Pacific / Fiji

Fiji state funeral for Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi

11:11 am on 7 October 2016

State funeral is being held for Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi Photo: AFP

About 3000 people in Fiji are expected to attend today's burial of the late Vice President, the Roko Tui Bau Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi.

Ratu Joni, who died in Suva last week, will be buried on the island of Bau.

After the state funeral Ratu Joni will be interred in the same chamber as his late father.

Among foreign dignitaries at the funeral are the King of Tonga and the president of Nauru where Ratu Joni was the Chief Justice.

Ratu Joni was a High Court judge and Fiji's Vice President for two years until 2006 when he was removed from office by Frank Bainimarama who made himself head of state for a month.