Fiji, long the most promising island economy in the south pacific, contemplates an uncertain future as it observes the 30th anniversary on Tuesday of its independence from Britain, torn by land problems, racial discontent, coups and a shattered economy. The May 19 coup, which followed two coups in 1987, poses a real crisis in confidence for the country, bringing to the fore once again racial frustrations and suspicions, always an easy target for disgruntled politicians. “I see it as a blow to confidence,” said corporate lawyer Richard Naidu. “People saw 1987 as a critical event. Now you have a pattern and that's very, very damaging to people's confidence,” he said. “In particular, the crisis has shattered the confidence of the ethnic Indian community, about 44 per cent of the population,” says University of the South Pacific sociologist Satendra Prasad. Their trust has been shattered. It will take years to rebuild. They've seen the scale of violence. They have lived in a country where they can't rely on the security forces. “They feel very shattered, vulnerable and threatened,” he said. “In particular, the crisis has shattered the confidence of the ethnic Indian community, about 44 per cent of the population,” says University of the South Pacific sociologist Satendra Prasad. Their trust has been shattered. It will take years to rebuild. They've seen the scale of violence. They have lived in a country where they can't rely on the security forces.“They feel very shattered, vulnerable and threatened,” he said. The latest coup, which deposed the government of ethnic- indian Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, struck Fiji just as it was emerging from the negative blows of the military coups of 1987.
Bureau Reort