Political

evolution

12908 C Carbon-dated Lapita pottery pro vides evidence of complex civilisation evolving from a confluence of Melanesian and Poly nesian migrations. Regional and tribal wars were endemic. 1643 Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to see Fiji. 1700 s English explorers James Cook, William Bligh and Wilson sighted various Fiji islands. 1800-14 The chiefs of Bau assisted European traders’ exploitation of sandalwood and hosted the first European settlement. 1820-40 Russian explorer von Bellinghausen French explorer d’Urville, and American explorer Wilkes examined various islands; the latter making the first reliable charts. 1822 US ships began calling to buy beche de-mer (sea slug) for the China market. 1830-35 Wesleyan evangelists established churches and schools, bringing Christianity and English and an alphabet to the Fijian language. 1840 The United States appointed a vice consul in Levuka. 1844 Marist missionaries commenced evangelising, raising the possibility of French penetration 1854 Seru Cakobau, chief of Bau, converted to Christianity and appealed to Britain for assistance in his wars with rivals, including a Tongan chief. 1858 Britain appointed a consul who assisted Cakobau to fend off Tongan, French and US intervention. 1871 Cakobau established a natioinal a national monarchy. Blackbirding, alienation of land and commercial swindling by Europeans led him and the paramount chiefs to seek British protection.

1874 Cakobau and 11 paramount chiefs signed a deed of cession to Britain in return for pledge of protection of Fijian rights, privileges and welfare. Tribal wars and land alienation were halted and British law was established. 1879-1920 The Australian Colonial Sugar Refining Company imported about 60,000 indentured labourers from India to build the sugar industry. Their descendents remained to become tenant farmers, petty businessmen and numerically the largest ethnic group. 1929 The first Indians were elected to the colonial Legislative Council. 1937 The revised Legislative Council as signed equal numbers of seats to Europeans, Fijians and Indians. 1960 The National Federation Party, rep resenting Indian voters, was established 1964 Universal adult suffrage, on the basis of racially separate rolls, began. 1966 The Alliance, representing mainly Fijians, was established. Its leader, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, became the first chief minister under the self-government constitution of 1966. 1970 A new constitution was adopted and Fiji attained independence on October 10 96 years years after cession. Fiji joinedd the Commonwealth and the United Nations Gen eral Assembly. Mara led the Alliance to victory in the election of 1972, 1977 and 1982 and

served as prime minister and foreign minister for 17 years. 1971 Fiji joined the South Pacific Com mission the third Pacific island nation to do so. 1972 Fiji led the movement to establish the South Pacific Forum as an independent politi cal counterpart to the South Pacific Com mission. Capital Suva became the venue for the Forum Secretariat, the University of the South Pacific and other regional and international organisations. 1978 Fiji contributed troops to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). 1980 Fiji joined the South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement

(Sparteca).

1987 The Federation-Labour coalition won the general election and its Fijian leader Dr Timoci Bavadra became prime minister. Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka led two army coups and declared Fiji a republic. 1988 Fiji turned to France, China, Taiwan and Malaysia for new military and economic aid and markets. Australia restored ministerial level contact. 1990 The government closed the Indian Embassy in Suva in retaliation for India’s lobbying against readmission of Fiji into the Commonwealth. A new constitution, biased in favour of indigenous Fijians, was adopted and the general election was scheduled for 1992. 1991 New Zealand and the United States restored ministerial level contact and some aspects of defence cooperation. 1992 General election was held in May. Coup leader Rabuka became prime minister following backing of Labour Party.

Source: The South Pacific Foreign Affairs Handbook. n