Fiji marks 50 years of independence The South Pacific archipelago of more than 300 islands became a sovereign state on October 10, 1970, after almost a century of British colonial rule ----------------------------- VANUA LEVU FIJI Labasa SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN Tavenui Lau Group Yasawa Group Lautoka Nadi Bligh Water Suva Savusavu VITI LEVU Kadavu Group Koro Sea Moala Group Levuka 100km 60 miles Not all of Fiji’s islands shown on map ----------------------------- FIJI HISTORY 3,500 years ago First settlers arrive in Fiji from islands of Melanesia 1643: Dutch explorer Abel Tasman is first known European to sight Fiji 1830s Arrival of first Christian missionaries 1871: European settlers on Levuka island organise national government and name Ratu Cakobau (above) as king of Fiji following local disorder ----------------------------- BRITISH RULE Oct 10, 1874: Cakobau and other chiefs cede Fiji to Britain 1879-1916: More than 60,000 indentured Indian labourers brought to Fiji to work on sugar plantations Above: Indian migrants were encouraged to become permanent settlers after their contracts ended 1904: Legislative Council, consisting of elected Europeans and nominated Fijians, set up to advise British governor 1963: Women and indigenous Fijians given right to vote, alongside male European and Indo-Fijian population Oct 10, 1970 After 96 years of colonial rule, Fiji achieves independence with Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara as prime minister ----------------------------- POST-INDEPENDENCE 1972: First election held under 1970 constitution, won by Fijian-dominated Alliance Party (AP) Apr 1987: Indian- dominated coalition wins general election, ending 17 years of AP rule May / Oct Two military coups, led by army chief Sitiveni Rabuka, take place in quick succession. Fiji becomes republic 1990: Introduction of new constitution enshrining political dominance for indigenous Fijians 1997: Under increasing pressure, Rabuka unveils new constitution calling for return to multi-ethnic democracy 1999 Mahendra Chaudhry becomes Fiji’s first prime minister of Indian ancestry after his Labour Party wins election 2000: Coup by group of armed civilians led by failed Fijian businessman George Speight topples Chaudhry government in two-month hostage standoff. Speight is later jailed 2006: Fourth coup, by Fijian military leader Frank Bainimarama (above), deposes Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase 2013: New constitution signed into law, removing race-based electorates and increasing protection for indigenous Fijian land 2014: Bainimarama (right) becomes prime minister in first democratic elections following eight years of military rule Feb 2016: Fiji becomes world’s first country to ratify UN climate treaty. Days later, Fiji is hit by Cyclone Winston – worst storm ever recorded in southern hemisphere Aug: Fiji wins first ever Olympic medal, taking gold in rugby sevens 2018: Bainimarama re-elected for second term with narrow majority 2019: Fiji introduces ambitious climate change laws to reduce emissions to net-zero by 2050, restrict use of plastics and plan for relocation of threatened coastal communities Oct 10, 2020: Fiji marks 50 years of independence, as it looks to overcome economic challenge of Covid-19 pandemic, which has battered vital tourism industry ----------------------------- FIJI PROFILE Population: 900,000 Area: 18,376 sq km GDP per capita $6,220 (2019) Major languages English, Fijian, Hindi Life expectancy 67 years (men) 73 years (women) ----------------------------- Cyclone Winston affected about 540,000 people – 62 percent of Fiji’s population ----------------------------- Sources: BBC, Encyclopedia Britannica, Lonely Planet, World Bank Pictures: Associated Press, Facebook, Getty Images, Wikimedia © GRAPHIC NEWS -----------------------------