QUESTION 1: WEEK 10
The Fijian coups of 1987 resulted in the overthrow of the elected government of Fijian Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra, the deposition of Elizabeth II as Queen of Fiji, and in the declaration of a republic. The first coup, in which Bavadra was deposed, took place on 14 May 1987; a second coup on 28 September ended the monarchy, and was shortly followed by the proclamation of a republic on 7 October. Both military actions were led by Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka, then third in command of the Royal Fiji Military Forces. Depending on perspective, one may view the event either as two successive coups d'état separated by a four-month intermission, or as a single coup begun on 14 May and completed with the declaration of the republic. The Fijian general election of April 1987 resulted in the replacement of the indigenous-led conservative government of Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara with a multi-ethnic Labour-led coalition supported mostly by the Indo-Fijian plurality and Rabuka claimed ethnic Fijian concerns of racial discrimination.
Ever since the arrival of the British Colonists and the signing of the Deed of Cession on the 10th of October, 1876 there was an introduction of a new race that had come with the Indentured Labour System. With the new races as a majority there arose a lot of differences with the races. These differences came forth in the coup of 1987 when the new Coalition government had defeated the previous winners the Alliance Party. The new government reflected the multiracial nation where the rule of law and parliamentary democracy prevailed. This in turn led to the two coups that occurred during the year Both when Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1970, strains between the indigenous Fijian and Indo-Fijian ethnic gatherings (containing an expected 46% and 49% of the 1987 population, separately) persistently showed themselves in social and political agitation. The Fijian general appointment of April 1987 brought about the substitution of the indigenous-drove preservationist administration of Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara with a multi-ethnic Labour-drove alliance upheld for the most part by the Indo-Fijian majority and Rabuka guaranteed ethnic Fijian worries of racial separation as his reason for holding onto power. Numerous specialists question the veracity of this, in any case, given existing protected assurances.
Question 2:Explain the role of the Great Council of Chiefs during the coups.
According to the Constitution, the Great Council of Chiefs had two major powers: It functioned as an electoral college to elect the President and Vice-President of Fiji, for a five-year term The Great Council of Chiefs is an important part of the history of Fiji as it had existed alongside the Colonizers. It was formed due to the law that had been declared that Indirect Rule had to be practiced. It was established in the year 1876 under the leadership of Sir Arthur Gordon. It was formed as it tried to protect and preserve the native way of life of the natives, so this organization was a major symbol for the natives as they followed their way of life and systems of rule. This sort of organization in more than one way had led to the outbreak of the coup: Firstly, it was the major symbol of Fijian identity and strength in the colonial and political structure. Secondly, it affirmed ethnic political unity transcending geographical and cultural differences amongst the natives opposing the other groups of people. The GCC is a major symbol of Fijian Identity and strength. Thus, these are some of the ways that the GCC influence the people and how they lead to the outbreak of the coup.