In 1987, two coups led by Fiji Army Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka shook the island nation and inflicted considerable damage to its economy.
After 20 often controversial and tumultuous years for himself and his country, including two coups led by others, Rabuka has entered Fiji's business world as general manager of an inter-island shipping company.
He's also turned his hand to journalism, writing a weekly column on current affairs for the Rupert Murdoch-owned Fiji Sunday Times.
Some of Rabuka's views have changed radically since 1987. He's on record over the last year as saying he now regrets his coups as democratically wrong for opening the door to a coup cycle in Fiji.
He's also borne the brunt of criticism from Fijian and Fiji-Indian political leaders; religious figures including the powerful Methodist Church; the traditional Great Council of Chiefs, and laymen.
Rabuka, now a 59-year-old grandfather with receding grey hair, reflected good-humouredly on the irony of his situation during a recent chat at his Bligh Water Shipping office in the Walu Bay docks area of Suva.
A shareholder in the company which operates two cargo-passenger ships to his home island of Vanua Levu and other ports, Rabuka was offered a one-year contract as general manager after the incumbent resigned recently.
He says the income will help pay legal costs outstanding from his successful defence last year of charges of complicity in an army mutiny in November 2000, including the dismissal of an appeal by the Department of Public Prosecutions.
In May 1987, as third in command of Fiji's army, Rabuka and armed, masked troops invaded Parliament and dismissed the newly-elected Indian-majority government headed by an ethnic Fijian, Dr Timoci Bavadra.
The coup leader said he acted to prevent violence by Fijians against the authorities over a perceived threat to their land rights from the new regime.
Five months later, after a second coup, Rabuka declared Fiji a republic (resulting in its leaving the Commonwealth), with an interim administration headed by President (former Governor-General) Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau and Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, who had held that office from independence in
1970 until the election of April 1987.
Rabuka himself remained Army Commander and Home Affairs Minister.
The coups were roundly condemned worldwide; headlines included Paradise Lost and Democracy Dumped.
In the first post-coups elections in 1992, Rabuka became prime minister and held the position (with Fiji rejoining the Commonwealth) until his election defeat at polls in 1999.
The defeat came after he agreed to talk to Fiji Indian leaders about revising his new constitution to remove measures biased towards indigenous Fijians - an example of his change of thinking.
In two other coups since, a group led by businessman George Speight ousted the government of Fiji Indian Mahendra Chaudhry in May 2000, Speight later being convicted of treason and jailed for life.
Rabuka was accused of but denied complicity, although he did stand down after two years as chairman of the influential Great Council of Chiefs. Then last December Army Commander Frank Bainimarama took over
from Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.
Rabuka indicated he is unlikely to try a political comeback in elections which Colonel Bainimarama told the recent South Pacific Forum should be held in March 2009.
Rabuka didn't rule out the possibility, but said "Why should I?. I would rather relax and watch (politics) from the sideline, and do something else where I feel I can contribute to the country's future," he added.
Before deciding not to try again in 2006, he was quoted as saying: "It is healthy for party leaders who become prime minister, after being defeated at general elections, to take the responsibility for the defeat, bow out of active politics and just become an adviser and a party supporter."
Rabuka says he will concentrate on his new business career, his chairmanship of the Cakaudrove Provincial Council on his home island, his family, his grocery store in his village of Drekeiwai, and a possible spring-water export project.
He will also try to reduce his golf handicap which has edged out to 11 after being five at one time - in the 1990s he won the amateur section of the Fiji Open championship.
Rabuka's picture appeared on the cover of the monthly Fiji Turaga news magazine recently over the headline: I Regret 1987 - Sitiveni Rabuka.
Asked by the magazine if he had any regrets over what had happened in 1987, Rabuka replied: "Yes. The regret is that it has opened the door to people who are not happy or satisfied with the political leadership. The coup cycle will continue. I did what I did because I was told to do so, so I was influenced."
He also said he favours a government of national unity after the 2009 election, with Parliament choosing a prime minister who would then appoint his cabinet.
The Turaga article did not pursue the matter of who had influenced Rabuka in 1987.
However, an authorised biography of the coup leader written in 2000 by academic John Sharpham named three Fijian leaders from his province who had told him that Fiji could not accept the election result, fearing civil disturbances, and recounted a later meeting where the military coup was first planned.
The website Fiji Live has also reported that Rabuka, during a visit to India for medical treatment, told the Ahmedabad Newsline service that he regretted his role in the 1987 coups, which he admitted were democratically wrong.
One of Rabuka's latest columns in the Sunday Times praised the South Pacific Forum and said it was encouraging to see Fiji Interim Prime Minister Bainimarama facing up to his equals from the region and telling them what he planned for his country and his people.
He added: "Whether he will get the support of his cabinet and fans here at home, some of whom now enjoy cushy and well-paid positions, remains to be seen."
