The topic of racism is an ongoing and controversial issue in Fiji, especially in Fijian politics. Racism has been cited as one of the main reasons for the occurrence of coups d'état in Fiji in the past, with Fiji having had four coups, more than any other country in Oceania.
History
editPre-independence
editIn 1874, a Ku Klux Klan group was established in Fiji by white American and British settlers wanting to enact White supremacy, although its operations were quickly put to an end by the British who, although not officially yet established as the major authority of Fiji, had played a leading role in establishing a new constitutional monarchy, the Kingdom of Fiji, that was being threatened by the activities of the Fijian Klan, which owned fortresses and artillery. By March, it had become the "British Subjects' Mutual Protection Society", which included Francis Herbert Dufty.[1][2][3][4]
Post-independence
editBoth before and after Fiji gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1970, there were ethnic tensions between the Indigenous Fijians and the Indo-Fijians, Fiji's two largest ethnic groups, who (at the time) made up an estimated 46% and 49% of the population, respectively. Possible reasons for these ethnic tensions include wealth (Indo-Fijians are often richer than Indigenous Fijians)[5] and religion (the majority of Indo-Fijians are Hindus, while the majority of Indigenous Fijians are Christians).
In 1987, the two coups d'état were successful in removing Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra from power, the deposition of Elizabeth II as the Queen of Fiji and the declaration of a republic. These coups are believed to have been motivated by ethnic tensions.
In 2000, another coup d'état was held by Fijian nationalists aimed at removing the country's first Indian Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry.[6]
In 2006, Frank Bainimarama (who has been Prime Minister since 2007, having been elected after elections were restored in 2014) successfully launched a coup d'état and effectively removed the Government of Fiji. Bainimarama said he did this in order to make governmental reforms, such as to create a new constitution.[7] He also aimed to end racial tensions in Fiji.
References
edit- ^ Gravelle, Kim (1988). Fiji's Times: A History of Fiji. Suva: The Fiji Times. pp. 120–124.
- ^ Ali, Ahmed (2008). The Federation Movement in Fiji, 1880–1902. p. 7. ISBN 978-1440102158.
- ^ "Discovering Fiji: Cakobau and the Ku Klux Klan". 7 June 2020. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
- ^ van Dijk, Kees (2015-03-14). Pacific Strife: the great powers and their political and economic rivalries in Asia and the Western Pacific, 1870–1914. Amsterdam University Press. p. 69. ISBN 978-9048516193.
- ^ "Indo-Fijians". Minority Rights Group. 2015-06-19. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
- ^ "For First Time, Ethnic Indian Will Lead Fiji". The New York Times. Associated Press. 1999-05-20. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
- ^ "Fiji". Ocean Panel. Retrieved 2023-01-31.