The Fiji Labour Party has organised a function in Suva today to mark the 5th anniversary of the overthrow of its coalition government in the May 2000 coup.
It will also tie in with the 18th anniversary last Saturday of Sitiveni Rabuka's first military coup in 1987 when a Labour/National Federation Party coalition government led by Dr Timoci Bavadra was taken prisoner at gunpoint.
The Fiji Times quotes the Labour leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, as saying the objective of the function is to keep in focus the disastrous consequences of coups and to explore ways to build a united and prosperous Fiji.
The minister for civil aviation deposed in the 2000 coup, Meli Bogileka of the People's National Party, will speak on the impact of the coups on the lives of the indigenous people.
The former opposition leader, Mick Beddoes, is expected to speak on the impact of the coups on race relations.
The acting director of the Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education and Advocacy, Koila Olsson, will focus on the impact of the coups on poverty and the quality of life in Fiji.
