Fiji Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! === Independence === ====1987 coups d'état==== The British granted Fiji independence in 1970. Democratic rule was interrupted by two [[1987 Fijian coups d'état|military coups]] in 1987<ref name="RSB">{{cite book |last1=Blum |first1=William |title=Rogue State |date=2002 |publisher=Common Courage Press |location=Monroe |isbn=184277221X |pages=153–154}}</ref> precipitated by a growing perception that the government was dominated by the [[Indians in Fiji|Indo-Fijian]] (Indian) community. The second 1987 coup saw both the Fijian monarchy and the [[Governor-General of Fiji|Governor General]] replaced by a non-executive president and the name of the country changed from ''[[British Dominions|Dominion]] of Fiji'' to ''Republic of Fiji'' and then in 1997 to ''Republic of the Fiji Islands''. The two coups and the accompanying civil unrest contributed to heavy Indo-Fijian emigration; the resulting population loss resulted in economic difficulties and ensured that Melanesians became the majority.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.migrationinformation.org/Profiles/display.cfm?ID=110|title=Fiji Islands: From Immigration to Emigration|last=Lal|first=Brij V|date=April 2003|publisher=Migration Policy Institute|access-date=14 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304101928/http://www.migrationinformation.org/Profiles/display.cfm?ID=110|archive-date=4 March 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1990, the new constitution institutionalised ethnic Fijian domination of the political system. The [[Group Against Racial Discrimination]] (GARD) was formed to oppose the unilaterally imposed constitution and to restore the 1970 constitution. In 1992 [[Sitiveni Rabuka]], the Lieutenant Colonel who had carried out the 1987 coup, became Prime Minister following elections held under the new constitution. Three years later, Rabuka established the Constitutional Review Commission, which in 1997 wrote a new constitution which was supported by most leaders of the indigenous Fijian and Indo-Fijian communities. Fiji was re-admitted to the [[Commonwealth of Nations]]. ====2000 coup d'état==== In 2000, [[2000 Fijian coup d'état|a coup]] was instigated by [[George Speight]], which effectively toppled the government of [[Mahendra Chaudhry]], who in 1997 had become the country's first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister following the adoption of the new constitution. Commodore [[Frank Bainimarama]] assumed executive power after the resignation, possibly forced, of President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. Later in 2000, Fiji was rocked by [[Mutinies of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état|two mutinies]] when rebel soldiers went on a rampage at Suva's Queen Elizabeth Barracks. The [[High Court of Fiji|High Court]] ordered the reinstatement of the constitution, and in September 2001, to restore democracy, a general election was held which was won by interim Prime Minister [[Laisenia Qarase]]'s [[Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua]] party.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lal|first=Brij V.|date=2002|title=In George Speight's Shadow: Fiji General Elections of 2001|journal=The Journal of Pacific History|volume=37|issue=1|pages=87–101|jstor=25169576|doi=10.1080/00223340220139298|s2cid=162166648}}</ref> In 2005, the Qarase government amid much controversy proposed a [[Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill|Reconciliation and Unity Commission]] with power to recommend compensation for victims of the 2000 coup and amnesty for its perpetrators. However, the military, especially the nation's top military commander, Frank Bainimarama, strongly opposed this bill. Bainimarama agreed with detractors who said that to grant amnesty to supporters of the present government who had played a role in the violent coup was a sham. His attack on the legislation, which continued unremittingly throughout May and into June and July, further strained his already tense relationship with the government. ====2006 coup d'état==== In late November 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 either to concede or resign, and on 5 December President Ratu [[Josefa Iloilo]] signed a legal order dissolving the parliament after meeting with Bainimarama. Citing corruption in the government, Bainimarama staged a military takeover on 5 December 2006 against the prime minister that he had installed after a 2000 coup. The commodore took over the powers of the presidency and dissolved the parliament, paving the way for the military to continue the takeover. The coup was the culmination of weeks of speculation following conflict between the elected prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, and Bainimarama. Bainimarama had repeatedly issued demands and deadlines to the prime minister. A particular issue was previously pending legislation to pardon those involved in the 2000 coup. Bainimarama named [[Jona Senilagakali]] as caretaker prime minister. The next week Bainimarama said he would ask the Great Council of Chiefs to restore executive powers to the president, Ratu Josefa Iloilo.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10414033 |title=Fiji – alone under the gun |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |author=Phil Taylor |date=6 December 2006 |access-date=30 September 2007}}</ref> On 4 January 2007, the military announced that it was restoring executive power to Iloilo,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_34881.shtml |title=Commander hands back executive authority to Ratu Iloilo |publisher=FijiVillage.com |date=4 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107051230/http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_34881.shtml |archive-date=7 January 2007 }}</ref> who made a broadcast endorsing the actions of the military.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/04/04fijilive09.html |title=I support army takeover: Iloilo |publisher=Fijilive |date=4 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125100134/http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/04/04fijilive09.html |archive-date=25 January 2007 }}</ref> The next day, Iloilo named Bainimarama as the interim prime minister,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/05/05fijilive08.html |title=President swears in interim PM |publisher=Fijilive |date=5 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125100307/http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/05/05fijilive08.html |archive-date=25 January 2007 }}</ref> indicating that the military was still effectively in control. In the wake of the takeover, reports emerged of alleged intimidation of some of those critical of the interim regime. ====2009 transfer of power==== {{main|2009 Fijian constitutional crisis}} In April 2009, the [[Court of Appeal of Fiji|Fiji Court of Appeal]] overturned the High Court decision that Bainimarama's takeover of Qarase's government was lawful and declared the interim government to be illegal. Bainimarama agreed to step down as interim prime minister immediately, along with his government, and President Iloilo was to appoint a new prime minister. President Iloilo [[Obrogation|abrogated]] the constitution, and removed all office holders under the constitution including all judges and the governor of the Central Bank. In his own words, he "appoint[ed] [him]self as the Head of the State of Fiji under a new legal order".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_14712.shtml |title=President's Address to the Nation |access-date=22 April 2009 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090818171844/http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_14712.shtml |archive-date=18 August 2009 }}, fiji.gov.fj (10 April 2009).</ref> He then reappointed Bainimarama under his "New Order" as interim prime minister and imposed a "Public Emergency Regulation" limiting internal travel and allowing press censorship. On 2 May 2009, Fiji became the first nation ever to have been suspended from participation in the [[Pacific Islands Forum]], for its failure to hold democratic elections by the date promised.<ref>[http://www.forumsec.org/pages.cfm/newsroom/press-statements/2009/forum-chair-on-suspension-of-fiji-military-regime-from-pif.html Statement by Forum Chair on suspension of the Fiji military regime from the Pacific Islands Forum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324102614/http://www.forumsec.org/pages.cfm/newsroom/press-statements/2009/forum-chair-on-suspension-of-fiji-military-regime-from-pif.html |date=24 March 2012 }}; PIFS Press Statement (21/09), 2 May 2009</ref><ref name="RNZI_46320">{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=46320 |title=Chair of Pacific Islands Forum says Fiji has been suspended |date=2 May 2009 |website=[[Radio New Zealand International]] |access-date=30 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303132142/http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=46320 |archive-date=3 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Nevertheless, it remains a member of the Forum. On 1 September 2009, Fiji was suspended from the [[Commonwealth of Nations]]. The action was taken because Bainimarama failed to hold elections by 2010 as the Commonwealth of Nations had demanded after the 2006 coup. Bainimarama stated a need for more time to end a voting system that heavily favoured ethnic Fijians at the expense of the multi-ethnic minorities. Critics claimed that he had suspended the constitution and was responsible for [[human rights]] violations by arresting and detaining opponents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thecommonwealth.org/news/34580/213088/010909fijisuspended.htm |title=Fiji suspended from the Commonwealth |date=1 September 2009 |publisher=Commonwealth.org |access-date=2 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904153829/http://www.thecommonwealth.org/news/34580/213088/010909fijisuspended.htm |archive-date=4 September 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8231717.stm |title=Fiji suspended from Commonwealth |work=BBC News |date=1 September 2009 |access-date=2 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610103352/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8231717.stm |archive-date=10 June 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> In his 2010 New Year's address, Bainimarama announced the lifting of the Public Emergency Regulations (PER). However, the PER was not rescinded until January 2012, and the Suva Philosophy Club was the first organisation to reorganise and convene public meetings.<ref>Fiji Times, 'PER Lifted' (12 January 2012)</ref> The PER had been put in place in April 2009 when the former constitution was abrogated. The PER had allowed restrictions on speech, public gatherings, and censorship of news media and had given security forces added powers. He also announced a nationwide consultation process leading to a new constitution under which the 2014 elections were held. The official name of the country was reverted to ''Republic of Fiji'' in February 2011.<ref>In February 2011, the prime minister's office issued a statement saying that the name of the state had officially changed from the Republic of the Fiji Islands to the '''Republic of Fiji''' and that the name written in the 1997 constitution was now void (the constitution has been suspended since April 2009). Compare: {{cite web|publisher=Fijivillage.com|url= http://fijivillage.com/news/Country-is-now-officially-called-Republic-of-Fiji-5s9r2k/|title= Country is now officially called Republic of Fiji|date= 3 February 2011|access-date= 22 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160622152850/http://fijivillage.com/news/Country-is-now-officially-called-Republic-of-Fiji-5s9r2k/|archive-date= 22 June 2016|quote = The country is now officially called Republic of Fiji.<br />Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, Colonel Pio Tikoduadua said the name, Republic of the Fiji Islands, as stated in the 1997 constitution is no longer applicable.}}</ref> ==== Since 2014 ==== On 14 March 2014, the [[Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group]] voted to change Fiji's full suspension from the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] to a suspension from the councils of the Commonwealth, allowing them to participate in a number of Commonwealth activities, including the [[2014 Commonwealth Games]].<ref>[http://thecommonwealth.org/media/news/fiji-flag-flies-again-following-commonwealth-ministerial-action-group-decision Fiji flag flies again following Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group decision] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809015552/http://thecommonwealth.org/media/news/fiji-flag-flies-again-following-commonwealth-ministerial-action-group-decision |date=9 August 2014 }}. thecommonwealth.org. 17 March 2014</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Turagaiviu|first1=Elenoa|title=Fiji's Commonwealth suspension partially lifted|url=http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/18370/fiji%E2%80%99s-commonwealth-suspension-partially-lifted|access-date=5 December 2017|publisher=FBC News|date=15 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206140102/http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/18370/fiji%E2%80%99s-commonwealth-suspension-partially-lifted|archive-date=6 December 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The suspension was lifted in September 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thecommonwealth.org/media/press-release/fiji-rejoins-commonwealth-full-member|title=Fiji rejoins Commonwealth as a full member|publisher=The Commonwealth|date=26 September 2014|access-date=28 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927121336/http://thecommonwealth.org/media/press-release/fiji-rejoins-commonwealth-full-member|archive-date=27 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[FijiFirst]] party, led by Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, won outright majority in the country's 51-seat parliament both in 2014 [[2014 Fijian general election|election]] and narrowly in 2018 [[2018 Fijian general election|election]].<ref>{{cite news |agency=Australian Associated Press |title=Fiji election: Bainimarama returned as PM in slim victory |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/18/fiji-election-bainimarama-returned-as-pm-in-slim-victory |work=the Guardian |date=18 November 2018 |language=en}}</ref> In October 2021, [[Wiliame Katonivere|Tui Macuata Ratu Wiliame Katonivere]] was elected the new [[President of Fiji]] by the parliament.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ligaiula |first1=Pita |title=Ratu Wiliame Katonivere is Fiji's new President {{!}} PINA |url=https://pina.com.fj/2021/10/22/ratu-wiliame-katonivere-is-fijis-new-president/}}</ref> On 24 December 2022, [[Sitiveni Rabuka]], the head of the [[People's Alliance (Fiji)|People's Alliance]] (PAP), became Fiji's 12th prime minister, succeeding Bainimarama, following the December 2022 [[2022 Fijian general election|general election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sitiveni 'Rambo' Rabuka confirmed as Fiji's new prime minister |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/12/24/sitiveni-rambo-rabuka-confirmed-as-fijis-new-prime-minister |work=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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