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• The Republic of the Fiji Islands is an archipelago of 322 islands in the South Pacific. Colonized by Great Britain in 1874, Fiji gained its independence in in 1970, setting the stage for a decades-long political struggle between the nation's two major ethnic groups: indigenous Fijians and the descendants of indentured laborers from India.Encyclopedia of the Nations: Political background - Fiji Periodic coups and unrest have dampened Fiji's draw as a vacationers paradise, though the nation still draws tens of thousands of visitors annually.Lonely Planet: Fiji

  Fiji was suspended from a 16-member Pacific Islands Forum for failing to schedule an election in a timely manner. The Pacific Islands Forum had given Fijian prime minister Frank Bainimarama a May 1, 2009, deadline to set an election to be held this year. Bainimarama failed to meet the deadline, saying an election would be impossible until 2014.BBC: Fiji suspended from Pacific forum (May 1, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Consists of 322 islands, 106 of which are inhabited
  2. Also contains 522 smaller islets
  3. Became British colony in 1874
  4. Gained independence in 1970
  5. Major ethnic groups are indigenous Fijians and Indo-FijiansEncyclopedia of the Nations: Political background - Fiji
  6. Indo-Fijians are mostly Hindu descendants of Indian indentured laborersLonely Planet: Fiji
  7. Has seen five coups since independence
  8. Nearly 90% of population lives on major islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu

• Multiple Coups

  Since gaining independence, the nation has had five coups: in 1987 (which saw two coups), 2000, 2006 and 2009. On April 9, 2009, President Ratu Josefa Iloilo—who had come to power in a 2006 coup with Prime Minister and military strongman Frank Bainimarama—annulled the nation's constitution and assumed all government power.ABC (Australia): Fiji President annuls constitution, sacks judges (April 9, 2009) The move came after a Court of Appeal declared the military-led regime illegal.ABC (Australia): Fiji President annuls constitution, sacks judges (April 9, 2009)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Fiji Coup | Ratu Josefa Iloilo | India | Hinduism | United Kingdom

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