From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fiji [ˈfidʒi] (help·info) (Fijian: Matanitu ko Viti; Fijian Hindustani: फ़िजी), officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Fijian: Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti; Fijian Hindustani: फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य), 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.
Etymology
Fiji's main island is known as Viti Levu and it is from this that
the name "Fiji" is derived, through the pronunciation of their island
neighbours in Tonga. Its emergence was best described as follows:
Fijians first impressed themselves on European consciousness through the writings of the members of the expeditions of Cook
who met them in Tonga. They were described as formidable warriors and
ferocious cannibals, builders of the finest vessels in the Pacific, but
not great sailors. They inspired awe amongst the Tongans, and all their
Manufactures, especially bark cloth and clubs, were highly esteemed and
much in demand. They called their home Viti, but the Tongans called it
Fisi, and it was by this foreign pronunciation, Fiji, first promulgated
by Captain James Cook, that these islands are now known. [2]
History
-
The first people of Fiji arrived long before contact with European
explorers in the seventeenth century. Pottery excavated from Fijian
towns shows that Fiji was settled before or around 1000 BC, although
the 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 labourers. 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 and accompanying civil unrest 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, instigated by George Speight, that 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 have offered 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 a large armed forces, and has been a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions
in various parts of the world. In addition, a significant number of
former military personnel have served in the lucrative security sector
in Iraq following the 2003 US-led invasion.
Politics
-
- 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.
2006 military takeover
-
Citing corruption in the government, Commodore Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama, Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, staged a military takeover on December 5, 2006
against the Prime Minister that he himself had installed after the 2000
coup. There had been two military coups in 1987 and one in 2000 when
the military had taken over from elected governments led by or
dominated by Indo Fijians. On this occasion the military took over from
an indigenous Fijian government which it alleged was corrupt and
racist. 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. Despite
intervention to reconcile the parties by the President, Vice President
and Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand there was no willingness
to make concessions on either side. This therefore failed to resolve
the crisis.
Bainimarama named Jona Senilagakali
caretaker Prime Minister. 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,
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.[7]
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,[8] who made a broadcast endorsing the actions of the military.[9] The next day, Iloilo named Bainimarama as the interim Prime Minister,[10] indicating that the Military was still effectively in control.
In the wake of the take over, reports have emerged of intimidation
of some of those critical of the interim regime. It is alleged that two
individuals have died in military custody since December 2006. These
deaths have been investigated and suspects charged but not yet brought
to court.
Following ongoing criticism from neighbours, specifically Australia
and New Zealand, the New Zealand High Commissioner Michael Green was
expelled from Fiji in mid June 2007, in the aftermath of restrictive
emergency regulations having been lifted (recognised as a generally
positive development by outside observers).
On September 6, 2007, Commodore Frank Bainimarama said Fiji's military declared again a state of emergency as he believed ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase was engaged in destabilization efforts when he returned to Suva after 8 months of exile on his home island Vanuabalavu in Lau, Elections were tentatively set on March 2009.[11]
The interim Government set up an anti corruption Commission which
have received numerous complaints and allegations, also there have been
a number of high profile dismissals from government and associated
industry. The anti corruption body however, has yet to successfully
prosecute anyone for alleged corruption.
During November 2007 there were a number of people brought in for
questioning in regard to an assassination plot directed at the Interim
Prime Minister, senior army officers and members of the Interim Cabinet.
Political Divisions
Map of the divisions of Fiji.
-
Fiji is divided into 4 divisions:
These divisions are further divided into 14 districts.
Geography
-
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. Fiji's nearest neighbour is Tonga. The climate in Fiji is tropical and warm most of the year round.
Economy
-
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 1980s. The coup 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[12]
and increasing in the subsequent years — are the major sources of
foreign exchange. Fiji is highly dependent on tourism for revenue.
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 2003 and 2004 but grew by 1.7%
in 2005 and grew 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 was inaugurated in 1984. The Suva Central Commercial Centre,
which opened in November 2005, was planned to outrank the Reserve Bank
building at seventeen stories, but last-minute design changes made sure
that the Reserve Bank building remains the tallest.
Demographics
-
Ethnic groups
The population of Fiji is mostly made up of native Fijians, who are Melanesians (54.3%), although a few also have Polynesian ancestry, 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 due to migration
for various reasons. There is also a small but significant group of
descendants of indentured labourers from Solomon Islands.
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 at a political
level 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. There are also good indications of racial harmony with the
recognition of cultural and religious holidays by all races in Fiji.
Religion
Religion is one of the
primary differences between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians, with
the former overwhelmingly Christian (97.2% at the 1996 census), and the latter mostly Hindu (70.7%) and Muslim (17.9%).
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. Fiji is also the base for the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia (part of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia).
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, which has since been renamed the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Suva, which spans the whole 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%) and Shia (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 Bahá'í Faith has over 21 Local Spiritual Assemblies throughout Fiji and Baha'is live in more than 80 localities.[13] The first Baha'i on the island was a New Zealander who arrived in 1924.[13]
There is also a small Jewish population on the island. Every year the
Israeli Embassy organises a Passover celebration with approximately 100
people attending.
Sport
-
Main article: Sport in Fiji
The national sport of Fiji is considered to be rugby union (see rugby union in Fiji), however rugby league is also widely played. The national team is very successful given the size of the population of the country, and has competed at four Rugby World Cups, the first being in 1987,
where they reached the quarter-finals. The Fiji national side did not
match that feat again until the 2007 Rugby World Cup when they upset
Wales 38-34 to progress to 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 one of the most successful rugby sevens teams in the world, having won the two world cup titles and the 2006 IRB Series.
Following is a list of Notable Fijians in Sport:
Culture
-
Fiji's culture is a rich mosaic of indigenous, Indian, Chinese and
European traditions, comprising social polity, language, food, costume,
belief systems, architecture, arts, craft, music, dance and sports.
The indigenous culture is very much active and living, and is a part
of everyday life for the majority of the population. However, it has
evolved with the introduction of vibrant and old cultures like the
Indian and Chinese ones, as well as a large influence from Europe, and
from various Pacific neighbors of Fiji, mainly the Tongan and Rotuman.
The culture of Fiji has created a unique communal and national identity.
See also
Footnotes
- ^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fj.html#People CIA World Factbook-Fiji-People
- ^ PDF article from Fiji Government on Line, section on Europeans in Fiji
- ^ Pacific Peoples, Melanesia/Micronesia/Polynesia, Central Queensland University
- ^ Abel Janszoon Tasman Biography, Answers.com
- ^ Oceania - A Short History of Fiji, Jane Resture's Oceania Page
- ^ Phil Taylor (2006-12-06). "Fiji – alone under the gun", NZ Herald. Retrieved on 2007-09-30.
- ^ Phil Mercer (2006-12-09). "Ads for Fiji's post-coup cabinet", BBC News. Retrieved on 2007-09-30.
- ^ "Commander hands back Executive Authority to Ratu Iloilo", Fijivillage (2007-01-04). Archived from the original on 2007-09-30.
- ^ "I support army takeover: Iloilo", Fijilive (2007-01-04). Archived from the original on 2007-09-30.
- ^ "President swears in interim PM", Fijilive (2007-01-05). Archived from the original on 2007-09-30.
- ^ "Emergency rule declared in Fiji", BBC News (2007-09-07). Retrieved on 2007-09-30.
- ^ Fiji Economy and Politics,Economy and Politics in Fiji,Economy and Politics at Fiji. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
- ^ a b "Graceful trees mark anniversary", Baha'i World News Service (2005-04-12). Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
References
- Wright, Ronald (1986). On Fiji Islands. Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized 5 Dec 2006. ISBN 067080634X.
Traces the colonization of the Fiji Islands, explains how the Fijians
have managed to keep their language and culture intact, and describes
modern Fiji society.
- Derrick, Ronald Albert (1951). The Fiji Islands: A Geographical Handbook. Govt. Print. Dept Fiji, 334 pages, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized 11 Jul 2006. Details on Fiji its history and Geography.
- Lal, Brij V. (1992). Broken Waves: A History of the Fiji Islands in the Twentieth Century. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824814185. Details of Fiji's History, Geography, Economy.
- Back to the Chessboard: The Coup and the Re-Emergence of Pre-colonial Rivalries in Fiji. In: Kolig/Mückler (eds.) (2002). Politics of Indigeneity in the South Pacific. LIT Verlag, Hamburg, 143–158. ISBN 3825859150.
- Miller, Korina; Jones, Robyn; Pinheiro, Leonardo (2003). Fiji. Lonely Planet. ISBN 1740591348. Travel guide.
Bibliography
- Derrick, Ronald Albert (1957). A History of Fiji. Suva, Fiji: Government Printer.
- Scarr, Deryck (1984). Fiji: A Short History. Sydney, Australia: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 0868613193.
- Waterhouse, Joseph (1998). The King and People of Fiji. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824819209.
External links
Coordinates: 
18° S 179° E
Classical
from 
