page_title: Mahendra Chaudhry
hierarchical_section_title: Mahendra Chaudhry
caption_attribution_description: English: The embassy staff and guests dressed in denim and pearls to celebrate the 239th U.S. Independence Day anniversary yesterday. Close to six hundred guests attended the anniversary including Fiji’s President, His Excellency Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and Acting Prime Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. In her welcoming remarks, the Ambassador reaffirmed the U.S. commitment in strengthening relationships with Fiji and the region, highlighting the Pacific Partnership 2015 visit and the importance of people to people ties in fostering that relationship. After formalities, the annual cake competition resulted with the winner being Hard Rock Cafe. The event was a memorious one as it marked Ambassador Cefkin’s first Independence Day celebration in Fiji. Vinaka Vaka Levu to our sponsors and our guests who helped made it special!! ‪#‎July4thinJune‬ ‪#‎IndependenceDay‬ Trivia note: The celebration was held a month early out of respect for the coronation of King Tupou VI this coming July 4th which the Ambassador looks forward to attending..
context_page_description: The Rt. Hon. Mahendra Chaudhry is an Indo-Fijian and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party. Following a historic election in which he defeated the long-time former leader, Sitiveni Rabuka, the former trade union leader became Fiji's first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister on 19 May 1999, but exactly one year later, on 19 May 2000 he and most of his Cabinet were taken hostage by coup leader George Speight, in the Fiji coup of 2000. Unable to exercise his duties, he and his ministers were sacked by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara on 27 May; Mara intended to assume emergency powers himself but was himself deposed by the military leader, Commodore Frank Bainimarama. After 56 days in captivity, Chaudhry was released on 13 July and subsequently embarked on a tour of the world to rally support. He was one of the leading voices raised in opposition to the Qarase government's proposed Reconciliation and Unity Commission, which he said was just a mechanism to grant amnesty to persons guilty of coup-related offences.
context_section_description: The Rt. Hon. Mahendra Chaudhry (Fiji Hindi: महेन्द्र पाल चौधरी PBS, MP; born 9 February 1942) is an Indo-Fijian and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party. Following a historic election in which he defeated the long-time former leader, Sitiveni Rabuka, the former trade union leader became Fiji's first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister on 19 May 1999, but exactly one year later, on 19 May 2000 he and most of his Cabinet were taken hostage by coup leader George Speight, in the Fiji coup of 2000.  Unable to exercise his duties, he and his ministers were sacked by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara on 27 May; Mara intended to assume emergency powers himself but was himself deposed by the military leader, Commodore Frank Bainimarama. After 56 days in captivity, Chaudhry was released on 13 July and subsequently embarked on a tour of the world to rally support.  He was one of the leading voices raised in opposition to the Qarase government's proposed Reconciliation and Unity Commission, which he said was just a mechanism to grant amnesty to persons guilty of coup-related offences. In January 2007 he was appointed as Minister of Finance, Sugar Reform Public Enterprise and National Planning in the interim Cabinet of Commodore Frank Bainimarama, following another coup. Chaudhry was also co-chair of the task force focusing on economic growth within the National Council for Building a Better Fiji. In August 2008, he left the government and became an outspoken critic of it.
caption: Chaudhry in 2015
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