In December 2006, following months of tension, Commander Voreqe Bainamarama staged a military coup to unseat the government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.
The present Chief Justice is Anthony Gates, who succeeded Daniel Fatiaki following the military coup that deposed the Qarase government on 5 December 2006, when Commodore Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama, the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and Acting President of Fiji, sent Fatiaki on leave.
Hatch served as Minister for Public Enterprises and Public Sector Reform in the interim Cabinet formed by Laisenia Qarase in the wake of the Fiji coup of 2000.
"I am not pro-Qarase. I am pro-democracy and for the rule of law," the Times quoted her as having said the previous day (10 December).
On 23 September 2005, he was made to apologise to the High Court for making statements defending the Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, against allegations of involvement in a Ministry of Agriculture scandal, in which more than F$30 million was allegedly misappropriated.
In the wake of the military coup which deposed the Qarase government on 5 December 2006, Matanitobua was sent on paid leave until further notice, along with Chief Justice Daniel Fatiaki, on 3 January 2007.
Perram also represented deposed Prime Minister of Fiji Laisenia Qarase in legal proceedings against his military replacement, Frank Bainimarama.
On 22 June 2005, Mataca accused Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase of having misled church leaders about the provisions of the legislation to establish the Commission.
Driti came to international attention on 6 November 2006, when he publicly accused the Qarase government of smuggling 400 kilograms of Australian arms and mercenaries into Fiji, and called on then-Commissioner of Police Andrew Hughes (an Australian) to answer for it.
Rolls is known as a strong critic of the military coup which deposed the Qarase government on 5 December 2006, and of human rights violations allegedly committed by soldiers since then.
In 2006 she served as the Minister for Commerce and the Minister for Industry in the multiparty cabinet of Laisenia Qarase.
Much of the support it had previously enjoyed went to the new United Fiji Party of Laisenia Qarase.
Siwatibau led a group called Concerned Mothers Group Against the Bill in opposition to controversial legislation proposed by the government of Laisenia Qarase in early 2005, to make provision for amnesty to be granted to persons convicted of involvement in the coup of 2000.
Ratu Talemo Ratakele is a former Fijian politician, who served as Minister for Internal Affairs and Immigration in the interim Cabinet formed by Laisenia Qarase in the wake of the Fiji coup of 2000.
In addition, Sitiveni Rabuka, former Prime Minister, and Laisenia Qarase, the recently removed Prime Minister, are also from Tovata.
The present Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, leads a political party, the Conservative Alliance and was a Minister in the government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase from 2000 to 2005, when he was convicted of involvement in the coup d'état that deposed the elected government in 2000.
The launch was also attended by Finance Minister Ratu Jone Kubuabola in his capacity as Acting Prime Minister, standing in for Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase who was making an official visit to India and was therefore unable to attend the ceremony.
In 2006, Jone Navakamocea, Minister of State for National Planning in the Qarase government, called for the use of the term "Indo-Fijian" to be officially banned.
Josefa Bole Vosanibola is a Fijian politician, who has served as Minister for Home Affairs since 16 December 2004, when he was appointed by Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase to succeed Joketani Cokanasiga.
Kepa was married for many years to Ro Teimumu Kepa, an Adi (Fijian chief) and politician in her own right, who is currently (June 2005) the Roko Tui Dreketi (Paramount Chief) of the Burebasaga Confederacy and Minister for Education in the government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.
On 26 May 2005, the Rev. Akuila Yabaki of the Citizens Constitutional Forum expressed concern at reports that Tuivaga might be appointed to chair the proposed commission, reports downplayed by both Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry.
The former President of the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma, Fiji's largest Christian denomination, served in the Senate from 2001 to 2006 as a nominee of the Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase.
The best-known native of Vanua Balavu is Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, past President and longtime Prime Minister of Fiji, also Laisenia Qarase, Fiji's Prime Minister since 2000, who hails from the village of Mavana.