Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य Republic of the Fiji Islands
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Rerevaka na Kalou ka Doka na Tui Fear God and honour the Queen
Anthem: God Bless Fiji
Capital (and largest city)		Suva 18°10′S, 178°27′E
Official languages		English, Bau Fijian, and Hindi
Demonym		Fijian / Fiji Islander
Government		Republic under military rule
-	President	Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda (Josefa Iloilo)
-	Prime Minister	Commodore Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama
-	GCC Chairman	Ratu Ovini Bokini
-	Great Chief of Fiji	Queen Elizabeth II1
Independence		from the United Kingdom
-	Date	10 October 1970
Area
-	Total	18,274 km² (155th) 7,056 sq mi
-	Water (%)	negligible
Population
-	December 2006 estimate	853,445 (156th)
-	Density	46/km² (148th) 119/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2007 estimate
-	Total	$5. Prior to ceding the country to British rule in 1874 the government of Fiji adopted a national flag featuring blue and white vertical The Coat of arms of Fiji was granted by Royal Letters Patent on 4 July 1908. A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's Meda Dau Doka or God Bless Fiji is the National anthem of Fiji. Indigenous Fijians, the native inhabitants of Fiji, are a mixture of Polynesian and Melanesian resulting from the original migrations to the South Pacific many centuries Suva is the Capital and largest city of Fiji. It is located on the southeast coast of the island of Viti Levu, in the Central An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Fijian is an Austronesian language of the Malayo-Polynesian family spoken in Fiji. Fiji Hindi, also known as Fijian Hindi or Fiji Hindustani, is a language which is spoken in Fiji by most Fijian citizens of Indian descent A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its Fiji 's Head of State is the President of the Republic of the Fiji Islands. Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank An equivalent title Adi (andi is used by females of chiefly rank Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, CF, MBE, MSD, KStJ, (born December 29, 1920) has been the President As a former British colony, Fiji has largely adopted British political models and follows the Westminster, or Cabinet system of government in which the Commodore is a Military rank used in many navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a navy captain, but is less than Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, MSD, OStJ, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by the chiefly title The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a formal assembly of Fiji 's senior hereditary chiefs, along with Ratu Ovini Bokini Ratu (born 3 November 1944) is a Fijian chief and political leader The Paramount Chief of Fiji (Fijian Ilisapeci-Na Radi ni Viti kei Peritania or Ilisapeci-Na Tui Viti) is the name given to Queen Elizabeth For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions  Areas between 10000 km² and 100000 km² are listed here This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. 079 billion (N/A)
-	Per capita	$5,500 (98th)
HDI (2007)		▲0. There are three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP at Purchasing power parity (PPP Per capita The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP 762 (medium) (92nd)
Currency		Fijian dollar (FJD)
Time zone		(UTC+12)
Internet TLD		.fj
Calling code		+679
1	Recognised by the Great Council of Chiefs. This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Program 's Human Development Report 2007 A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is The dollar ( Currency sign: $; currency code: FJD) has been the Currency of Fiji since 1969 and ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a now dormant 1997 constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands.

Fiji (Fijian: Matanitu ko Viti; Fijian Hindustani: फ़िजी), officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Fijian: Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti; Fijian Hindustani: फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य), is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean east of Vanuatu, west of Tonga and south of Tuvalu. Fijian is an Austronesian language of the Malayo-Polynesian family spoken in Fiji. Fiji Hindi, also known as Fijian Hindi or Fiji Hindustani, is a language which is spoken in Fiji by most Fijian citizens of Indian descent Fijian is an Austronesian language of the Malayo-Polynesian family spoken in Fiji. Fiji Hindi, also known as Fijian Hindi or Fiji Hindustani, is a language which is spoken in Fiji by most Fijian citizens of Indian descent An island country is a Country that is wholly confined to an Island, several islands an Island group or several island groups and has no territory on The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions Vanuatu, officially the Republic of Vanuatu ( French: République de Vanuatu, Bislama: Ripablik blong Vanuatu) is an Island The Kingdom of Tonga is an Archipelago in the south Pacific Ocean comprising 169 islands 36 of them inhabited stretching over a distance of about 800 kilometres (500 miles Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian Island nation located in the Pacific Ocean midway between Hawaii and The country occupies an archipelago of about 322 islands, of which 106 are permanently inhabited, and 522 islets. An archipelago (ɑrkəˈpɛləgoʊ is a chain or cluster of Islands The word archipelago literally means "chief Sea " from Italian An island (ˈaɪlənd or isle (/ˈaɪl/ is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water in two dimensions above high tide and isolated from other significant For human anatomy see Islets of Langerhans An islet is a small Island. The two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for 87% of the population. Viti Levu (ˈβiti ˈleβu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji, the site of the nation's capital Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population Vanua Levu (βanua leβu formerly known as Sandalwood Island is the second largest Island of Fiji.

Etymology

Fiji’s main island is known as Viti Levu and it is from this that the name "Fiji" is derived, through the pronunciation of their island neighbours in Tonga. Its emergence was best described as follows:

Fijians first impressed themselves on European consciousness through the writings of the members of the expeditions of Cook who met them in Tonga. Captain James Cook FRS RN ( – 14 February 1779) was an English Explorer, Navigator and They were described as formidable warriors and ferocious cannibals, builders of the finest vessels in the Pacific, but not great sailors. They inspired awe amongst the Tongans, and all their Manufactures, especially bark cloth and clubs, were highly esteemed and much in demand. They called their home Viti, but the Tongans called it Fisi, and it was by this foreign pronunciation, Fiji, first promulgated by Captain James Cook, that these islands are now known. ^[1]

History

Main article: History of Fiji

The first inhabitants of Fiji arrived long before contact with European explorers in the seventeenth century. The timeline below shows a thumbnail sketch of Fijian history from ancient times to the present day Pottery excavated from Fijian towns shows that Fiji was settled before or around 1000 BC, although the question of Pacific migration still lingers. ^[2] The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman visited Fiji in 1643 while looking for the Great Southern Continent. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Abel Janszoon Tasman ( 1603 - October 10 1659) was a Dutch seafarer, explorer, and Merchant. ^[3] It was not until the nineteenth century, however, that Europeans settled the islands permanently. ^[4] The islands came under British control as a colony in 1874, and the British brought over Indian contract labourers. 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 Fiji coups of 1987 resulted in the overthrow of the elected government of Fijian Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra, the deposition of Elizabeth II Indo-Fijians are Fijians who trace their ancestry to India. They number 311591 (37 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). TalkCommonewalth realm.--> The monarchy Fiji became a British Crown Colony in 1874 and an independent Dominion in the Commonwealth in 1970 The coups and accompanying civil unrest contributed to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties but ensured that Melanesians became the majority.

In 1990, the new Constitution institutionalised 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. The Group Against Racial Discrimination (GARD was formed in Fiji in 1990 to act as a pressure group against the unilateral imposition of a discriminatory Constitution Sitiveni Rabuka, the Lieutenant Colonel who carried out the 1987 coup became Prime Minister in 1992, following elections held under the new constitution. Major-General Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, OBE, MSD, OStJ, (born September 13, 1948 is best known as the instigator of two military This article is about the government position For other uses see Prime Minister (disambiguation. 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.

Levuka, 1842. The timeline below shows a thumbnail sketch of Fijian history from ancient times to the present day Located in the central Pacific Ocean, Fiji's geography has made it both a destination and a crossroads for migrations for many centuries The first three quarters of the Nineteenth Century were marked by tribal warfare incursions from neighbouring Tonga, and the increasing encroachment of foreign powers The United Kingdom declined its first opportunity to annex Fiji in 1852 Since attaining independence from the United Kingdom on 10 October 1970, Fijian history has been marked by exponential economic growth up to 1987, Fiji 's parliamentary election of March 1977 precipitated a constitutional crisis which was the first major challenge to the country's democratic institutions The Fiji coups of 1987 resulted in the overthrow of the elected government of Fijian Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra, the deposition of Elizabeth II The Fiji coup of 2000 was a complicated affair involving a civilian Putsch by hardline Fijian nationalists against the elected government of Prime Timeline ( 2000 - 2001) May 19, 20, 26, 27, 29, 30. Two military mutinies took place in connection with the civilian coup d'état that rocked Fiji in 2000, the first while the rebellion instigated The Constitution of Fiji, which had been abrogated by the Interim Military Government of Commodore Frank Bainimarama (who organized a counter-coup to neutralize On May 21, 2003, the Police Investigations Department confirmed that they had opened an investigation into the resignation of the Fiji's former President Police spokeswoman Sylvia Low announced on 25 August that they were considering opening an investigation into allegations made the previous day by the Military A number of separate but overlapping investigations have been conducted by the police into various aspects of the 2000 coup A number of prominent participants in the coup have been tried and some convicted in 2004 and 2005. The mutiny that took place at Fiji 's Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Suva Following the quashing of George Speight 's civilian coup d'état in 2000 the Military handed power over to a civilian administration led by the banker The Reconciliation and Unity Commission is a proposed government body to be set up if the Reconciliation Tolerance and Unity Bill which was introduced into the Fijian The "Blue Ribbon campaign" was the name for the campaign promoting support for the controversial legislation introduced by the Fijian Government in 2005 to establish a Most Fijian politicians outside of the government have come out against the legislation to establish a Commission with the power subject to presidential approval In the midst of the strident public statements both for and against the legislation to establish a Reconciliation and Unity Commission with the power subject to presidential Commodore Frank Bainimarama, Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, has been a vociferous and uncompromising critic of the government's proposal to Religion plays an important role in Fijian society Indigenous Fijians are overwhelmingly Christian, predominantly Methodist but with significant The Military of Fiji has always had a close relationship between the country's churches particularly the Methodist Church, to which some two-thirds of indigenous Fijians The controversial Reconciliation Tolerance and Unity Bill being promoted by the Fijian government throughout 2005 has generated enormous debate both locally and The tension between Fiji 's government and Military forces, which had been simmering for more than two years, appeared to escalate in late December 2005 The following timeline chronicles the crisis that saw a virtual breakdown in relations between Fiji 's government and military fores in late The Baledrokadroka incident was a series of events taking place in the Pacific republic of Fiji in 2006, involving an ongoing public feud between The crisis that saw a virtual breakdown in relations between Fiji 's government and military forces in late 2005 and early 2006 generated fears of The Fijian Coup d'état of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état Levuka is a town on the south-east coast of the Fijian island of Ovalau, in Lomaiviti Province, in the Eastern Division of Fiji of

The new millennium brought along another coup, instigated by George Speight, that effectively toppled the government of Mahendra Chaudhry, who became Prime Minister following the 1997 constitution. The Fiji coup of 2000 was a complicated affair involving a civilian Putsch by hardline Fijian nationalists against the elected government of Prime George Speight, occasionally known as Ilikimi Naitini (born 16 May 1957) was the principal instigator of the Fiji coup of 2000, in which he Mahendra Pal Chaudhry (born 9 February 1942) is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party. Commodore Frank Bainimarama assumed executive power after the resignation, possibly forced, of President Mara. Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, MSD, OStJ, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by the chiefly title Fiji was rocked by two mutinies at Suva's Queen Elizabeth Barracks, later in 2000 when rebel soldiers went on the rampage. Two military mutinies took place in connection with the civilian coup d'état that rocked Fiji in 2000, the first while the rebellion instigated The High Court ordered the reinstatement of the constitution, and in September 2001, a general election was held to restore democracy, which was won by interim Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua party. The High Court of Fiji is one of three courts established by Chapter 9 of the Constitution, the others being the Court of Appeal and the Laisenia Qarase (born February 4, 1941) served as the Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006 The Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (occasionally known as the United Fiji Party but usually known by the acronym SDL) is a political party in Fiji

In 2005, amid much controversy, the Qarase government proposed a Reconciliation and Unity Commission, with power to recommend compensation for victims of the 2000 coup, and amnesty for its perpetrators. The Reconciliation and Unity Commission is a proposed government body to be set up if the Reconciliation Tolerance and Unity Bill which was introduced into the Fijian However, the military strongly opposed this bill, especially the army's commander, Frank Bainimarama. He agreed with detractors who said that it was a sham to grant amnesty to supporters of the present government who played roles in the coup. His attack on the legislation, which continued unremittingly throughout May and into June and July, further strained his already tense relationship with the government. In late November 2006 and early December 2006, Bainimarama was instrumental in the 2006 Fijian coup d'état. The Fijian Coup d'état of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état Bainimarama handed down a list of demands to Qarase after a bill was put forward to parliament, part of which would have offered pardons to participants in the 2000 coup attempt. He gave Qarase an ultimatum date of 4 December to accede to these demands or to resign from his post. "December 4th" redirects here For the song by Jay-Z, see December 4th (song. Qarase adamantly refused to either concede or resign and on 5 December President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, was said to have signed a legal order dissolving Parliament after meeting with Bainimarama. Events 63 BC - Cicero reads the last of his Catiline Orations.

For a country of its size, Fiji has a large armed forces, and has been a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world. Peacekeeping, as defined by the United Nations, is "a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for sustainable peace In addition, a significant number of former military personnel have served in the lucrative security sector in Iraq following the 2003 US-led invasion.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Fiji

See also: 2006 Fijian coup d'état

Politics of Fiji normally take place in the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Fiji is the head of government, the President the head of state, and of a multi-party system. Politics of Fiji takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic Republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Fiji is the The Fijian Coup d'état of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism (and parliamentarism in American English) is a System of government in which Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principles of the people's representatives A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its This article focuses on the cases where the Head of Government is a separate office from the Head of State Head of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a Monarchic or Republican Nation-state Executive power is exercised by the government. In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Parliament of Fiji. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. Fiji 's Parliament is Bicameral. The House of Representatives has 71 members The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. In Law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of Courts which administer Justice in the name of the sovereign or State

Since independence there have been four coups in Fiji, two in 1987, one in 2000 and one in late 2006. The Fiji coups of 1987 resulted in the overthrow of the elected government of Fijian Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra, the deposition of Elizabeth II The Fiji coup of 2000 was a complicated affair involving a civilian Putsch by hardline Fijian nationalists against the elected government of Prime The military has been either ruling directly, or heavily influencing governments since 1987.

2006 military takeover

Main article: 2006 Fijian coup d'état

Citing corruption in the government, Commodore Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama, Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, staged a military takeover on December 5, 2006 against the Prime Minister that he himself had installed after the 2000 coup. The Fijian Coup d'état of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, MSD, OStJ, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by the chiefly title Events 63 BC - Cicero reads the last of his Catiline Orations. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. There had been two military coups in 1987 and one in 2000 when the military had taken over from elected governments led by or dominated by Indo Fijians. On this occasion the military took over from an indigenous Fijian government which it alleged was corrupt and racist. The Commodore took over the powers of the President and dissolved the parliament, paving the way for the military to continue the take over.

The coup was the culmination of weeks of speculation following conflict between the elected Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, and Commodore Bainimarama. Bainamarama had repeatedly issued demands and deadlines to the Prime Minister. At particular issue was previously pending legislation to pardon those involved in the 2000 coup. Despite intervention to reconcile the parties by the President, Vice President and Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand there was no willingness to make concessions on either side. This therefore failed to resolve the crisis.

Bainimarama named Jona Senilagakali caretaker Prime Minister. Dr Jona Baravilala Senilagakali is a medical doctor and former diplomat who was installed as interim Prime Minister of Fiji by Commodore Josaia Voreqe (Frank The next week Bainimarama said he would ask the Great Council of Chiefs to restore executive powers to President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo. ^[5] On December 6, Bainimarama declared a state of emergency, and warned that he would not tolerate any violence or unrest. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend certain normal functions of government alert citizens to alter their normal behaviors or order government agencies

Following the coup, the Commonwealth of Nations held an emergency meeting in London, where they declared Fiji's membership had been suspended. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. On December 9, the military rulers advertised for positions in the Government, including cabinet posts, in a national newspaper. Events 536 - Byzantine General Belisarius enters Rome while the Ostrogothic garrison peacefully leaves the city They stated people wishing to apply must be "of outstanding character", have no criminal record, and never have been bankrupt. ^[6]

Also on December 9 the IFNA withdrew the right of Fiji to host the 2007 World Netball Championships as a consequence of the Military takeover. Events 536 - Byzantine General Belisarius enters Rome while the Ostrogothic garrison peacefully leaves the city The International Federation of Netball Associations ( IFNA) is a federation of more than 60 Netball associations from around the world and is responsible The 2007 Netball World Championships was the twelfth Netball World Championship, a quadrennial international Netball world championship co-ordinated by the The withdrawal is expected to have a significant impact in Fiji due to the popularity of sports such as Netball.

On January 4, 2007, the military announced that it was restoring executive power to President Iloilo,^[7] who made a broadcast endorsing the actions of the military. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[8] The next day, Iloilo named Bainimarama as the interim Prime Minister,^[9] indicating that the Military was still effectively in control.

In the wake of the take over, reports have emerged of intimidation of some of those critical of the interim regime. It is alleged that two individuals have died in military custody since December 2006. These deaths have been investigated and suspects charged but not yet brought to court.

Following ongoing criticism from neighbours, specifically Australia and New Zealand, the New Zealand High Commissioner Michael Green was expelled from Fiji in mid June 2007, in the aftermath of restrictive emergency regulations having been lifted (recognised as a generally positive development by outside observers).

On September 6, 2007, Commodore Frank Bainimarama said Fiji's military declared again a state of emergency as he believed ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase was engaged in destabilization efforts when he returned to Suva after 8 months of exile on his home island Vanuabalavu in Lau, Elections were tentatively set on March 2009. Events 3114 BC - According to the Proleptic Julian calendar the current era in the Maya Long Count Calendar started Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Commodore is a Military rank used in many navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a navy captain, but is less than Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, MSD, OStJ, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by the chiefly title A military is an Organization authorized by its Nation to use force usually including use of Weapons in defending its Country (or by attacking Laisenia Qarase (born February 4, 1941) served as the Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006 Vanua Balavu (βanua mbalaβu is the second largest island in Fiji 's Lau Archipelago (not counting the islands of the Moala Group) and The Lau Islands (also called the Lau Group, the Eastern Group, the Eastern Archipelago) of Fiji are situated in the southern Pacific An election is a Decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold formal office ^[10]

The interim Government set up an anti corruption Commission which have received numerous complaints and allegations, also there have been a number of high profile dismissals from government and associated industry. The anti corruption body however, has yet to successfully prosecute anyone for alleged corruption.

During November 2007 there were a number of people brought in for questioning in regard to an assassination Plot directed at the Interim Prime Minister, senior army officers and members of the Interim Cabinet.

Political Divisions

Map of the divisions of Fiji.

Main article: Local government of Fiji

Fiji is divided into 4 divisions:

• Central
• Eastern
• Northern
• Western

These divisions are further divided into 14 districts. Fiji is divided administratively into four divisions which are further subdivided into fourteen Provinces Each division is headed by a Commissioner The Central Division of Fiji is one of Fiji's four divisions. The Eastern Division of Fiji is one of Fiji's four divisions. The Northern Division is one of four Divisions into which Fiji 's fourteen Provinces are grouped for local government purposes The Western Division of Fiji is one of Fiji's four divisions.

Geography

Map of Fiji

Main article: Geography of Fiji

Fiji consists of 322 islands (of which 106 are inhabited) and 522 smaller islets. Fiji is a group of volcanic Islands in the South Pacific, lying about 4450 km (2775 mi southwest of Honolulu and 1770 km (1100 mi north Viti Levu (ˈβiti ˈleβu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji, the site of the nation's capital Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population Vanua Levu (βanua leβu formerly known as Sandalwood Island is the second largest Island of Fiji. Conway Reef, known in Fijian as Ceva-I-Ra (ðeβaira is a three-kilometer long Coral Reef situated at 21 Kadavu (kandaβu with an area of 411 square kilometers is the fourth largest island in Fiji, and the largest island in the Kadavu Group, a Taveuni (taβeuni is the third-largest island in Fiji after Vanua Levu and Viti Levu, with a total land area of 435 square kilometers Rotuma is a Fijian Dependency, consisting of the island of Rotuma and the nearby islets of Hatana, Hạf Liua, Solkope, Solnohu The Kadavu Group is an Archipelago south of Viti Levu, one of Fiji 's two main islands The Lau Islands (also called the Lau Group, the Eastern Group, the Eastern Archipelago) of Fiji are situated in the southern Pacific The Lomaiviti (lomaiβiti Archipelago of Fiji consists of seven main islands and a number of smaller ones The Mamanuca Islands of Fiji are a volcanic Archipelago lying to the west of Nadi and to the south of the Yasawa Islands. The Moala Islands are a subgroup of Fiji 's Lau Archipelago. Its three islands ( Matuku, Moala, and Totoya) are located The Ringgold Isles are an Archipelago in Fiji, forming an outlier group to Vanua Levu. The Rotuma Group is a group of islands dominated by Rotuma Island, and including the nearby islets of Hatana, Haf'liua, Solkope, Solnohu The Vanua Levu Group is an Archipelago in northern Fiji. It takes its name from its predominant island Vanua Levu. The Viti Levu Group in Fiji consists of the island of Viti Levu and its outliers including Bau, Beqa, Nukulau, and Vatulele The Yasawa Group is an Archipelago of about 20 volcanic Islands in the Western Division of Fiji, with an approximate total area of The two most important islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. The islands are mountainous, with peaks up to 1,300 metres (4,250 ft), and covered with tropical forests. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit Viti Levu hosts the capital city of Suva, and is home to nearly three quarters of the population. Other important towns include Nadi (the location of the international airport), and Lautoka (the location of a large sugar mill and a sea-port). Lautoka is the second largest city of Fiji. It is in the west of the island of Viti Levu, 24 kilometers north of Nadi, and is the second port The main towns on Vanua Levu are Labasa and Savusavu. Savusavu is a town in the Fijian Province of Cakaudrove on the island of Vanua Levu, with a population of 4962 at the 1996 Census Other islands and island groups include Taveuni and Kadavu (the third and fourth largest islands respectively), the Mamanuca Group (just outside Nadi) and Yasawa Group, which are popular tourist destinations, the Lomaiviti Group, outside of Suva, and the remote Lau Group. Taveuni (taβeuni is the third-largest island in Fiji after Vanua Levu and Viti Levu, with a total land area of 435 square kilometers Kadavu (kandaβu with an area of 411 square kilometers is the fourth largest island in Fiji, and the largest island in the Kadavu Group, a The Mamanuca Islands of Fiji are a volcanic Archipelago lying to the west of Nadi and to the south of the Yasawa Islands. The Yasawa Group is an Archipelago of about 20 volcanic Islands in the Western Division of Fiji, with an approximate total area of Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel The Lomaiviti (lomaiβiti Archipelago of Fiji consists of seven main islands and a number of smaller ones The Lau Islands (also called the Lau Group, the Eastern Group, the Eastern Archipelago) of Fiji are situated in the southern Pacific Rotuma, some 500 kilometres (310 mi) north of the archipelago, has a special administrative status in Fiji. Rotuma is a Fijian Dependency, consisting of the island of Rotuma and the nearby islets of Hatana, Hạf Liua, Solkope, Solnohu The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States Fiji is divided administratively into four divisions which are further subdivided into fourteen Provinces Each division is headed by a Commissioner Fiji's nearest neighbour is Tonga. The climate in Fiji is tropical and warm most of the year round.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Fiji

Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the more developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Endowed with Forest, Mineral, and Fish resources Fiji is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though it remains A mineral is a naturally occurring substance formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition a highly ordered atomic structure and specific Fiji experienced a period of rapid growth in the 1960s and 1970s but stagnated in the early 1980s. The coups of 1987 caused further contraction. Economic liberalisation in the years following the coup created a boom in the garment industry and a steady growth rate despite growing uncertainty of land tenure in the sugar industry. Sugar is a class of edible Crystalline substances mainly Sucrose, Lactose, and Fructose. The expiration of leases for sugar cane farmers (along with reduced farm and factory efficiency) has led to a decline in sugar production despite a subsidised price. Subsidies for sugar have been provided by the EU and Fiji has been the second largest beneficiary after Mauritius. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in Mauritius (pronounced məˈrɪʃəs L’île Maurice /il mɔ'ʁis/ Mauritian Creole: Maurice) officially the Republic of Mauritius, République

Urbanization and expansion in the service sector have contributed to recent GDP growth. Sugar exports and a rapidly growing tourist industry — with 430,800 tourists in 2003^[11] and increasing in the subsequent years — are the major sources of foreign exchange. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel Fiji is highly dependent on tourism for revenue. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity. Long-term problems include low investment and uncertain property rights. The political turmoil in Fiji has had a severe impact on the economy, which shrank by 2. 8% in 2000 and grew by only 1% in 2001. The tourism sector recovered quickly, however, with visitor arrivals reaching pre-coup levels again during 2002, which has since resulted in a modest economic recovery. This recovery continued into 2004 but grew by 1. 7% in 2005 and is projected to grow by 2. 0% in 2006. Although inflation is low, the policy indicator rate of the Reserve Bank of Fiji was raised by 1% to 3. The Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF is the Central bank of the Pacific Island Country of Fiji. 25% in February 2006 due to fears of excessive consumption financed by debt. Lower interest rates have so far not produced greater investment for exports. However, there has been a housing boom from declining commercial mortgage rates.

The tallest building in Fiji is the fourteen-storey Reserve Bank of Fiji Building in Suva, which opened in 1984. The Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF is the Central bank of the Pacific Island Country of Fiji. The Suva Central Commercial Centre, which opened in November 2005, was planned to outrank the Reserve Bank building at seventeen stories, but last-minute design changes meant the Reserve Bank building remains the tallest.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Fiji

Ethnic groups

The population of Fiji is mostly made up of native Fijians, who are Melanesians, although a few also have Polynesian ancestry (54. Indigenous Fijians, the native inhabitants of Fiji, are a mixture of Polynesian and Melanesian resulting from the original migrations to the South Pacific many centuries Melanesia (from Greek: μέλας black, νῆσος island) means "islands of the black-skinned people" Polynesia (from Greek: πολύς many, νῆσος island) is a Subregion of Oceania, comprising a large grouping of over 3%), and Indo-Fijians (38. Indo-Fijians are Fijians who trace their ancestry to India. They number 311591 (37 1%), descendants of Indian contract labourers brought to the islands by the British in the nineteenth century. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The percentage of the population of Indian descent has declined significantly over the last two decades due to migration for various reasons. There is also a small but significant group of descendants of indentured labourers from Solomon Islands.

About 1. 2% are Rotuman — natives of Rotuma Island, whose culture has more in common with countries such as Tonga or Samoa than with the rest of Fiji. Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa, is a country governing the western part of the Samoan Islands Archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean There are also small, but economically significant, groups of Europeans, Chinese and other minorities.

Relationships between ethnic Fijians and Indo-Fijians at a political level have often been strained, and the tension between the two communities has dominated politics in the islands for the past generation. The level of tension varies between different regions of the country. There are also good indications of racial harmony with the recognition of cultural and religious holidays by all races in Fiji. Public holidays in Fiji reflect the country's cultural diversity

Religion

Religion is one of the primary differences between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians, with the former overwhelmingly Christian (97. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos 2% at the 1996 census), and the latter mostly Hindu (70. A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical 7%) and Muslim (17. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion 9%).

The largest Christian denomination is the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma. The Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma is the largest Christian denomination in Fiji, with 36 With 36. 2% of the total population (including almost two-thirds of ethnic Fijians), its share of the population is higher in Fiji than in any other nation. Roman Catholics (8. The Roman Catholic Church in Fiji is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and Curia in Rome 9%), the Assemblies of God (4%), and Seventh-day Adventists (2. The World Assemblies of God Fellowship, or Assemblies of God for short is the world's largest Pentecostal denomination with over 283413 churches and outstations The Seventh-day Adventist (abbreviated " Adventist " Church is a Christian denomination which is distinguished mainly by its observance 9%) are also significant. Fiji is also the base for the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia (part of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia). These and other denominations also have small numbers of Indo-Fijian members; Christians of all kinds comprise 6. 1% of the Indo-Fijian population. Much major Roman Catholic missionary activity was conducted through the Vicariate Apostolic of Fiji. The Vicariate Apostolic of Fiji was a Roman Catholic Missionary jurisdiction comprising the islands belonging to the Fiji Archipelago till 1966

Hindus belong mostly to the Sanatan sect (74. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. 3% of all Hindus) or else are unspecified (22%). The small Arya Samaj sect claims the membership of some 3. Arya Samaj ( Sanskrit ārya samāja sa आर्य समाज " Noble Society" is a Hindu reform movement founded in India 7% of all Hindus in Fiji. Muslims are mostly Sunni (59. Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic 7%) and Shia (36. 7%), with an Ahmadiya minority (3. Ahmadiyya ( احمدیہ Ahmadiyya) is a movement that arose out of mainstream Islam towards the end of the 19th century 6%) regarded as heretical by more orthodox Muslims. Heresy is an introduced change to some system of belief especially a religion that conflicts with the previously established canon of that belief The Sikh religion comprises 0. Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. 9% of the Indo-Fijian population, or 0. 4% of the national population in Fiji. Their ancestors came from the Punjab region of India. Punjab (ਪੰਜਾਬ पंजाब pəɲdʒaːb is a state in northwest India. The Bahá'í Faith has over 21 Local Spiritual Assemblies throughout Fiji and Baha'is live in more than 80 localities. The Bahá'í Faith is a Religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind Spiritual Assembly is a term given by `Abdu'l-Bahá to refer to elected councils that govern the Bahá'í Faith. ^[12] The first Baha'i on the island was a New Zealander who arrived in 1924. ^[12] There is also a small Jewish population on the island. Every year the Israeli Embassy organises a Passover celebration with approximately 100 people attending.

Sport

Main article: Sport in Fiji

The national sport of Fiji is considered to be rugby union (see rugby union in Fiji), however rugby league is also widely played. The national sport of Fiji is considered to be Rugby Union, however Rugby League is also widely played Rugby union is a popular team sport that is played in Fiji. It is considered to be the national sport of the country History See also History of rugby league The grass roots of rugby league can be traced to early football history, through the playing of ball games The national team is very successful given the size of the population of the country, and has competed at four Rugby World Cups, the first being in 1987, where they reached the quarter-finals. The Fiji National rugby union team is one of the strongest national rugby union teams of the world and the third from Oceania, even still as a second tier nation The Rugby World Cup is the premier international Rugby union competition The First Rugby World Cup was hosted by New Zealand and Australia in 1987 and was won by New Zealand. The Fiji national side did not match that feat again until the 2007 Rugby World Cup when they upset Wales 38-34 to progress to the quarter-finals. Fiji also competes in the Pacific Tri-Nations and the Pacific Nations Cup. The Pacific Tri-Nations is the traditional rugby union series between Tonga, Fiji and Western Samoa was established in 1982 with Western Samoa The sport is governed by the Fiji Rugby Union which is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, and contributes to the Pacific Islanders rugby union team. Fiji Rugby Union is the governing body for the sport of Rugby union in Fiji. The Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA was set up in 2002 as a basis of co-operation between the Fiji, Samoa and Tonga Rugby Unions The Pacific Islanders rugby union team (usually known as just Pacific Islanders) are an international Rugby union team started in 2004 that represents Fiji At the club level there are the Colonial Cup and Pacific Rugby Cup. The Colonial Cup (named after sponsors The Colonial National Bank) is the second highest level of competition within Fijian rugby union and is a stepping stone for local players IRB Pacific Rugby Cup is an Annual Rugby union club competition The Fiji sevens team is one of the most successful rugby sevens teams in the world, having won the two world cup titles and the 2006 IRB Series. The Fiji Sevens side is one of the most popular and successful Sevens teams in the world and has won the Hong Kong Sevens a record nine times since its inception in

Following is a list of Notable Fijians in Sport:

• Jimmy Snuka, a Hall of Fame professional wrestler. James Reiher (born May 18 1943 is an American professional wrestler, and Actor, better known by his ring name of Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka
• Vijay Singh, A professional golfer. Career history Singh recollected to reporters about his childhood "When we were kids we couldn't afford golf balls so we had to make do with coconuts
• Waisale Serevi, a world-renowned sevens rugby player, is from Fiji. Waisale Tikoisolomoni Serevi (born 20 May 1968 in Qarani on the island of Gau, Fiji) is a Fijian Commentators often refer to him as either "the Magician", "Maestro" or also "the King of Sevens".
• Lote Tuqiri, dual code international for Australia in rugby league and rugby union, and former captain of the Fiji national rugby league team. Lote Daulako Tuqiri (born 23 September 1979 in Namatakula, Fiji) is an Australian Rugby union player and former Rugby league player For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. History See also History of rugby league The grass roots of rugby league can be traced to early football history, through the playing of ball games Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short The Fiji national Rugby league team (nicknamed the Bati) has been participating in international competition since 1992.
• Petero Civoniceva, representative footballer for the Australia national rugby league team. Petero Civoniceva (born 21 April 1976 in Suva, Fiji) is a Fijian- Australian professional Rugby league player for the
• Sitiveni Sivivatu and Joe Rokocoko are Fijians who play for New Zealand's All Blacks. Sitiveni Waica Sivivatu (born 19 April 1982 in Suva, Fiji) is a New Zealand Rugby union footballer more specifically Josevata Taliga "Joe" Rokocoko (ROCK-o-THO-ko (rɒkɒˈðɒkɒ born 6 June 1983 in Nadi, Fiji) is a professional The All Blacks are New Zealand's national team in Rugby union, the country's National sport.
• Rupeni Caucau plays for a French rugby union club. Rupeni Caucaunibuca (ruː'pɛˌniː 'ðaʊˌðaʊnɪm'buːðɑː born 5 June 1980) is a Fijian Rugby union footballer
• David Rodan and Alipate Carlile, professional Australian rules footballers in the Australian Football League. David Rodan (born 8 October 1983 in Fiji) is a professional Australian rules footballer Rodan was recruited by AFL club Richmond Tigers Alipate Carlile (born 30 April 1987 in Fiji) is an Australian Rules Footballer who plays for Port Adelaide Power. The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest

Culture

Main article: Culture of Fiji

Fiji's culture is a rich mosaic of indigenous, Indian, Chinese and European traditions, comprising social polity, language, food, costume, belief systems, architecture, arts, craft, music, dance and sports. Fiji 's Culture is a rich mosaic of indigenous, Indian Chinese and European traditions

The indigenous culture is very much active and living, and is a part of everyday life for the majority of the population. However, it has evolved with the introduction of vibrant and old cultures like the Indian and Chinese ones, as well as a large influence from Europe, and from various Pacific neighbors of Fiji, mainly the Tongan and Rotuman. The culture of Fiji has created a unique communal and national identity.

See also

• List of Fiji-related topics
• List of Fijians
• Communications in Fiji
• Transport in Fiji
• Military of Fiji
• Foreign relations of Fiji
• Fiji Meteorological Service

Footnotes

References

Bibliography

• Derrick, Ronald Albert (1957). A History of Fiji. Suva, Fiji: Government Printer.  
• Scarr, Deryck (1984). Fiji: A Short History. Sydney, Australia: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 0868613193.  
• Waterhouse, Joseph (1998). The King and People of Fiji. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824819209.  

External links

• Fiji travel guide from Wikitravel
• Fijiguide.com - A comprehensive Travel and Culture Guide to Fiji
• CIA Factbook
• Official Website of the Government of Fiji
• Official Website of the Parliament of Fiji
• Bulafiji.com. Official Fiji Visitors Bureau website
• The Fiji Times - Fiji News, Sport and Weather from Fiji's leading newspaper
• Open Directory Project - Fiji directory category
• Documents affecting Fiji at the Diplomacy Monitor
• Seacology Fiji Projects Seacology