DOCSLIB.ORG

A Comparative Analysis of the Political Coups of Fiji by Anita Purcell Sjölund

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Comparative Analysis of the Political Coups of Fiji by Anita Purcell Sjölund COUP-COUP LAND 1 A Comparative Analysis of the Political Coups of Fiji by Anita Purcell Sjölund A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Political Sociology 2008 Supervisor: Lars Båtefalk 1 This is a phrase coined by journalists because of the fact that Fiji has had four coups within the span of two decades. EPS 07/08 Anita Purcell Sjölund Coup Coup Land: A Comparative Analysis of the Political Coups of Fij i i ABSTRACT Coup Coup Land: A Comparative Analysis of the Political Coups of Fiji by Anita Purcell Sjölund A thesis presented on the political history of Fiji from cession to Britain in 1874 compares and analyses the country’s four political coups. A military coup occurred in 1987 by Lt. Col Sitiveni Rabuka. Six months later he staged a self-coup. In 2000 George Speight staged an armed civilian coup or putsch, and in 2006 Commodore Frank Bainimarama, head of Fiji’s military forces, overthrew the government of Laisenia Qarase. This paper is an internal comparison of the four coups of which the aim is to examine why coups occur in Fiji. The conclusion is that the level of influence of the country’s traditional paramount chiefs is a strong causal factor in events leading to the political overthrows. Issues such as ethnicity, constitutionalism, democracy, traditionalism, and modernity make the study of the Fiji coups complex. All of the major actors involved have been present or have been somehow linked to each coup. Questions of leadership arise as do issues regarding pluralism and multiculturalism. These issues are discussed in this paper. The end result is that if the question of traditional leadership is not addressed within a democratic framework then Fiji will continue to have coups. Key Words: Fijian, Indo-Fijian, Indian Migrants, Indians, Indigenous, Ethnic, Military Coup, Putsch, Traditional Chiefs, Cession, EPS 07/08 Anita Purcell Sjölund Coup Coup Land: A Comparative Analysis of the Political Coups of Fij i ii TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Illustrations iii List of Abbreviations iv Explanations of Terms v SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION 1 1.2 Synopsis of Fiji’s Coups 2 1.2.1 Rabuka’s Two Coups of 1987 2 1.2.2 Speight Putsch of 2000 3 1.2.3 Bainimarama Coups of 2006 5 1.3 - Research Aim 6 SECTION 2 – LITERATURE REVIEW AND STUDY RELEVANCE 7 2.1 Literature Review 7 2.1.1 Leadership Models in the Pacific 9 2.1.2 Traditionalism vs. Constitutionalism 10 2.1.3 Ethnicity Identity 11 2.2. Study Relevance 14 SECTION 3 – METHODOLOGY 15 3.1 Research 15 3.2 Comparative and Analytical Framework 15 3.3 Expectations and Limitations 17 SECTION 4 – ANALYTICAL AND THEORETICAL MODELS 18 4.1 Models for Comparative Analysis 18 4.1.1 The Most Different Systems Design (MDSD) 18 4.2 Theoretical Models for Analysis 19 4.2.1 Barth's Instrumental Model of Ethnicity 19 4.2.2 Political Opportunity Structure (POS) 21 4.2.3 Collective Action Framing 23 SECTION 5 – FIJI’S POLITICAL & SOCIAL BACKGROUND 25 5.1 Indigenous Fijians 29 5.2 Indian Migrants/Indo-Fijians 33 SECTION 6 - DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS 36 6.1 Comparative Analysis Using MDSD 36 6.1.1 Political Styles 36 6.1.2 Governance Structures 39 6.1.3 Ethnicity and Race 41 6.1.4 The Traditional Chiefs 44 6.2 Summary of Main Points within Comparative Analysis 48 6.3 Theoretical Application 49 6.3.1 First Theoretical Application- Barth’s Instrumental Model of Ethnicity 49 6.3.2 Second Theoretical Application – Political Opportunity Structures 52 6.3.2.1 The Political System in POS 53 6.3.2.2 Political Alignments in POS 58 6.3.2.3 Presence of Influential Allies in POS 62 6.3.2.4 Conflict and Division among the Elite in POS 66 6.3.3 Third Theoretical Application –Collective Action Framing 71 6.3.3.1 Framing the Social Cause 71 6.3.3.2 – Movement Entrepreneurs (ME) in Collective Action Framing 72 6.3.3.3 – Targeted Audience in Collective Action Framing 79 6.3.3.4 – Promoting the Movement’s Cause within a Frame 82 6.4 Summary of Main Points from Theoretical Application 86 SECTION 7 - CONCLUSION 87 BIBLIOGRAPHY 89 EPS 07/08 Anita Purcell Sjölund Coup Coup Land: A Comparative Analysis of the Political Coups of Fij i iii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Table 1 – MDSD Agreement pg 18 Map 1 - Map of Oceania pg 25 Map 2 – Political Map of Fiji pg 26 Chart 1 – House of Representatives under the 1970 Constitution pg 28 Chart 2 - The Senate under the 1970 Constitution pg 29 Chart 3 – Fiji's Chiefly Confederacies pg 31 Map 3 – Chiefly Confederacies pg 32 Table 2 – Population Demographics of Fiji (1996 – 2007) pg 34 Illustration 1 - Variables in the Four Coups of Fiji pg 48a EPS 07/08 Anita Purcell Sjölund Coup Coup Land: A Comparative Analysis of the Political Coups of Fij i iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Alliance Party_________________________________ AP Alternative Voting_____________________________ AV Colonial Sugar Refining Company_________________ CSR Fijian Association Party__________________________ FAP Fiji Labour Party_______________________________ FLP Fiji Trade Union Congress_______________________ FTUC Great Council of Chiefs__________________________ GCC Royal Fiji Military Forces_________________________ RFMF Most Different Systems Design____________________ MDSD Party of National Unity__________________________ PANU Political Opportunity Structure_____________________ POS Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Party___________ SDL Soqosoqo ni Vakevulewa ni Taukei Party____________ SVT Veitokani ni Lewenivanua Vakarisito _______________ VLV EPS 07/08 Anita Purcell Sjölund Coup Coup Land: A Comparative Analysis of the Political Coups of Fij i v EXPLANATION OF TERMS Before commencing on the discussion of the political coups of Fiji, a brief explanation of the terms used throughout this paper is necessary. There is always contention surrounding terms used to describe an ethnic group but for the purpose of this paper the following terms will be used as indicated below: Term Reference or Usage Reason Fijian Indigenous people of Fiji. This term recognises their status as the first settlers of Fiji which in turn is used to justify their policy of indigenous paramountcy. Fijian Voters Indigenous Voters 2 Indian Migrants Indentured labourers from 1987 up Literature on the Fiji coups until independence in 1970. interchangeably use ‘Indian migrants’, ‘Indo-Fijians’, ‘Indians’ or ‘ethnic Indians’. This is dependent Indo-Fijian Indian community after on the focussed time period of the independence i.e. 1970 onwards literature concerned. This paper takes its starting point from the Deed of Cession in 1897 and so a Indian General description particularly when necessary distinction between the Community/ providing an overview of this Indian communities at different Indians community from past to present. phases of Fiji's modern political history is necessary. Fiji Citizens All inhabitants of Fiji. Fiji Government Parliamentary system of the country. The term ‘Fijian Government’ is not used as it could be interpreted as the government of the indigenous Fijians and NOT the country. The term ' other' is used to refer to the European, Chinese and Rotuman communities as well as people of mixed ethnic heritage in official policy or government white papers. I have tried to avoid using this term and have in most cases, and where possible, distinguished each group. 2 I have borrowed usage of this term from Rory Ewins in his 1991 work Colour, Class and Custom: The literature of the 1987 Coup (see bibliography) EPS 07/08 Anita Purcell Sjölund Coup Coup Land: A Comparative Analysis of the Political Coups of Fij i vi The term 'coup' has been used to refer to all of the government takeovers in Fiji. The Oxford Dictionary defines a coup as "a sudden, illegal and often violent, change of government". Examples given to support this definition includes a military coup. This is a rather broad definition and if taken literally could encompass all of the four coups in Fiji. The Oxford definition emphasises the similar outcome of coups, i.e. the overthrow of an elected government but it does not take into account the characteristics which make a coup unique. The following usage of the term ‘coup’ is based on consensus within established literature on the Fiji coups. Term Reference or Usage Reason Military Coup/Coup First 1987 overthrow by Rabuka Had the support of the military d’état forces 2006 takeover by Bainimarama Had the support of the military forces Self-coup/Auto- Second 1987 overthrow by Rabuka. The second overthrow "did not golpe displace a legal government" (Tarte, S 1987:75). Rabuka's second military clampdown in 1987 displaced an illegally established interim government. This paper follows the opinion of Roderic Alley (2001) who explained that Rabuka's overthrew his own illegally- appointed interim government, and appointed himself head of state, abrogated the 1970 constitution and declared Fiji a republic. Putsch 2000 overthrow by Speight This takeover was conducted by armed civilians. EPS 07/08 Anita Purcell Sjölund Coup Coup Land: A Comparative Analysis of the Political Coups of Fij i 1 SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION The 19 th of May 2000 started out as any other news day at Radio New Zealand International (RNZI). My day shift as a Pacific regional reporter began with a brief handover meeting between the early morning reporters, the day shift journalists, and news editor to finalise which stories needed following up, possible investigative reports as well as opportunities for breaking news stories. Much of our focus was on the escalating ethnic conflict in Solomon Islands. However a tip-off from a contact regarding a rumour of gunshots in Fiji’s parliament diverted our focus. Fiji’s 1999 elections eventuated in Mahendra Chaudhry, leader of the Fiji Labour Party, becoming the country’s first Indo-Fijian prime minister.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Parliament of Fiji Handbook
    Parliament of Fiji Handbook Message from the Speaker The Fijian Parliament resumed its work in October 2014 following an election held in September 2014. The Constitution of the Republic of Fiji outlines the role and functions of the Parliament in Fiji’s system of governance. At one of its first sittings, the Parliament of Fiji adopted the Parliament’s Standing Orders that outline in detail the way that the Parliament operates. This Handbook is not designed to be an exhaustive, technical compendium of parliamentary procedure as we already have this in the Parliament of Fiji Standing Orders. The purpose of this Handbook is to provide a brief overview of the Parliament and it is designed for the use of all citizens. The Handbook aims to provide an introductory and straightforward description of the Parliament as an institution, the parliamentary context and the main jobs of Parliament and parliamentarians. This is a first edition, and the Handbook will be updated periodically, not least because it should be the intention of every Parliament to undergo a process of continual improvement. In developing this handbook, I am thankful to the senior Parliament staff who have provided expert technical input and the UNDP Fiji Parliament Support Project for their support in developing this important publication. Hon. Dr Jiko Luveni October 2016 Table of Contents A. Roles & Responsibilities 1 i) Rights & Responsibilities of MPs 1 Rights 1 Responsibilities 2 ii) Key Actors in Parliament 4 B. Passing a Law 6 i) Development of a Bill 6 Bill Originating from the Government 6 Bills Originating from MPs 7 ii) Stages of a Bill in Parliament 9 Introduction 9 2nd Reading 10 Standing Committee 11 Committee of the Whole Parliament on Bills 12 3rd Reading 14 Coming into Force 14 C.
    [Show full text]
  • A Socio-Cultural Investigation of Indigenous Fijian Women's
    A Socio-cultural Investigation of Indigenous Fijian Women’s Perception of and Responses to HIV and AIDS from the Two Selected Tribes in Rural Fiji Tabalesi na Dakua,Ukuwale na Salato Ms Litiana N. Tuilaselase Kuridrani MBA; PG Dip Social Policy Admin; PG Dip HRM; Post Basic Public Health; BA Management/Sociology (double major); FRNOB A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2013 School of Population Health Abstract This thesis reports the findings of the first in-depth qualitative research on the socio-cultural perceptions of and responses to HIV and AIDS from the two selected tribes in rural Fiji. The study is guided by an ethnographic framework with grounded theory approach. Data was obtained using methods of Key Informants Interviews (KII), Focus Group Discussions (FGD), participant observations and documentary analysis of scripts, brochures, curriculum, magazines, newspapers articles obtained from a broad range of Fijian sources. The study findings confirmed that the Indigenous Fijian women population are aware of and concerned about HIV and AIDS. Specifically, control over their lives and decision-making is shaped by changes of vanua (land and its people), lotu (church), and matanitu (state or government) structures. This increases their vulnerabilities. Informants identified HIV and AIDS with a loss of control over the traditional way of life, over family ties, over oneself and loss of control over risks and vulnerability factors. The understanding of HIV and AIDS is situated in the cultural context as indigenous in its origin and required a traditional approach to management and healing.
    [Show full text]
  • State Societyand Governancein Melanesia
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by The Australian National University Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies State, Society and Governance in Melanesia StateSociety and in Governance Melanesia DISCUSSION PAPER Discussion Paper 2008/10 COURTS AND COUPS IN FIJI: THE 2008 HIGH COURT JUDGMENT IN QARASE V BAINIMARAMA INTRODUCTION not provided for in the constitution, and that GEORGE ‘exceptional circumstances existed’ because WILLIAMS On 21st October 2008, the State, Society ‘the stability of the State was endangered’. & Governance in Melanesia Program held a The decision effectively legitimised the interim GRAHAM workshop entitled Courts and Coups; Fiji’s government that had emerged in the wake of LEUNG October 2008 High Court Judgment in the Fiji’s December 5 2006 military coup. Qarase v Bainimarama Case. This brought together George Williams, the Anthony In the first of the four papers included ANTHONY J. Mason Professor in the Faculty of Law at here, Professor George Williams, who REGAN the University of New South Wales, Graham served as Counsel in the 2001 Chandrika Leung, the Managing Partner of Howards Prasad case - which ruled the government JON Lawyers in Suva, as well as Anthony Regan that arose after Fiji’s 2000 coup to be illegal FRAENKEL and Jon Fraenkel from the State, Society - discusses the precedents set by that earlier & Governance in Melanesia Program at case, and how these were dealt with by the ANU. The meeting was chaired by Duncan Fiji judges in 2008. In the second paper, Kerr, Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Graham Leung, a lawyer who practises in Fiji Pacific Affairs.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 EXPLANATORY NOTE This Is the Report of the Commonwealth
    EXPLANATORY NOTE This is the Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group which was present for the General Election in Fiji Islands, held from 6 to 13 May 2006. The Group’s report is reproduced here in the form in which it was signed by the Observers prior to their departure from Suva on 21 May 2006. It was transmitted to the Commonwealth Secretary- General on Friday 2 June 2006. During the following week he sent it to the Prime Minister of Fiji Islands, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, the Supervisor of Elections, the leaders of the main political parties and Commonwealth governments. It was placed on this web-site and released to the media on Monday 12 June 2006. Printed copies are available from: Democracy Section Political Affairs Division Commonwealth Secretariat Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom Tel: +44 207 747 6407/6397/6398 Fax: +44 207 930 2189 • Please note that the page numbers shown on the contents page relate to the printed version of the report. Only Annexes II and IV are shown. The others will be added at a later date. 1 Fiji Islands General Election 6-13 May 2006 REPORT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OBSERVER GROUP 2 CONTENTS Page Letter of Transmittal CHAPTER ONE - INTRODUCTION 1 Invitation 1 Terms of Reference 1 Activities of the Group 2 CHAPTER TWO – POLITICAL BACKGROUND 4 Brief Historical Background 4 Political Overview 4 The Development of the 1997 Constitution 5 1999 Elections 6 2000 George Speight Coup 6 Commonwealth Engagement 7 2001 Election and Section 99 (5) of the Constitution 7 Talanoa Process 8 CMAG Meeting
    [Show full text]
  • The Case of Fiji
    University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform Volume 25 Issues 3&4 1992 Democracy and Respect for Difference: The Case of Fiji Joseph H. Carens University of Toronto Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.law.umich.edu/mjlr Part of the Comparative and Foreign Law Commons, Cultural Heritage Law Commons, Indian and Aboriginal Law Commons, and the Rule of Law Commons Recommended Citation Joseph H. Carens, Democracy and Respect for Difference: The Case of Fiji, 25 U. MICH. J. L. REFORM 547 (1992). Available at: https://repository.law.umich.edu/mjlr/vol25/iss3/3 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform at University of Michigan Law School Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform by an authorized editor of University of Michigan Law School Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. DEMOCRACY AND RESPECT FOR DIFFERENCE: THE CASE OF FIJI Joseph H. Carens* TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ................................. 549 I. A Short History of Fiji ................. .... 554 A. Native Fijians and the Colonial Regime .... 554 B. Fijian Indians .................. ....... 560 C. Group Relations ................ ....... 563 D. Colonial Politics ....................... 564 E. Transition to Independence ........ ....... 567 F. The 1970 Constitution ........... ....... 568 G. The 1987 Election and the Coup .... ....... 572 II. The Morality of Cultural Preservation: The Lessons of Fiji ................. ....... 574 III. Who Is Entitled to Equal Citizenship? ... ....... 577 A. The Citizenship of the Fijian Indians ....... 577 B. Moral Limits to Historical Appeals: The Deed of Cession ............. ....... 580 * Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto.
    [Show full text]
  • Tuesday-27Th November 2018
    PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DAILY HANSARD TUESDAY, 27TH NOVEMBER, 2018 [CORRECTED COPY] C O N T E N T S Pages Minutes … … … … … … … … … … 10 Communications from the Chair … … … … … … … 10-11 Point of Order … … … … … … … … … … 11-12 Debate on His Excellency the President’s Address … … … … … 12-68 List of Speakers 1. Hon. J.V. Bainimarama Pages 12-17 2. Hon. S. Adimaitoga Pages 18-20 3. Hon. R.S. Akbar Pages 20-24 4. Hon. P.K. Bala Pages 25-28 5. Hon. V.K. Bhatnagar Pages 28-32 6. Hon. M. Bulanauca Pages 33-39 7. Hon. M.D. Bulitavu Pages 39-44 8. Hon. V.R. Gavoka Pages 44-48 9. Hon. Dr. S.R. Govind Pages 50-54 10. Hon. A. Jale Pages 54-57 11. Hon. Ro T.V. Kepa Pages 57-63 12. Hon. S.S. Kirpal Pages 63-64 13. Hon. Cdr. S.T. Koroilavesau Pages 64-68 Speaker’s Ruling … … … … … … … … … 68 TUESDAY, 27TH NOVEMBER, 2018 The Parliament resumed at 9.36 a.m., pursuant to adjournment. HONOURABLE SPEAKER took the Chair and read the Prayer. PRESENT All Honourable Members were present. MINUTES HON. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN PARLIAMENT.- Madam Speaker, I move: That the Minutes of the sittings of Parliament held on Monday, 26th November 2018, as previously circulated, be taken as read and be confirmed. HON. A.A. MAHARAJ.- Madam Speaker, I beg to second the motion. Question put Motion agreed to. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CHAIR Welcome I welcome all Honourable Members to the second sitting day of Parliament for the 2018 to 2019 session.
    [Show full text]
  • The Daily Post Sale
    MEDIA BUY OUTS 1 The Daily Post sale Opposition parties and media groups have protested over the Fiji Government's buying of a major stake in the Daily Post, one of the country's two daily newspapers. But the Government insists that it is for the benefit of the nation. By JOHN KAMEA IT HAS been the Fiji Government's reform policy to sell public assets that continue to make losses and cannot run efficiently. On 10 February 1999, Government took a change of direction when it went on a shopping spree and bought 44 per cent of the shares in Daily Post. This somewhat contradiction of Government's policy received criticism and was met with public outcry, especially from political and media circles. Many organisations have questioned the move, saying that it would undermine the role of the media as a Government watchdog and threaten media freedom and independence. Some even say it was an attempt by the Government to control the media on the eve of the May 1999 general elections. The country' s media fraternity believes the Government should not be in the business of running and controlling independent media organisations. How­ ever, the Government is adamant it bought 44 per cent of the shares from the Fiji Development Bank with the objective of developing the paper, floating it on the Stock Exchange and ultimately giving the people of Fiji an opportunity to own shares in the Daily Post. Government also argued that the move was its political obligation and it was its wish some years back to establish a Fijian-owned newspaper.
    [Show full text]
  • The Diversity of Fijian Polities
    7 The Diversity of Fijian Polities An overall discussion of the general diversity of traditional pan-Fijian polities immediately prior to Cession in 1874 will set a wider perspective for the results of my own explorations into the origins, development, structure and leadership of the yavusa in my three field areas, and the identification of different patterning of interrelationships between yavusa. The diversity of pan-Fijian polities can be most usefully considered as a continuum from the simplest to the most complex levels of structured types of polity, with a tentative geographical distribution from simple in the west to extremely complex in the east. Obviously I am by no means the first to draw attention to the diversity of these polities and to point out that there are considerable differences in the principles of structure, ranking and leadership between the yavusa and the vanua which I have investigated and those accepted by the government as the model. G.K. Roth (1953:58–61), not unexpectedly as Deputy Secretary of Fijian Affairs under Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, tended to accord with the public views of his mentor; although he did point out that ‘The number of communities found in a federation was not the same in all parts of Fiji’. Rusiate Nayacakalou who carried out his research in 1954, observed (1978: xi) that ‘there are some variations in the traditional structure from one village to another’. Ratu Sukuna died in 1958, and it may be coincidental that thereafter researchers paid more emphasis to the differences I referred to. Isireli Lasaqa who was Secretary to Cabinet and Fijian Affairs was primarily concerned with political and other changes in the years before and after independence in 1970.
    [Show full text]
  • Chiefly Leadership in Fiji After the 2014 Elections Stephanie Lawson
    3 Chiefly leadership in Fiji after the 2014 elections Stephanie Lawson ‘Chiefdoms are highly variable, but they are all about power.’ (Earle 2011, p. 27) Introduction The last quarter century has seen a significant decline of chiefly influence in Fiji’s politics, albeit with some periods of enhanced status for the paramount symbol of indigenous Fijian traditionalism, the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC). This body, however, was abolished by decree under the military regime of Commodore Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama in March 2012. The September 2014 elections held prospects for the restoration of chiefly authority and the role of traditionalism through the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) led by Ro Teimumu Vuikaba Kepa, holder of a prominent chiefly title. A victory by SODELPA would also have seen the restoration of the GCC. With SODELPA’s resounding defeat by Bainimarama’s FijiFirst Party, such prospects have received a significant blow. This chapter provides an account of chiefly leadership in national politics, beginning with a survey of Fiji’s colonisation, the role of chiefs in the British colonial regime generally, and their domination 41 THE PEOPLE Have SPOKEN of national politics up until 1987. The second section reviews the political dynamics surrounding chiefly leadership from 1987 until the Bainimarama-led coup of 2006. The final sections examine chiefly involvement in national politics in the lead-up to the 2014 elections and prospects for the future of traditional chiefly political leadership which, given the results, look somewhat bleak. British colonialism and chiefly rule In contrast with many other parts of the world, where colonial rule was imposed by force, the paramount chiefs of Fiji petitioned the British to establish a Crown Colony.
    [Show full text]
  • Researchspace@Auckland
    http://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz ResearchSpace@Auckland Copyright Statement The digital copy of this thesis is protected by the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). This thesis may be consulted by you, provided you comply with the provisions of the Act and the following conditions of use: • Any use you make of these documents or images must be for research or private study purposes only, and you may not make them available to any other person. • Authors control the copyright of their thesis. You will recognise the author's right to be identified as the author of this thesis, and due acknowledgement will be made to the author where appropriate. • You will obtain the author's permission before publishing any material from their thesis. To request permissions please use the Feedback form on our webpage. http://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/feedback General copyright and disclaimer In addition to the above conditions, authors give their consent for the digital copy of their work to be used subject to the conditions specified on the Library Thesis Consent Form and Deposit Licence. CONNECTING IDENTITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH INDIGENOUS EPISTEMOLOGY: THE SOLOMONI OF FIJI ESETA MATEIVITI-TULAVU A thesis in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY The University of Auckland Auckland, New Zealand 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract .................................................................................................................................. vi Dedication ............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Indigenous Itaukei Worldview Prepared by Dr
    Indigenous iTaukei Worldview Prepared by Dr. Tarisi Vunidilo Illustration by Cecelia Faumuina Author Dr Tarisi Vunidilo Tarisi is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, where she teaches courses on Indigenous museology and heritage management. Her current area of research is museology, repatriation and Indigenous knowledge and language revitalization. Tarisi Vunidilo is originally from Fiji. Her father, Navitalai Sorovi and mother, Mereseini Sorovi are both from the island of Kadavu, Southern Fiji. Tarisi was born and educated in Suva. Front image caption & credit Name: Drua Description: This is a model of a Fijian drua, a double hulled sailing canoe. The Fijian drua was the largest and finest ocean-going vessel which could range up to 100 feet in length. They were made by highly skilled hereditary canoe builders and other specialist’s makers for the woven sail, coconut fibre sennit rope and paddles. Credit: Commissioned and made by Alex Kennedy 2002, collection of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, FE011790. Link: https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/648912 Page | 2 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 4 SECTION 2: PREHISTORY OF FIJI .............................................................................................................. 5 SECTION 3: ITAUKEI SOCIAL STRUCTURE ...............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Confronting Fiji Futures
    CONFRONTING FIJI FUTURES EDITED BY A. HAROON AKRAM-LODHI Published by ANU eView The Australian National University Acton ACT 2601, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at eview.anu.edu.au National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Title: Confronting Fiji futures / A Haroon Akram-Lodhi (editor). ISBN: 9781921934292 (paperback) 9781921934308 (ebook) Subjects: Fiji--Politics and government. Fiji--Economic conditions. Fiji--Social conditions. Other Creators/Contributors: Akram-Lodhi, A. Haroon (Agha Haroon), 1958- editor. Dewey Number: 320.099611 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design and layout by ANU Press. Cover photograph by M M (padmanaba01): www.flickr.com/photos/43423301@N07/3997565309/ First published 2000 by Asia Pacific Press This edition © 2016 ANU eView Stop Press Confronting the Present: The Coup of May 2000 A Haroon Akram-Lodhi On 19 May 2000, as With widespread doubt community politics that it ConfrontingFiji Futures went about who was in charge of suggested was not universal. to press, a group of 7 men the country, the Great It can be argued that the armed with machine guns Council of Chiefs met. On25 failure of the senior entered the Parliamentary May, following an intensely members of the government Complex in Suva. They took divided meeting, the council to recognise and seek to the Prime Minister, authorised the President to strengthen the fragility of Mahendra Chaudhry, establish, pending the the political consensus members of the Cabinet, and release of the hostages and helped create a climate that other members of the Fiji the resignation of the Prime made the coup possible.
    [Show full text]