Fiji

*Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti*
Republic of the Fiji Islands
Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti Republic of the Fiji Islands
	Motto: Rerevaka na Kalou ka Doka na Tui; (English: Fear God and honour the Queen)
	Anthem: God Bless Fiji;
Capital; (and largest city)	Suva; 18°10′S 178°27′E
Official languages	English, Bau Fijian, and Hindustani (Hindi/Urdu)
Government	Republic
Independence
Area
Population
GDP (PPP)	2005 estimate
Currency	Fijian dollar (FJD)
Time zone	(UTC+12)
Internet TLD	.fj
Calling code	+679
	† - Recognised by Great Council of Chiefs, not repudiated

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Fiji, 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; in addition, there are some 522 islets. The two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for some 87 percent of the total population. The name Fiji is the old Tongan word for the islands, which is in turn derived from the Fijian language name Viti.

Geography

Fiji is a group of volcanic islands in the South Pacific Ocean, lying about 4450km southwest of Hawaii, and 1770km north of New Zealand. Of the 322 islands and 522 smaller islets making up the archipelago, about 106 are permanently inhabited. Viti Levu, the largest island, covers about 57 percent of the nation's land area, hosts the two official cities, the capital Suva, and Lautoka) and most other major towns, such as Ba, Nasinu, and Nadi (the site of the international airport), and contains some 69 percent of the population. Vanua Levu, 64km to the north of Viti Levu, covers just over 30 percent of the land area and is home to some 15 percent of the population. Its main towns are Labasa and Savusavu.

Both islands are mountainous, with peaks up to 1300 metres rising abruptly from the shore, and covered with tropical forests. Heavy rains (up to 304cm) fall on the windward (southeastern) side, covering these sections of the islands with dense tropical forest. Lowlands on the western portions of each of the main islands are sheltered by the mountains and have a well-marked dry season favorable to crops such as sugarcane.

Other islands and island groups, which cover just 2.5 percent of the land area but house some 16 percent of the population, include Taveuni and Kadavu (the third and fourth largest islands respectively), the Mamanuca Islands (just outside Nadi) and Yasawa Islands (to the north of the Mamanucas), which are popular tourist destinations, the Lomaiviti Group, outside of Suva, and the remote Lau Islands. The only major town on any of the smaller islands is Levuka, Fiji's old capital, on the island of Ovalau. Rotuma, some 500km north of the archipelago, has a special administrative status in Fiji.

File:Fj-map.png

Map of Fiji

More than half of Fiji's population lives on the island coasts, either in Suva or in smaller urban centers. The interior is sparsely populated due to its rough terrain.

The total land area is 18,270 square kilometres, which is slightly smaller than New Jersey. It has a tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation. The terrain is mostly mountains of volcanic origin. The lowest point is the Pacific Ocean, and the highest point, Tomanivi, at 1324 metres.

Natural resources include timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore petroleum oil potential, and hydropower. Ten percent of land is arable land, four percent is permanent crops, 10 percent permanent pastures, and 65 percent are forests and woodland.

Cyclonic storms can occur from November to January. Environmental issues facing Fiji are deforestation and soil erosion.

Fiji's location in Oceanea

File:PIA03411 Republic of Fiji-NASA.jpg

Fiji, MISR image NASA. [1]

History

Levuka, 1842

The first inhabitants of Fiji arrived from South East Asia long before contact with European explorers in the 17th century. In 1500 B.C.E., Fiji was settled by Polynesian seafarers. From 500 B.C.E., Melanesian seafarers reached Fiji and intermarried with the Polynesian inhabitants, giving rise to the modern Fijian people.

It is documented] that Fiji was visited by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in an attempt to find the Great Southern Continent in 1643. In 1774, British explorer Captain James Cook visited Vatoa in the southern Lau archipelago.

It was not until 1822 that permanent European settlement began at Levuka, Fiji's first modern town, and the first Christian missionaries from Tahiti arrived in southern Lau.

In 1871, the Kingdom of Fiji was established as a constitutional monarchy, with Cakobau as King but with real power in the hands of a Cabinet and Legislature dominated by settlers from Australia. The islands came under British control as a colony in 1874.

It was granted independence in 1970. Democratic rule was interrupted by two Fiji coups in 1987, caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by the Indo-Fijian community. A consequence of the second 1987 coup was that the British Monarchy and the Governor-General of Fiji were replaced by a non-executive president, and the long form of the country's name changed from "Dominion of Fiji" to "Republic of Fiji," which changed to "Republic of the Fiji Islands" in 1997.

A 1990 constitution guaranteed ethnic Fijian control, but led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. Amendments enacted in 1997 made the constitution more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian. A year later, this was deposed in a coup led by George Speight, a hardline Fijian nationalist. Fiji's membership of the Commonwealth of Nations was suspended due to the anti-democratic activities connected with the 2000 coup. Democracy was restored towards the end of 2000, and Laisenia Qarase, who had led an interim government in the meantime, was elected Prime Minister. Fiji was readmitted to the Commonwealth in 2001.

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

|1871||Establishment of the Kingdom of Fiji as a constitutional monarchy, with Cakobau as King but with real power in the hands of a Cabinet and Legislature dominated by settlers from Australia. |- |1872||Lavish overspending saddles the new kingdom with debt. John Thurston, a government official, approaches the United Kingdom on Cakobau's behalf with an offer to cede the islands. |- |1874||10 October - Fiji becomes a British colony. |}

1874 to 1970

See main article: History of Fiji:Colonial Fiji

Date	Event
1875	An outbreak of measles leaves a third of the Fijian population dead.
1876	Great Council of Chiefs established.
1879	14 May - arrival of 463 indentured labourers from India - the first of some 61,000 to come over the ensuing 37 years.
1881	First large sugar mill built at Nausori. Rotuma Island annexed to Fiji.
1882	Capital moved from Levuka to Suva.
1904	Legislative Council reconstituted as a partially elected body, with European male settlers enfranchised and Fijian chiefs given an indirect input. Most seats still filled by nomination rather than election.
1916	End of the importing of indentured labourers from India. First Indian appointed to Legislative Council.
1917	Count Felix Von Luckner arrested on Wakaya Island.
1918	14% of the population killed by the Spanish flu pandemic (within sixteen days).[2]
1928	First flight from Hawaii lands at Suva.
1929	Wealthy Indians enfranchised for the first time; Indian representation in the Legislative Council made elective.
1939	Nadi Airport built as an Allied air base.
1940	Native Land Trust Board established under the chairmanship of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna.
1951	Founding of Fiji Airways (now Air Pacific).
1953	Visit of Queen Elizabeth II. Legislative Council expanded - but elective seats still a minority.
1954	Ratu Sukuna appointed first Speaker of the Legislative Council.
1963	Indigenous Fijians enfranchised. Indigenous representation in the Legislative Council made elective, except for 2 members chosen by the Great Council of Chiefs. Women enfranchised.
1964	Member System introduced, with Legislative Council members appointed to oversee government departments. This was the first step towards the establishment of a Cabinet system.
1965	Constitutional conference in London fails to agree on a timetable for a transition to internal self-government, but subsequent negotiations lead to compromises.
1967	Responsible government instituted; Ratu Kamisese Mara appointed first Chief Minister.
1968	University of the South Pacific established.
1970	April - Constitutional conference in London; Mara and Sidiq Koya agree on a compromise constitutional formula. 10 October - Fiji attains independence, ending 96 years of British rule.

1970 to present

See main article: History of Fiji:The modern nation

Date	Event
1972	First post-independence election won by Ratu Mara's Alliance Party.
1973	Sugar industry nationalized.
1977	Constitutional crisis in which Governor-General Ratu Sir George Cakobau overturns election results, following the failure of the winning National Federation Party to put together a government. The election held to resolve the impasse results in a landslide for the Alliance Party.
1978	Fijian peacekeeping troops sent to Lebanon.
1981	Fijian peacekeeping troops sent to the Sinai following Israel's withdrawal.
1987	General election won by the Labour-National Federation Party coalition. On 13 April, Timoci Bavadra becomes Prime Minister for a month. 14 May - Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka carries out a coup d'état. 25 September - Rabuka stages a second coup to consolidate the gains of the first. 7 October - Rabuka proclaims a republic, severing the 113-year link to the British Monarchy. Fiji expelled from the Commonwealth of Nations. 5 December - Rabuka appoints Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau as Fiji's first President.
1990	New Constitution instutionalises ethnic Fijian domination of the political system.
1992	Rabuka becomes Prime Minister following elections held under the new constitution.
1994	Election results force Rabuka to open negotiations with the Into-Fijian-dominated opposition.
1995	Rabuka establishes the Constitutional Review Commission.
1997	Constitutional conference leads to a new Constitution, supported by most leaders of the indigenous Fijian and Indo-Fijian communities.
1999	First general election held under the 1997 Constitution won by Fiji Labour Party. Mahendra Chaudhry becomes first Prime Minister of Indian descent.
2000	May 19 - civilian coup d'état instigated by George Speight effectively topples the Chaudhry government. 29 May - Commodore Frank Bainimarama assumes executive power after the resignation, possibly forced, of President Mara. 2 November - Mutiny at Suva's Queen Elizabeth Barracks. 15 November - High Court orders the reinstatement of the constitution.
2001	March 1 - Court of Appeals upholds High Court order reinstating constitution. September - General election held to restore democracy; a plurality won by interim Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua.
2005	May - Amid much controversy, the Qarase government proposes Reconciliation and Unity Commission, with power to recommend compensation for victims of the 2000 coup, and amnesty for its perpetrators.

Politics

Politics of Fiji takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Fiji is the head of government, and of a pluriform 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.

Local government

Main article: Local government of Fiji

Fiji is divided into four parts, called divisions (capitals in parentheses):

Central Division (Suva)
Northern Division (Labasa)
Eastern Division (Levuka)
Western Division (Lautoka)

These divisions are further subdivided into fourteen provinces. Additionally, the island of Rotuma, north of the main archipelago, has the status of a dependency. It is officially included in the Eastern Division for statistical purposes, but administratively has a degree of internal autonomy.

Municipal governments, with City and Town Councils presided over by Mayors, have been established in Suva, Lautoka, and ten other towns.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Fiji

Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Fiji experienced a period of rapid growth in the 1960s and 70s 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.

Until recently, the tallest building in Fiji was the 14-story Reserve Bank of Fiji Building in Suva, which opened in 1984. As of November 2005, the 17 story Suva Central commercial center is now the tallest building in Fiji.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Fiji

Ethnic Groups

The population of Fiji is mostly made up of native Fijians, a people of mixed Polynesian and Melanesian ancestry (54.3%), and Indo-Fijians (38.1%), descendants of Indian contract labourers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century. The percentage of the population of Indian descent has declined significantly over the last two decades because of 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.

Language

Three official languages are prescribed by the constitution: English, which was introduced by the former British colonial rulers, Bau Fijian, spoken by ethnic Fijians, and Hindustani, the main language spoken by Indo-Fijians. Citizens of Fiji have the constitutional right to communicate with any government agency in any of the official languages, with an interpreter to be supplied on request.

The use of English is one of the most enduring legacies of almost a century of British rule. Widely spoken by both ethnic Fijians and Indo-Fijians, English is the main medium of communication between the two communities, as well as with the outside world. It is the language in which the government conducts most of its business, and is the main language of education, commerce, and the courts.

Fijian belongs to the Austronesian family of languages. Fijian proper is closely related to the Polynesian languages, such as Tongan. There are many dialects, but the official standard is the speech of Bau, the most politically and militarily powerful of the many indigenous kingdoms of the 19th Century.

"Hindustani" is considered an umbrella term in India for the standard languages Hindi (preferred by Hindus) and Urdu (preferred by Muslims), as well as many closely related tongues that are sometimes considered separate languages. Fijian Hindustani descends from one of the eastern forms of Hindustani, called Awadhi. It has developed some unique features that differentiate it from the Awadhi spoken on the Indian subcontinent, although not to the extent of hindering mutual understanding. It is spoken by nearly the entire Indo-Fijian community regardless of ancestry, except for a few elders.

In addition to the three official languages, several other languages are spoken. On the island of Rotuma, Rotuman is used; this is more closely related to the Polynesian languages than to Fijian. Some Fijian dialects, especially in the west of the country, differ markedly from the official Bau standard, and would be considered separate languages if they had a codified grammar or a literary tradition. Among the Indo-Fijian community, there is a small Gujarati-speaking community, and a few older Indo-Fijians still speak Telugu and Tamil, with smaller numbers of Bihari, Bengali, and others.

In the Fijian alphabet, some of the letters have unusual values. For one, the "c" is a voiced "th" sound, [ð]. (For example, the name of Fiji-born New Zealand rugby player Joe Rokocoko is often mis-pronounced. The correct pronunciation is IPA: [rɒkɒˈðɒkɒ].) Another difference is that the letters "b" and "d" are always pronounced with a nasal before them, [mb, nd], even at the beginning of a word. The "q" is pronounced like a "g" with a nasal "ng" before it, [ŋg] as in the word "finger", while the "g" is pronounced like the "ng" of the word "singer", [ŋ].

Religion

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

The largest Christian denomination is the Methodist Church. 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.

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.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Fiji

See also: Music of Fiji, Festivals in Fiji

Miscellaneous topics

Wikimedia Commons has media related to::

Fiji

List of Fiji-related topics
List of Fijians
Communications in Fiji
Transportation in Fiji
Military of Fiji
Foreign relations of Fiji

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