There are odd things going on in Fiji, and have been for some years. The underlying issue is conflict between the Melanesian native Fijian people and the population of East Indians brought in many years ago by the British to work the plantations. The Indians slightly outnumber the Fijians and in a one-man, one-vote election elect Indians to the government. The Fijians take the view that Fiji is their home island and they will, by God, rule it regardless of who is in the majority.
This article by the New Zealand Press Association reports on the latest steps in the conflict. When the DrsC were in Fiji a couple of years ago we discovered that the Indians, being more entrepreneurial, have control of most of the wealth producing activities on the islands. The Fijians, on the other hand, have control of the army and police.
The simmering conflict on Fiji is one to keep an eye on. Much of Melanesia has had problems with governmental instability.
