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Article: FIJI: coups and conflict in Melanesia.(author explores recent events in Fiji in context of that country's race realtions and the political and cultural context of the Melanesian region)
- Article from:
- New Zealand International Review
- Article date:
- July 1, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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John Henderson examines recent events in Fiji in light of the situation in the wider Melanesian region.
The violence surrounding the military takeover of Fiji in May 2000 is the latest outbreak of what has become a growing pattern of conflict in Melanesia. It is 13 years since Fiji experienced its first two military coups in 1987. Since then there have been riots (1988) and a military rebellion (1996) in Vanuatu; the decade long struggle of Bougainville to break away from Papua New Guinea; and the ongoing (since 1998) conflict between the Guadalcanal and Malaitan people in the Solomon Islands.
This article seeks to explore the major forces behind the May ...