Forlorn Fiji

“WE ARE one country and one people.” The words were as shocking to George Speight, the hijacker of Fiji's government, as they were pleasing to anyone who abhors racism, coups and hostage-taking. For, surprisingly, they were uttered this week by Fiji's new president, a man backed by Mr Speight in the belief that he would ensure the supremacy of Fiji's indigenous people over its ethnic Indians. Though only one Indo-Fijian was included (in a junior post) in the new government, Mr Speight's response was to promise more civil unrest (see article). Unfortunately, it is a promise he can easily keep. Yet it is equally certain that Mr Speight's preferred solution—a divided country, in which ethnic Indians would be lucky even to vote, let alone to hold any power—would also bring ethnic unrest. The truth is that, though Fiji is indeed one country, it is not one people.