Josefa Dimuri

Ratu Josefa Nalumuialevu Dimuri is a Fijian chief and politician, who served as a Senator from 2001 to 2006, when he was elected to the House of Representatives. Following the election, he was appointed Minister of State for Agriculture, Alternative Livelihood, and Outer Island Development.

Political career

A former Fiji Times journalist, Dimuri contested the Macuata Fijian Communal Constituency on behalf of then-Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka's Fijian Political Party (SVT), but was defeated by the Christian Democratic Alliance candidate, Poseci Bune. In 2001, he contested the Bua-Macuata West Open Constituency, this time as a candidate of the newly-formed Conservative Alliance (CAMV), and lost again. The Macuata Provincial Council, however, chose Dimuri to represent the province in the Senate. Fourteen Senators are chosen by the Great Council of Chiefs, but in practice the Great Council has chosen to delegate this prerogative to Fiji's fourteen provincial councils, each of which chooses one Senator.

The Sukanaivalu mutiny

On 3 April 2005, Dimuri was convicted of offenses related to the Fiji coup of 2000, and served an extramural prison sentence from 14 April to 13 September. He spent his sentence working for the Department of Agriculture in Labasa, on the northern island of Vanua Levu.

On 7 July 2000, Dimuri and three other chiefs, including the Paramount Chief of Cakaudrove, "Ratu" Naiqama Lalabalavu, went to the Sukanaivalu Barracks on the island of Vanua Levu while the rebellion was still in progress. Public prosecutor Wilisoni Kurisaqila alleged that the purpose of the visit was to support George Speight's illegal takeover of Parliament in Suva, and witnesses Antonia Rasavaki and Anasa Roko testified that Dimuri had delivered a speech at the barracks supporting the rebellion. Roko also said that Dimuri had told the soldiers "not to worry" about their salaries.

Kruisaqila also maintained that rebel soldiers shot at loyal soldiers.

On 3 April 2005, Dimuri and Lalabalavu were convicted of unlawful assembly and imprisoned for eight months. The two chiefs who had accompanied them to the barracks received six-month sentences. On 14 April, after serving just eleven days of their sentences, Dimuri and Lalabalavu were released on parole to serve the remainder of their sentences "extramurally." Opposition politicians and the military condemned the decision, saying that it was politically motivated (Lalabalavu leads, and Dimuri belongs to, the Conservative Alliance (CAMV), a political party whose six votes in the House of Representatives provide the government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase with his parliamentary majority), and that it made a mockery of the judicial process.

Political activities

On 4 September 2005, acting CAMV leader and Cabinet Minister Samisoni Tikoinasau announced that Dimuri would return to his post as secretary general of the party at the end of the month, following the expiry of his extramural prison sentence on 13 September. His reinstatement was complicated, however, by the refusal of Ropate Sivo, who succeeded him, to stand aside in his favour. On 16 September, Sivo insisted that he would not make way for Dimuri, and disputed the right of the party president, Ratu Tanoa Cakobau to reinstate Dimuri unilaterally.

Dimuri took up his Senate seat again on 18 October. He held it until the parliamentary election held on 6-13 May 2006, when he was elected to represent the Bua Macuata West Open Constituency in the House of Representatives.