Fiji

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Fiji (Fijian: Matanitu ko Viti; Hindustānī: फ़िजी, فِجی), officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands, is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean east of Vanuatu, west of Tonga and south of Tuvalu. The country occupies an archipelago of about 322 islands, of which 106 are permanently inhabited, and 522 islets. The two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for 87% of the population. The name Fiji is the old Tongan word for the islands, which in turn is derived from the Fijian name Viti.

A military coup d'état led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama deposed the civilian government of Laisenia Qarase on 5 December 2006, with Bainimarama declaring that he had "reluctantly" assumed the functions of the Presidency in an interim capacity. He handed the presidency back to Ratu Josefa Iloilo on 4 January 2007, and was appointed interim Prime Minister by Iloilo the next day. [1] [2]

Contents 1 History 2 Politics 2.1 2006 military takeover 3 Geography 4 Economy 5 Demographics 5.1 Ethnic groups 5.2 Religion 6 Sport 7 Culture 8 See also 9 References 9.1 Other sources 10 External links

[edit] History

Main article: History of Fiji

The first inhabitants of Fiji arrived from South East Asia long before contact with European explorers in the seventeenth century. Pottery excavated from Fijian towns show that Fiji was settled before or around 1000 BC. This question of Pacific migration still lingers.[3] The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman visited Fiji in 1643 while looking for the Great Southern Continent. [4] It was not until the nineteenth century, however, that Europeans settled the islands permanently. [5] The islands came under British control as a colony in 1874, and the British brought over Indian contract laborers. It was granted independence in 1970. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987 because the government was perceived as dominated by the Indo-Fijian (Indian) community. The second 1987 coup saw the British monarchy and the Governor General replaced by a non-executive President, and the country changed the long form of its name from Dominion of Fiji to Republic of Fiji (and to Republic of the Fiji Islands in 1997). The coups contributed to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties but ensured that Melanesians became the majority.

In 1990, the new Constitution institutionalised the ethnic Fijian domination of the political system. The Group Against Racial Discrimination (GARD) was formed to oppose the unilaterally imposed constitution and restore the 1970 constitution. Sitiveni Rabuka, the Lieutenant Colonel who carried out the 1987 coup became Prime Minister in 1992, following elections held under the new constitution. Three years later, Rabuka established the Constitutional Review Commission, which in 1997 led to a new Constitution, which was supported by most leaders of the indigenous Fijian and Indo-Fijian communities. Fiji is re-admitted to the Commonwealth of Nations.

The new millennium brought along another coup, this time led instigated by George Speight, effectively toppled the government of Mahendra Chaudhry, who became Prime Minister following the 1997 constitution. Commodore Frank Bainimarama assumed executive power after the resignation, possibly forced, of President Mara. Fiji was rocked by two mutinies at Suva's Queen Elizabeth Barracks, later in 2000 when rebel soldiers went on the rampage. The High Court ordered the reinstatement of the constitution, and in September 2001, a General election was held to restore democracy, which was won by interim Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua party.

In 2005, amid much controversy, the Qarase government proposed a Reconciliation and Unity Commission, with power to recommend compensation for victims of the 2000 coup, and amnesty for its perpetrators. However, the military strongly opposed this bill, especially the army's commander, Frank Bainimarama. He agreed with detractors who said that it was a sham to grant amnesty to supporters of the present government who played roles in the coup. His attack on the legislation, which continued unremittingly throughout May and into June and July, further strained his already tense relationship with the government. In late November 2006 and early December 2006, Bainimarama was instrumental in the 2006 Fijian coup d'état. Bainimarama handed down a list of demands to Qarase after a bill was put forward to parliament, part of which would offer pardons to participants in the 2000 coup attempt. He gave Qarase an ultimatum date of 4 December to accede to these demands or to resign from his post. Qarase adamantly refused to either concede or resign and on 5 December President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, was said to have signed a legal order dissolving Parliament after meeting with Bainimarama.

For a country of its size, Fiji has large armed forces, and has been a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world.

[edit] Politics

Main article: Politics of Fiji

See also: 2006 Fijian coup d'état

Politics of Fiji normally take place in the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Fiji is the head of government, the President the head of state, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Parliament of Fiji. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

Since independence there have been four coups in Fiji, two in 1987, one in 2000 and one in late 2006. The military has been either ruling directly, or heavily influencing governments since 1987.

[edit] 2006 military takeover

This section documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

Main article: 2006 Fijian coup d'état

Citing corruption in the government, Commodore Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama, Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, staged a coup on December 5, 2006 against the Prime Minister that he himself had installed after the 2000 coup. This coup followed two in 1987 and one in 2000. The Commodore took over the powers of the President and dissolved the parliament, paving the way for the military to continue the take over.

The coup was the culmination of weeks of speculation following conflict between the elected Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, and Commodore Bainimarama. Bainamarama had repeatedly issued demands and deadlines to the Prime Minister. At particular issue was previously pending legislation to pardon those involved in the 2000 coup; however, substantial concessions made by the Prime Minister on this and other issues failed to resolve the crisis.

Bainimarama named Jona Senilagakali caretaker Prime Minister. Senilagakai had not been asked beforehand whether he would accept the appointment and claimed that he would have refused had he been given the choice. The next week Bainimarama said he would ask the Great Council of Chiefs to restore executive powers to President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo. [6] On December 6, Bainimarama declared a state of emergency, and warned that he would not tolerate any violence or unrest.

Following the coup, the Commonwealth of Nations held an emergency meeting in London, where they declared Fiji's membership had been suspended. On December 9 2006, the military rulers advertised for positions in the Government, including cabinet posts, in a national newspaper. They stated people wishing to apply must be "of outstanding character", have no criminal record, and never have been bankrupt.^[1]

Also on December 9 the IFNA withdrew the right of Fiji to host the 2007 World Netball Championships as a consequence of the Military takeover. The withdrawal is expected to have a significant impact in Fiji due to the popularity of sports such as Netball.

On January 4 2007, the military announced that it was restoring executive power to President Iloilo [7], who made a broadcast endorsing the actions of the military. [8] The next day, Iloilo named Bainimarama as the interim Prime Minister, [9] [10] indicating that the Military was still effectively in control.

[edit] Geography

Main article: Geography of Fiji

Fiji consists of 322 islands, of which 106 are inhabited, and 522 smaller islets. The two most important islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. The islands are mountainous, with peaks up to 1,300 metres (4,250 ft), and covered with tropical forests. Viti Levu hosts the capital city of Suva, and is home to nearly three quarters of the population. Other important towns include Nadi (the location of the international airport), and Lautoka (the location of a large sugar mill and a sea-port). The main towns on Vanua Levu are Labasa and Savusavu. Other islands and island groups include Taveuni and Kadavu (the third and fourth largest islands respectively), the Mamanuca Group (just outside Nadi) and Yasawa Group, which are popular tourist destinations, the Lomaiviti Group, outside of Suva, and the remote Lau Group. Rotuma, some 500 kilometres (310 mi) north of the archipelago, has a special administrative status in Fiji.

[edit] Economy

Main article: Economy of Fiji

Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the more developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Fiji experienced a period of rapid growth in the 1960s and 1970s but stagnated in the early 1980s. The coups of 1987 caused further contraction. Economic liberalisation in the years following the coup created a boom in the garment industry and a steady growth rate despite growing uncertainty of land tenure in the sugar industry. The expiration of leases for sugar cane farmers (along with reduced farm and factory efficiency) has led to a decline in sugar production despite a subsidised price. Subsidies for sugar have been provided by the EU and Fiji has been the second largest beneficiary after Mauritius.

Urbanization and expansion in the service sector have contributed to recent GDP growth. Sugar exports and a rapidly growing tourist industry — with 430,800 tourists in 2003 and increasing in the subsequent years — are the major sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity. Long-term problems include low investment and uncertain property rights. The political turmoil in Fiji has had a severe impact on the economy, which shrank by 2.8% in 2000 and grew by only 1% in 2001. The tourism sector recovered quickly, however, with visitor arrivals reaching pre-coup levels again during 2002, which has since resulted in a modest economic recovery. This recovery continued into 2004 but grew by 1.7% in 2005 and is projected to grow by 2.0% in 2006. Although inflation is low, the policy indicator rate of the Reserve Bank of Fiji was raised by 1% to 3.25% in February 2006 due to fears of excessive consumption financed by debt. Lower interest rates have so far not produced greater investment for exports. However, there has been a housing boom from declining commercial mortgage rates.

The tallest building in Fiji is the fourteen-storey Reserve Bank of Fiji Building in Suva, which opened in 1984. At seventeen stories, The Suva Central Commercial Centre opened in November 2005 was planned to outrank the Reserve Bank building, but last-minute design changes meant the Reserve Bank building remains the tallest.

[edit] Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Fiji

[edit] Ethnic groups

The population of Fiji is mostly made up of native Fijians, a people of mixed Polynesian (partly Tongan) and Melanesian ancestry (54.3%), and Indo-Fijians (38.1%), descendants of Indian contract labourers brought to the islands by the British in the nineteenth century. The percentage of the population of Indian descent has declined significantly over the last two decades because of exclusionary policies against them and related emigration.

About 1.2% are Rotuman — natives of Rotuma Island, whose culture has more in common with countries such as Tonga or Samoa than with the rest of Fiji. There are also small, but economically significant, groups of Europeans, Chinese and other minorities.

Relationships between ethnic Fijians and Indo-Fijians have often been strained, and the tension between the two communities has dominated politics in the islands for the past generation. The level of tension varies between different regions of the country.

[edit] Religion

Religion is one of the primary differences between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians, with the former overwhelmingly Christian (99.2% at the 1996 census), and the latter mostly Hindu (76.7%) and Muslim (15.9%).

The largest Christian denomination is the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma. With 36.2% of the total population (including almost two-thirds of ethnic Fijians), its share of the population is higher in Fiji than in any other nation. Roman Catholics (8.9%), the Assemblies of God (4%), and Seventh-day Adventists (2.9%) are also significant. These and other denominations also have small numbers of Indo-Fijian members; Christians of all kinds comprise 6.1% of the Indo-Fijian population. Much major Roman Catholic missionary activity was conducted through the Vicariate Apostolic of Fiji.

Hindus belong mostly to the Sanatan sect (74.3% of all Hindus) or else are unspecified (22%). The small Arya Samaj sect claims the membership of some 3.7% of all Hindus in Fiji. Muslims are mostly Sunni (59.7%) or unspecified (36.7%), with an Ahmadiya minority (3.6%) regarded as heretical by more orthodox Muslims. The Sikh religion comprises 0.9% of the Indo-Fijian population, or 0.4% of the national population in Fiji. Their ancestors came from the Punjab region of India. The Baha'i Faith has over 21 Local Spiritual Assemblies throughout Fiji and Baha'is live in more than 80 localities.^[2] The first Baha'i on the island was a New Zealander who arrived in 1924.^[2]

[edit] Sport

The national sport of Fiji is considered to be Rugby union (see Rugby union in Fiji). The national team is quite successful, and has competed at four Rugby World Cups, the first being in 1987, which has also thus so far been their best result when they reached the quarter finals. Fiji also competes in the Pacific Tri-Nations and the Pacific Nations Cup. The sport is governed by the Fiji Rugby Union which is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, and contributes to the Pacific Islanders rugby union team. At the club level there are the Colonial Cup and Pacific Rugby Cup. The Fiji sevens team is the most successful rugby 7s team in the world.

• Vijay Singh, one of the best golfers in the world, is from Fiji. He was born in Lautoka.
• Waisale Serevi, a world-renowned sevens rugby player, is from Fiji. Commentators refer to him as the Majician, or Maestro.
• Lote Tuqiri, dual code international for Australian Rugby Union Wallabies and Fiji Rugby League Bati is from Fiji.

[edit] Culture

Main article: Culture of Fiji

See also: Music of Fiji and Festivals in Fiji

[edit] See also

List of Fiji-related topics List of Fijians Communications in Fiji Transportation in Fiji

Military of Fiji Foreign relations of Fiji Fiji Meteorological Service

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Find more information on Fiji by searching Wikipedia's sister projects
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• WikiMapia has wiki satellite maps of Fiji.
• Fiji travel guide from Wikitravel
• CIA Factbook
• Official Website of the Government of Fiji
• Official Website of the Parliament of Fiji
• Bulafiji.com. Official Fiji Visitors Bureau website
• The Fiji Times - Fiji News, Sport and Weather from Fiji's leading newspaper
• Open Directory Project - Fiji directory category
• Documents affecting Fiji at the Diplomacy Monitor
• FijiTuwawa:The fiji online community
• Seacology Fiji Projects Seacology