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Fiji mourns former PM

Fiji's capital Suva came to a standstill yesterday as tens of thousands of people watched founding prime minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara being taken to lie in state at the start of his three-day funeral.

Many of those standing in the light rain were in tears as they watched the coffin, draped in the blue national flag, escorted on a gun carriage to Government House by a 360-strong procession of army and navy members.

SEA OF BLACK

Mara, who was prime minister for 22 years and later president of the Pacific archipelago between New Zealand and Hawaii, died on April 18, aged 83.

Following the gun carriage was his son Tevita Uluilakeba, in military attire and carrying his father's medals.

His mother and chief mourner Ro Lady Lala Mara followed in a vehicle with tinted windows.

Suva was a sea of black as people in mourning clothes sat on the side of the streets as a sign of respect for Mara, who was also a paramount chief in addition to his political roles.

People stopped work and school students turned up in large numbers. Some wept silently and the crowds were hushed as the carriage went by.

The route passed Albert Park, where in 1970 Mara received the doctrines of independence from the Prince of Wales, before moving on to Government House, where it was received by Vice President Ratu Jope Seniloli and members of the chief's family.

President Josefa Iloilo is ill in hospital in Sydney, Australia.

Seniloli will in June face criminal charges over his role in a 2000 coup that saw Mara forced out of office.

12-gun salute

The funeral service featuring a Catholic Mass will be held tomorrow before the body is taken to Lau for a traditional burial on Monday.

A 12-gun salute will bid Mara farewell as the navy vessel carrying his body leaves the port of Suva to his final resting place.

Fiji is an archipelago with a population of 845,000 people, 51 percent of them indigenous Melanesian or Polynesian, and 42 percent ethnic Indian.
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