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Asia and Oceania
Fiji |
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Last reviewed: 11 September 2009 |
Country information
Politics
Fiji achieved independence as a Realm within the Commonwealth on 10 October 1970 and enjoyed political stability until the election of April 1987 when Fiji's first Indo-Fijian dominated coalition was elected. A group of nationalists, the Taukei, reacted to the election by stirring up indigenous concerns of impending Indian domination. A month of violent protests resulted in a bloodless military coup on 14 May, led by Lieutenant Colonel (later Major General) Sitiveni Rabuka. After further nationalist discontent, Rabuka staged a second coup on 25 September 1987, revoked the existing Constitution (of 1970) and declared Fiji a republic. As a result, in October 1987, Fiji left the Commonwealth. The position taken by Commonwealth leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Vancouver in 1987 was that Fiji’s adoption of republican status in October meant that its Commonwealth membership had 'lapsed'. Fiji was readmitted to the Commonwealth in October 1997 following the introduction of a new Constitution which brought Fiji back in line with Commonwealth principles.
Rabuka also made a formal apology to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
Major General Rabuka was appointed Prime Minister in the 1992 election, which was held under a new Constitution (1990). The 1990 Constitution was replaced in 1997. The 1997 Constitution guaranteed indigenous Fijian dominance in the most senior government and administrative positions, but also called for a review of Fiji's constitutional arrangements before mid-1997. The Constitutional Review Commission was established in 1995 under the chairmanship of Sir Paul Reeves, a former Governor General of New Zealand. The Reeves' Commission recommendations were considered by a multi-party Joint Parliamentary Select Committee (JPSC), which, in April 1997, reached agreement on a number of core issues, including the principle of a multi-racial Cabinet. The agreed recommendations came into effect as constitutional amendments on 27 July 1998, creating a newly named 'Republic of the Fiji Islands'. Elections under the new Constitution, held in May 1999, produced a surprise landslide victory for a coalition dominated by the, predominantly Indo-Fijian, Fiji Labour Party (FLP). The FLP's leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, became Fiji's first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister.
However, on 19 May 2000, an armed group invaded Parliament and held hostage Mahendra Chaudhry, most of his Cabinet, and a number of MPs. The group was supported by rebel soldiers and led by George Speight, son of an Opposition MP and member of the same Taukei group that inspired the 1987 coups. A wave of rioting and looting by Speight supporters followed and, after several abortive attempts to negotiate the release of the hostages, Chaudhry's government was dissolved on 28 May. The next day, the commander of Fiji's military, Commodore Frank Bainimarama declared martial law. After the President stepped aside, he abrogated the 1997 constitution. On 6 June Fiji was suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth (exclusion from all meetings and bodies of the Commonwealth, rather than a full expulsion. Fiji was readmitted in December 2001).
The hostage crisis ended on 13 July 2000, when coup leader George Speight released the hostages in return for a number of concessions. (After being initially granted an amnesty from prosecution, Speight was convicted of treason on 18 February 2002 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He remains imprisoned.)
On 28 July 2000 the military transferred power to a non-elected interim administration led by Laisenia Qarase, an ex-banker who at the time of the coup was a member of the Senate. Qarase, in turn appointed a Cabinet and other Ministers. On 15 November 2000, Fiji's High Court ruled that the military's abrogation of the 1997 Constitution was illegal. After some negotiation, Qarase's government remained in place in a caretaker capacity ahead of a general election in August 2001. The electorate voted mainly along ethnic lines, and Qarese's newly formed Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) party won 31 of the 71 parliamentary seats. The FLP, again led by Mahendra Chaudhry, won 27 seats. Although constitutionally required to offer Cabinet positions to the FLP, after much legal wrangling the FLP decided to forego Cabinet positions in preference of its formal establishment as the Opposition.
2005 was dominated by the SDL government's attempt to introduce 3 pieces of controversial legislation: the Native Lands Bill, the Customary Fisheries Bill and, most contentiously, 'The Promotion of Reconciliation, Tolerance and Unity Bill' (the 'RTU Bill'). The RTU Bill generated considerable criticism and opposition from many sections of society, and led to increased friction between the Government and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. This friction continued into 2006, when Qarase announced that the October 2006 general election would be brought forward to May. The SDL secured 38 parliamentary seats in the election, with the FLP coalition securing 33. Qarese again offered Cabinet positions to the FLP. This time, however, the FLP accepted. Its coalition partner, the United People's Party (which secured two parliamentary seats) withdrew from the FLP coalition in order to sit as the Opposition. President Iloilo opened Parliament on 6 June 2006, urging Fiji's first multi-party Cabinet to co-operate for the benefit of the nation. (The Cabinet was mandated to operate on consensus, so co-operation was critical to its success.) Discord remained between the government and the military, not least as the Commander Bainimarama believed the Qarase government had failed to meet the promises on which he had first established them in the aftermath of the coup of 2000. However, the election of a multi-party Cabinet appeared to lessen tensions with the Commander promising to give the government a chance to prove itself.
Recent political developments
By September 2006, Bainimarama's patience with the Qarase government was wearing thin. Military/government tensions escalated and, in October 2006, Bainimarama called for the government to either withdraw all controversial legislation or resign. The weeks that followed saw a further upsurge in tension. By mid-November, Bainimarama had delivered to Qarase a list of 6 demands. Soon thereafter, Bainimarama promised that the government's failure to deliver would result in a military-led 'Clean-Up Campaign' in early December. Qarase attempted to negotiate, with no success. On 29 November, New Zealand Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, brokered talks in Wellington between Qarase and Bainimarama. During the talks, Qarase made substantial concessions to Bainimarama's demands. Bainimarama later denied the read-out given to the public by Qarase, though Qarase's account was swiftly and fully confirmed by the New Zealand Government. On 5 December 2006, Bainimarama launched a swift and peaceful take-over of government. Military road-blocks were erected in the major towns and cities and Qarase, after a brief house arrest, was forced to leave Viti Levu. On 8 December, Fiji was once again suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth.
In the 6 months after the take-over, a chain of events unfolded, which included the suspension and sacking of key public figures, as well as some resignations. Bainimarama pronounced himself President for a short while, before reinstating President Iloilo. In April 2007, the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) refused to accept Bainimarama's chosen nomination for the role of Vice-President. Bainimarama suspended the GCC. Military figures were appointed to government ministries, and Bainimarama's deputy, Captain Esala Teleni, was given the role of Police Commissioner. The Chief Justice was dismissed and an Acting Chief Justice appointed (outside the scope of the Constitution). Numerous accounts of human rights abuses were detailed by those taken to the barracks for questioning into statements they were known, or alleged, to have made. Newspaper staff were detained and intimidated, resulting in self-censorship by the press. Human rights activists were (largely) silenced.
In April 2007, the EU met in Brussels with the Interim Foreign Minister, Finance Minister and Attorney General to discuss the return to democracy, the rule of law and the release of EU assistance to Fiji. This resulted in a series of Commitments that the Interim Government must meet if the EU was to consider a resumption of financial and technical assistance to Fiji. Key to the commitments was that the Interim Government would hold a democratic election by March 2009.
On 31 May 2007, the Interim Government lifted the Public Emergency Regulations that had been in place (in different forms) since the take-over. This removed from it the authority to take extraordinary measures to ensure public security (including the right to detain those it suspected of 'incitement'). In doing so, the Interim Government met one of its commitments to the EU. (The regulations were imposed again in September 2007, but were again lifted within the timeframe promised by the Interim Prime Minister.)
On 16 January 2008, the Interim Government launched the 'National Council for Building a Better Fiji'. The controversial council was set up as a means of encouraging debate amongst all sectors of society about the problems that have resulted in Fiji’s recent coup history and ways in which Fiji can overcome those problems and become a peaceful and prosperous nation. Of the 45 seats on the council, 41 were filled, though there were subsequent resignations. A third of the seats were reserved for the military and Interim Government. The Interim Prime Minister and the Archbishop of Fiji’s Roman Catholic Church chair the Council.
In late October 2008, the Interim Prime Minister invited all political parties in Fiji to a political forum with a view to draw up unified terms of reference for a UN/Commonwealth Secretariat Political Dialogue proposed for December 2008. All invited political parties attended, but the second meeting (8 April 2009) excluded key political partners.
On 9 April 2009, the Fiji Court of Appeal ruled that the removal of Prime Minister Qarase and the appointment of Fiji's interim regime following the military coup in 2006 was unlawful. It advised the President to appoint an independent caretaker Prime Minister, to dissolve parliament and call elections. PM Bainimarama announced his resignation with immediate effect.
On 10 April, President Josefa Iloilo abrogated the Constitution, dismissed the judiciary and reinstated the interim Prime Minister and Cabinet as the new government. The Government put in place Public Emergency Regulations for a 30 day period. This continues to date prohibiting all gatherings, including political or media related meetings unless sanctioned by a government permit. The government also removed all media freedom. Under this regulation media is restricted from reporting negatively on the government.
On 01 September 2009 Fiji was fully suspended from membership of the Commonwealth for failing to meet its commitment to CMAG by 01 September 2009. [For more detailed information refer to: http://www.thecommonwealth.org/press/31555/34582/213087/010909.htm.
Human rights
Human Rights abuses became particularly problematic in the months following the 5 December 2006 military take-over of government (see Amnesty International Reprot: http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/report/repression-fiji-–-international-donors-urged-act-2009. Freedom of expression, including by the media, was curtailed. An unknown number of civilians were taken to the barracks for questioning as to their comments (stated or alleged) on the take-over. Many complained later of poor treatment, ranging from being forced to undertake humiliating exercises to physical abuse. Sexual intimidation and threat was also alleged. A number of prominent figures were later photographed with evidence of physical attack. The UK took an immediate and firm stance, deploring the abuses. It has continued to do so, and raising particular concern at the deaths in military and police custody of 3 civilians. Allegations of further abuses were made by some trade union leaders during the public sector strikes of July and August 2007. In October 2007, those arrested in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate the Interim Prime Minister, the Finance Minister and the Interim Attorney General complained of abuse while in detention – and appeared in public with signs of beatings.
The Fiji Human Rights Commission, established under the 1997 Constitution, is the only national Human Rights Commission in the Pacific region. Its mandate is to protect and promote human rights in Fiji. However, the Commission was ineffective by the compromising statements of its then Director and is without leadership following the 10 April 2009 abrogation of the constitution.
Race relations in Fiji are generally harmonious, but the ethnic Fijian and ethnic Indian communities live largely separate lives. There were many reports of violence and discrimination against ethnic Indians in the wake of the 1987 coup and the hostage crisis in May 2000. No racial violence occurred after the 2006 military take-over.
