Cabinet for consideration.

FIJIAN Affairs Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau says he’s yet to be informed of his future with the Interim Government.

Copyright © 2009, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited.

Ganilau was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School , in New Zealand , from 1965.

Ganilau was appointed to the ''Bose Levu Vakaturaga'' (Great Council of Chiefs) in 1999 as one of six representative of the Fijian government.

As Chairman, Ganilau took a strong stand for law and order, and supported the prosecution of persons implicated in the 2000 coup.

There were also accusations that Ganilau was undermining the political neutrality of the ''Bose Levu Vakaturaga'' with his calls for a revival of the defunct Fijian Alliance , the multi-racial political party founded by Ratu Mara, which governed Fiji from 1967 to 1987.

Ganilau said the party would be multiracial and would pursue national reconciliation, something he had attempted with less success as Chairman of the ''Bose Levu Vakaturaga.

Ganilau said this policy was ''"divisive and a travesty of good governance and responsible leadership in a multiracial country like Fiji.

Ganilau has a reputation as an outspoken but moderate chief and politician, who opposes what he sees as divisive and inflammatory policies and statements of political leaders.

Ganilau has spoken against the plans of the Qarase government to establish a Reconciliation And Unity Commission , with the power to grant amnesty to perpetrators of the 2000 coup and compensation to its victims.

Ganilau was a guest speaker at the Lautoka conference of the Fiji Labour Party , with which his own party is considering forming a Coalition to contest the General Election scheduled for 2006 , on 30 July 2005.

Speaking at the launch in Rakiraki of his own party's campaign for the 2006 election on 6 August 2005 , Ganilau said that the future of the nation's children would not be secure unless the people freed themselves from what he called ''"the comfort zone of our race.

This would create a mess for the next government to clean up after the 2006 Election , Ganilau said on 27 August.

In response, Ganilau said as the former Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs that he believed that the chiefs were well-respected by all communities.

Launching the Lautoka branch of his party on 24 November 2005 , Ganilau said that Affirmative Action in favour of indigenous Fijians had not benefited ordinary Fijians, but had served only to facilitate the survival of the government in power and acted as a cover-up for the lack of effective policies.

WikipediaBorn:October 10, 1951Related Searches:Commander of the Fiji MilitaryMilitary of FijiGreat Council of ChiefCakaudroveQaraseFijian honours systemNational Alliance Party of FijiMinister for Fijian AffairsBose Levu VakaturagaFiji Military Forces2006 Fijian coup d'étatbrigadier-generalratuchairmanSoldierchiefSee moreNews About Epeli GanilauEpeli Ganilau had 2 news items on Live Search NewsEmergency declared in Fiji as six feared dead in severe stormdocument.

write(humane_date("2009-01-11 21:53:12"))Epeli Ganilau had 6 news items on Live Search NewsSix feared dead after Fiji stormsdocument.

write(humane_date("2009-01-10 20:49:58"))See More Epeli Ganilau had a news item on Live Search NewsYour Comments : No apologydocument.

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.