Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama of Fiji

The prime minister (PM) of Fiji, Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama has urged Fijians living in New Zealand to protest the involvement of the New Zealand government, and PM of New Zealand, Helen Clark, in Fiji's affairs.

Mr Bainimarama has said that he had wanted to remove the policies in Fiji that are based on races, but New Zealand wasn't prepared to help him.

Mr Bainimarama took control of Fiji when he initiated Fiji's fourth coup in 20-years on December 6, 2006, saying that the government was corrupt.

Mr Bainimarama had opposed the coup in 2000, saying the government was too soft on those involved.

After becoming prime minister, Senilagakali acknowledged that the coup was illegal but justified it by claiming that the "illegal activity" of the government of Laisenia Qarase, who Bainimarama had ousted, was worse.

Bainimarama said Fiji would firmly stick to the one-China policy, expressing hope to further enhance the friendly cooperation with China.

On September 6, 2007, Commodore Frank Bainimarama said Fiji's military declared again a state of emergency as he believed ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase was engaged in destabilization efforts when he returned to Suva after 8 months of exile on his home island Vanuabalavu in Lau, Elections were tentatively set on March 2009.

Fiji's overall situation is that it is in a deep rut, Bainimarama said in an address at the general debate of the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Bainimarama said the flawed democracy that came to practice in Fiji was marked by divisive, adversarial, inward-looking, race-based politics.

Welcoming more than 1,000 boys scouts, commissioners and leaders from all over Fiji, Bainimarama expressed his pleasure on the decision to hold the 2007 Jamboree on his home island (Kiuva) saying it was “the best part of Fiji.

Bainimarama said this was a special year for the worldwide scout movement which began in 1907 and celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.

But Bainimarama remained firm in his resolve to keep Speight at arm's length lest Fiji face economic sanctions imposed by the West.

Bainimarama was appointed chief of staff of Fiji's military in 1997 and was named a commodore two years later.

After a putsch attempt in 2000, the military intervened and Bainimarama was acting head of state for three months before Ratu Josefa Iloilo became president.

Bainimarama has taken power twice in Fiji's history, the first time as Head of the Interim Military Government of Fiji from 29 May to 13 July 2000, after organizing a counter-coup to neutralize the earlier putsch led by George Speight.

On his return to Fiji in August, Bainimarama was appointed Executive Officer of HMFS Kiro.

Bainimarama was appointed Acting Chief of Staff on 10 November 1997, and was confirmed in this post on 18 April 1998.

Despite his deteriorating relationship with the government, Bainimarama was reappointed Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces on 5 February 2004.

The next day, it was revealed that a draft document signed by Bainimarama had originally contained a direct threat to overthrow the government if the bill went through.

Bainimarama reiterated his allegations on 1 September, and police spokeswoman Sylvia Low said that a file had, in fact, been opened as far back as 2001, when Bainimarama had made a statement to the police naming individuals he said were involved in the plot.

The details of the discussion were not disclosed, except that Bainimarama had filed an official statement.

Earlier, Kevueli Bulamainaivalu, the police officer heading the investigation, had said on 29 August that until Commodore Bainimarama had filed an official report and signed it, the police could do nothing.

On 2 May 2005, Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes announced that Bainimarama had volunteered to make a statement about his own role in Mara's resignation.

On 31 October 2006, while Bainimarama was in Egypt visiting Fijian forces on peacekeeping duties in the Middle East, President Iloilo moved to terminate the appointment of Bainimarama, appointing instead Lieutenant Colonel Meli Saubulinayau who declined to take the position.

In a televised address, Qarase agreed to put the three contentious bills on hold, review the appointment of Andrew Hughes as Police Commissioner (Bainimarama had demanded his dismissal), and give the police the option of discontinuing investigations into the Commander's alleged acts of sedition.

Bainimarama said that Qarase and his spokesman should return to Vanuabalavu and that they could "talk from there.

Bainimarama has said that he will not be taking part in the election.

situation for all, the government, parents and the students.

Bainimarama said the interim Government is preparing to launch the Peoples Charter for Change and Progress to engage and involve the population in the planned reforms and to promote better relations between the country’s indigenous Fijian and Indo-Fijian communities.

Bainimarama said he was responsible for Fiji’s “national security, defence and also the well-being of Fiji’s people” and therefore had no choice but to step in.

In late November 2006 and early December 2006 Bainimarama was instrumental in the 2006 Fijian coup d'état.

The next week Bainimarama said he would ask the Great Council of Chiefs to restore executive powers to President Ratu Josefa Iloilo.