A MEDICAL doctor by profession, Gunasagaran Gounder was new in politics.
He had contested the 1999 general election on a Fiji Labour Party ticket and he defeated the then Leader of the Opposition and National Federation Party leader, Jai Ram Reddy in the Yasawa/Nawaka Open Constituency.
The victory resulted in him being appointed the assistant minister for health in the People’s Coalition Government.
Going down memory lane, the People’s Coalition Government consisted of members from the Fiji Labour Party, Fijian Association Party and the Party of National Unity.
Since the Fiji Labour Party had won the majority seats in the election, its leader Mahendra Chaudhry was chosen as the prime minister, being the first Fijian of Indian descent to lead the country.
But there were some disgruntled people who did not want Mr Chaudhry as the prime minister and protests were also held to this effect.
The People’s Coalition Government had been in power for one year and a Parliament sitting was scheduled for May 19, 2000, which was a Friday.
Dr Gounder said there were rumours that something would happen on that day but as usual, he got ready and made his way to Parliament.
While the Parliament was in session, some armed men wearing balaclavas stormed inside and declared that it was a civilian coup.
The Opposition members were told to leave the parliamentary complex while those from the government side were held back.
It was the start of the hostage crisis in Parliament — the first time that such a thing had happened in the country’s history.
Dr Gounder said it was a terrifying, shocking and humiliating experience when armed men stormed into Parliament on that day and took over.
“There were rumours of something happening. We went to Parliament on that day and this happened,” he said.
“It’s something that I try to forget but I can’t. It was also a learning experience in a sense and we never knew what would happen next.
“Different people react differently in such situations. Some were depressed, some got sick and some remained strong.”
Dr Gounder said as days passed, some government parliamentarians were released while he and others remained as the rebels’ hostages.
He said the Fijians of Indian descent parliamentarians were kept together in the parliamentary chamber by the rebels.
“One night, the lights suddenly went off and some guys came inside and robbed the Fijians of Indian descent parliamentarians.
“They were let loose on us and all MPs who had valuables with them were robbed off their cash, watches and other things.
“I was fortunate as being an assistant minister at that time, I didn’t carry any money with me. I was wearing a gold chain but I had sent it to my family a few days before the robbery incident in Parliament.”
Dr Gounder said he sent the gold chain to his family through the then director general of Fiji Red Cross, John Scott (now deceased).
“Mr Chaudhry was also wearing a good watch and a few days after I had sent mine to my family, he also sent his away before the robbery incident.
“We were totally cut off from the outside world and John Scott’s visits were eagerly awaited by us hostages as he brought us messages from outside.
“He also brought us letters from our families but these were censored by the rebels before they reached us. The words used to be smudged or crossed off.”
Dr Gounder recalled Mr Chaudhry being taken outside by the rebels one night and bashed up, saying it was a Friday.
He said Mr Chaudhry was in great pain after being bashed by the rebels.
“Somehow, I had my stethoscope and blood pressure machine in my bag as when I was coming to Suva from Nadi, a friend had asked me to check him up.
“I examined Mr Chaudhry after he was brought back inside by the rebels and he was in severe pain.
“I told the rebels that Mr Chaudhry needs X-ray immediately as he could be bleeding inside if there were some internal injuries.
“But they didn’t do anything and for two days nothing happened. A doctor from outside came after two days and examined Mr Chaudhry.
“Since I was the only medical doctor inside Parliament during the crisis, the rebels told me to sleep next to Mr Chaudhry so that I could keep assessing his condition.”
Dr Gounder said another terrifying experience was seeing young people standing guard at doors of the parliamentary complex with guns, as anyone not trained to handle guns was a big risk.
“Another observation from the windows was seeing people moving outside with carcasses.
“They also used to come and peep at us through the windows as if we were specimens in the zoo or aliens.
“The food was not good and whatever was sent by the hostages families did not reach inside as the rebels took many things out.
“We hardly got that quantity and quality of food and whatever that we could not eat was quickly taken away by the rebels.”
Dr Gounder said the hostages remaining in Parliament were unaware of the signing of the Muanikau Accord which resulted in their release.
He said there was a news blackout for the hostages, who did not have the slightest idea of the developments outside the parliamentary complex.
“We were told all of a sudden that we may be released.
It was a big relief when I walked out of the Parliament on the 57th day with my colleagues.
“The moment you lose your freedom, then you realise what freedom is. I went back to my family and I was visited by a military doctor for counselling.
“It took me a bit of time to adjust and I had nightmares at times. But I was strong spiritually and being the only doctor in the group, I used to counsel my colleagues during the hostage crisis.”
Dr Gounder said late FLP MPs Muthusami and Mohammed Latif Subedar were heart patients and he also had to keep a close watch on their health.
He said there were some asthmatic parliamentarians too and one of them was released by the rebels much earlier.
“Whatever happened is something that I try to forget but I can’t.
“Even if I live for 100 years, the experience is something I’ll never forget.
“It’s probably there deep down in my subconscious mind but I’m strong.
“I went into Parliament after being elected to serve the people and not for myself. I’m serving people in a different capacity now as a doctor for a charitable organisation in Nadi.
“But whatever happened in 2000 didn’t deter me and I contested the 2001 and 2006 general elections.”
Dr Gounder was the curative health minister in 2006 when he experienced his second coup while being a government member.
But this time, the coup was carried out by the military and there was no hostage crisis.
