*In 1998 Bune helped found the Christian Democratic Alliance (VLV). He contested the 1999 Fijian general election as a candidate for the party in the Macuata Fijian Communal constituency, and was elected to the House of Representatives of Fiji. He was appointed to the People's Coalition Cabinet of Mahendra Chaudhry as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forests.He was taken hostage in the 2000 Speight coup and held prisoner for 55 days until he was released on 13 July 2000.
 | Bidding Farewell to Anup… |
He [Anup Kumar] was deeply affected by the Coup of 19 May 2000, being held hostage at gunpoint for 56 days with 43 members of my government by terrorist George Speight and his men, with support from the CRW Wing of the Fiji Military Forces.
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry is deeply saddened at the untimely death of former Labour Parliamentarian and government Minister Anup Kumar.
“He was a close political colleague and a dear friend,” he said of the man who had served as his Minister for Commerce, Business Development and Trade when he was Prime Minister 1999/2000.
Anup Kumar was elected to the House of Representatives in May 1999 with a huge majority from the Vanua Levu West Indian Communal Constituency.
He left Fiji with his wife Kushma and two young children in 2001 to settle in Brisbane, Australia but stayed in constant touch with the political situation in Fiji, and was deeply concerned about the plight of the Indo - Fijian community under a racist post 2000 coup government, Mr Chaudhry said.
As a Minister, Anup was astute, quickly cultivating good relations with the business community and winning their confidence.
He was popular with the grassroots people because of his caring and compassionate ways. Anup was born and bred in a fairly isolated rural community. As such, he empathized with the poor and the underprivileged in society.
He was, however, deeply affected by the Coup of 19 May 2000, being held hostage at gunpoint for 56 days with 43 members of my government by terrorist George Speight and his men, with support from the CRW Wing of the Fiji Military Forces.
In his new homeland of Australia, Anup was ably supported and encouraged by his hardworking and determined wife Kushma as they struggled to succeed in a somewhat competitive and discerning environment.
But succeed they did as a family. Anup worked in various jobs over the years, ran a business with his boys while Kushma successfully pursued her teaching career.
All this while, Anup kept a keen interest in the affairs of the Fiji Labour Party - phoning me or emailing his views on political events here and supporting the Party. He also helped with our fundraising drives. I thank him most sincerely for staying true to the Labour cause
All was going well and Anup had even found the time to study Law when tragedy struck. It was swift and in next to no time snatched him away from his loving family and dear friends.
Anup's is a loss hard to bear for Kushma and the boys - Ashwin and Ashneel. He was so close to them.
But such is the reality of our existence - here today, gone tomorrow. We must accept it as the hard truth and cope with its agonies as best we can.
Deepest condolences to Kushma, Ashwin and Ashneel.
“He was a close political colleague and a dear friend,” he said of the man who had served as his Minister for Commerce, Business Development and Trade when he was Prime Minister 1999/2000.
Anup Kumar was elected to the House of Representatives in May 1999 with a huge majority from the Vanua Levu West Indian Communal Constituency.
He left Fiji with his wife Kushma and two young children in 2001 to settle in Brisbane, Australia but stayed in constant touch with the political situation in Fiji, and was deeply concerned about the plight of the Indo - Fijian community under a racist post 2000 coup government, Mr Chaudhry said.
As a Minister, Anup was astute, quickly cultivating good relations with the business community and winning their confidence.
He was popular with the grassroots people because of his caring and compassionate ways. Anup was born and bred in a fairly isolated rural community. As such, he empathized with the poor and the underprivileged in society.
He was, however, deeply affected by the Coup of 19 May 2000, being held hostage at gunpoint for 56 days with 43 members of my government by terrorist George Speight and his men, with support from the CRW Wing of the Fiji Military Forces.
In his new homeland of Australia, Anup was ably supported and encouraged by his hardworking and determined wife Kushma as they struggled to succeed in a somewhat competitive and discerning environment.
But succeed they did as a family. Anup worked in various jobs over the years, ran a business with his boys while Kushma successfully pursued her teaching career.
All this while, Anup kept a keen interest in the affairs of the Fiji Labour Party - phoning me or emailing his views on political events here and supporting the Party. He also helped with our fundraising drives. I thank him most sincerely for staying true to the Labour cause
All was going well and Anup had even found the time to study Law when tragedy struck. It was swift and in next to no time snatched him away from his loving family and dear friends.
Anup's is a loss hard to bear for Kushma and the boys - Ashwin and Ashneel. He was so close to them.
But such is the reality of our existence - here today, gone tomorrow. We must accept it as the hard truth and cope with its agonies as best we can.
Deepest condolences to Kushma, Ashwin and Ashneel.
