Tributes have poured in for veteran Fijian politician and academic Dr Tupeni Baba

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Fiji’s former Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tupeni Baba passed away this week and tributes have poured in for his life and legacy.

He is remembered as a decent, kind, humble and intelligent man.

Hundreds of people gathered in Tailevu on Thursday to commemorate the life of Dr Tupeni Baba, the country’s former deputy prime minister and academic who died on Sunday at the age of 82.

A staunch supporter of the Labour Party, he also founded the social democratic liberal party Sodelpa.

Baba served as a minister in Labour governments in 1987 and 2000 but was ousted in military coups, the first led by then army chief and now prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka, and the second in 2000 by failed businessman George Speight.

The coup was backed by the military’s counter-revolutionary wing, which also tried to overthrow then army chief Frank Bainimarama.

Labour leader Mahendra Chaudhry, who was prime minister at the time of the 2000 coup, said Baba had shown exemplary courage and perseverance during both political upheavals.

Baba was one of the government MPs who was abducted at gunpoint by Speight and his men and held captive for more than 50 days.

Chaudhry said Baba refused to succumb to intimidation by the gun-wielding soldiers.

“Despite the fact that we were separated due to our race and held in different places, Dr Baba managed to keep in touch with me and inform me of the developments. He was always a source of strength and comfort to his colleagues.

“As my deputy prime minister, he managed to keep in touch with me through notes and offer his input and advice on key issues.”

Chaudhry said Baba had a genial personality and was a staunch advocate of social justice.

“Dr Baba made a significant contribution to the formation of the Labour Party and his legacy will be remembered.”

Delivering a eulogy at Baba’s funeral in Tailevu, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Fiji, Professor Shaista Shamim, said Baba was revered as a scholar not only in Fiji but also across the Pacific.

Shamim said he is a staunch supporter of education and that is why he stayed in the university and he emphasized humanistic values ​​in the school’s curriculum.

Rabuka’s coalition government expressed condolences to Baba’s family, and National Federation Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad said Baba faced “insurmountable challenges” in his political career.

Prasad said Baba rose to the challenge and ensured unity and protection of national interest.

“He was not only a political comrade but also an academic colleague at the University of the South Pacific.

“He never showed any resentment or animosity and his support for reconciliation, tolerance, unity and goodwill was best demonstrated when he criticised the leaders of his own party for travelling to India to block Fiji’s re-entry into the Commonwealth after the 2000 coup.”

Baba also served as the Labour Party’s foreign minister, while in the 1987 government led by Timothy Bavadra, he was the minister of education, youth and sports, both of which he was later removed from.

Baba left the Labour Party and formed the New United Labour Party to contest the 2001 general election.

Unity Fiji Party leader Savenaca Narube, who once worked for Baba in Government, said he last saw Baba at last year’s Ratu Sukuna Day celebrations.

“He spoke about the role of Ratu Sukuna. His summary was excellent and reflected his long experience as a professional educationist and politician.

“He never tried to control the proceedings, but listened to all sides. He was soft-spoken, diplomatic and logical. He was a champion of multiracialism.

“Sadly, Professor Baba’s political experience was traumatic. He suffered a severe blow when the military coup occurred in 1987. He suffered another blow in 2000 when he was imprisoned in the old parliament building in Viuto. He overcame the pain and returned to teaching.

“Fiji has lost a true professional in the important field of education. It is a great loss. He was one of a kind.”

In May 2005, Baba published the book Violent speechThe book was co-authored by him, his wife Unaisi Nabobo, and New Zealand journalist Michael Field.

-This article was originally published on Neutrophils.