'lncidents' in Fiji

Racial Sensitiveness Leads to 'lncidents' in Fiji

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Suva, Apl. 26

Occasionally, minor incidents in Fiji open things up to a considerable extent. Trivial enough in themselves, they built up into an indication of an increasingly precar ious balance between the com munities which may be upset at any time by stupidity, prejudice or just plain greed.

Example I: Since the hurricane, Vukulau Island—normally a popular meeting-place for Suva yachting and aunch parties—has been officially dosed, because the storm left virtu illy none of the essential amenities.

During the Easter week-end, it is re sorted, a dozen or so Europeans dsited the island for a short period md, while there, objected to the anding of an Indian launch-party; sut made no objection when a second European party arrived. Aggrieved, he Indians lodged a protest, which irew an official statement that the irst European party, as far as was mown, was at Nukulau without per

mission, and in any case had no vestige of authority to decide who should or should not land. As the first party included some quite well known people, the story does not tend to improve inter-racial relation ships.

Example II: When making a small purchase in a Chinese cafe an Indian blithely told the shopkeeper’s wife to “enter” the cost. The Chinese woman refused, on the ground that the purchaser was unknown to her, al though he claimed to have had business dealings with her husband.

At this the Indian (slightly the worse for liquor) abused her with that un pleasant arrogance that causes a lot of anti-Indian feeling among all races, and informed the cafe at large that (a) he had travelled round the world, (b) he could buy up any Chinese in Suva, and (c) he wanted to know why that particular establish ment treated Europeans, Fijians and Chinese alike, but not Indians. A Chinese youth advised the heated gentleman to answer (c) for himself —and the situation became heated, with interested Chinese moving up from all directions. Realising that in a matter of seconds he would be helped out with no regard for dignity, the Indian produced an impressive roll of notes, paid the required 2/8

for his purchase, and removed him self in a silence that seethed with hostility. The Chinese smiled im passively at all and sundry.

Example III: Flickers of Chinese- Indian antagonism crop up with increasing frequency. An Indian, buying half a dozen eggs (even at upwards of 6-/ a

dozen, eggs are often unobtain able at Suva nowadays) was exercised by doubts as to their fresh ness. The Chinese vendor said tersely: “I bought them from one of your people—if any are wrong, blame the Indian!” Later, to a favoured European buyer of eggs he said: 'lndians make trouble all the

time . . . These eggs all right, but I’m not sure about two I gave that Indian!”

Example IV: People who fondly imagine that Asiatic Communism overlooks Fiji might be interested in an assortment of outrageous Red propaganda (in English) which was wrapped around a parcel from a

Chinese shop. When a protest was made to the shopkeeper, he insisted that the paper had come from Hongkong as packing. Oddly enough, the same sort of thing sometimes comes through the post, from Peking, to Indian addresses in Fiji. It is un officially hinted that officials at Suva are now keeping an eye out for this sort of thing, possibly at the behest of the police.

Indians And The Police

A distinctly Leftist Indian publi cation in Fiji has demanded official information as to why ceremonial police occasions at Suva are usually almost exclusively Fijian.

The official reply will doubtless be a model of diplomatic suavity which will please nobody. The factual truth would be simply that Indians are not included in Fijian police guards of-honour and so forth for pretty much the same reason as Indians were not included in the First Battalion for Malaya.

The idea of a mixed Fijian and Indian guard-of-honour is not acceptable. There is a point in the fact that some people (including Indians) ask whether a proportion of the recent Indian additions to the police force at Suva—most of them incredibly youthful-looking light

weights—are worth the expense of heir costly uniforms and equipment.

In 1947 there was a Government jroposal to bring to Fiji a number )f Indian Army loyalists to serve as ndian policemen. This was squashed lat by Indian political opposition in Fiji. The question remains: Why?

The situation, like most inter acial situations in Fiji, is thorny, rhere was European and Fijian :riticism of the fact that the First battalion’s embarkation parade hrough Suva on January 8 was leaded by two Indian traffic police nen on motor-cycles.