Fiji President regains power.

[Gold_skywalker]

Military Commander gives executive powers to President of Fiji.

Just thought I'd try to revitalize the Debate Guild, I guess. Any thoughts?

[Ratwar]

Sounds like the country is getting back on track. If everything goes smoothly, this will show that non-democratic movements are sometimes needed to protect people's rights.

[Gold_skywalker]

ratwar said:

Sounds like the country is getting back on track. If everything goes smoothly, this will show that non-democratic movements are sometimes needed to protect people's rights.

So, what was the Fiji people's plight? I can't really comment, as I don't know enough about the situation.

[Thor]

The article says the deposed regime was racist towards Indian minorities.

Can't tell you more than that.

[Gold_skywalker]

thor said:

The article says the deposed regime was racist towards Indian minorities.

Can't tell you more than that.

Oh.

I went digging on wiki, and I came up with this:

"The islands came under British control as a colony in 1874, and the British brought over Indian contract laborers. It was granted independence in 1970. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987 because the government was perceived as dominated by the Indo-Fijian (Indian) community. The second 1987 coup saw the British Monarchy and the Governor General replaced by a non-executive President, and the country changed the long form of its name from Dominion of Fiji to Republic of Fiji (and to Republic of the Fiji Islands in 1997). The coups contributed to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties but ensured that Melanesians became the majority.

In 1990, the new Constitution instutionalised the ethnic Fijian domination of the political system. The Group Against Racial Discrimination (GARD) was formed to oppose the unilaterally imposed constitution and restore the 1970 constitution. Sitiveni Rabuka, the Lieutenant Colonel who carried out the 1987 coup became Prime Minister in 1992, following elections held under the new constitution. Three years later, Rabuka established the Constitutional Review Commission, which in 1997 led to a new Constitution, which was supported by most leaders of the indigenous Fijian and Indo-Fijian communities. Fiji is re-admitted to the Commonwealth of Nations."