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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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Fiji
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Country comprising a group of 332 islands in
the SW Pacific, about 100 of which are
inhabited. government Fiji is a
constitutional monarchy within the
Commonwealth, with the British monarch as
head of state, represented by a resident
governor-general (but see below). The
constitution dates from independence in 1970.
The government is modelled on the British
system, with a two-chamber parliament,
consisting of a senate and house of
representatives, and a prime minister and
cabinet drawn from and responsible to the
house of representatives. The senate has 22
appointed members, eight on the advice of the
great council of Fijian chiefs, seven on the
advice of the prime minister, six on the
advice of the leader of the opposition, and
one on the advice of the council of Rotuma
Island, which is a Fijian dependency. It has
a life of six years. The house of
representatives has 52 members, elected for
five years through a cross-voting system that
ensures that all ethnic groups are
represented. history Originally inhabited by
Melanesian and Polynesian peoples, Fiji's
first European visitor was Abel Tasman in
1643. Fiji became a British possession in
1874, and achieved full independence within
the Commonwealth in 1970. Before independence
there had been racial tension between
Indians, descended from workers brought to
Fiji in the late 19th century, and Fijians,
so the constitutution incorporated an
electoral system that would ensure racial
balance in the house of representatives. The
leader of the Alliance Party, Ratu Sir
Kamisese Mara, became prime minister at the
time of independence and has held office ever
since. The Alliance Party has traditionally
been supported by Fijians and the National
Federation Party (NFP), led by Siddiq Koya,
by Indians. The main divisions between the
two have centred on land ownership, with the
Fijians owning more than 80% of the land and
defending their traditional rights, and the
Indians claiming greater security of land
tenure. The Fijian Labour Party was formed in
1985 but has so far made little impact at the
polls. An attempted coup in May 1987, led by
Lt-Col Sitivina Rambuka, was abandoned after
intervention by the Governor-General and the
Great Council of Chiefs. Another coup by
Rambuka in Sept seemed, despite indecision by
its leader, more likely to succeed. On this
occasion the Queen, at the instigation of the
Governor-General, condemned the coup in an
unprecedented fashion. Nevertheless, the coup
went ahead and in Oct 1987 the Queen accepted
the resignation of the Governor-General,
thereby relinquishing her role as head of
state and making Fiji a republic. In Aug 1989
the draft of a new constitution, embodying an
electoral law that would favour indigenous
Fijians, but preventing the army from taking
control, was published.