Racial segregation

Racial segregation is a kind of formalized or institutionalized discrimination on the basis of race. It is characterized by the races' separation from each other when both are doing equal tasks, such as eating in a restaurant. However, segregation often allows close contact in hierarchical situations, such as when a person of one race is working as a servant for the member of another race. Segregation can involve spatial separation of the races, and/or the use of different institutions, such as schools by different races. See also: racism.

Fiji

Two military coups in Fiji in 1987 removed from power a government that was led by an ethnic Fijian, but was supported principally by the Indo-Fijian (ethnic Indian) electorate, which then made up approximately half of the population. A new constitution was promulgated in 1990, establishing Fiji as a republic, with the offices of President, Prime Minister, two-thirds of the Senate, and a clear majority of the House of Representatives reserved for ethnic Fijians, despite the fact that ethnic Fijians then comprised less than half the population. Ethnic Fijian ownership of the land (which was worked principally by Indo-Fijians) was also entrenched in the constitution.

Related Topics:
Two military coups - Fiji - 1987 - Ethnic Fijian - Indo-Fijian - 1990 - President - Prime Minister - Senate - House of Representatives

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World-wide condemnation of the 1990 constitution, and a brain-drain of many Indo-Fijian professionals and businesspeople, caused the Fijian government to revise the constitution in 1997. Amendments deleted most of the discriminatory provisions, and subsequent elections in 1999 brought a new government to power, with Mahendra Chaudhry as the country's first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister.

Related Topics:
1990 - Brain-drain - Constitution - 1997 - 1999 - Mahendra Chaudhry

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Another coup followed in 2000, with George Speight, supported by sympathetic offices in the Army and police force, seizing power, with the aim of ending Indo-Fijian influence in politics. Democracy, and the moderate 1997 constitution, were eventually restored, however.

Related Topics:
Another coup followed in 2000 - George Speight - 1997

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Current prime minister Laisenia Qarase has refused to adhere to the Constitution by not including members of the largely Indo-Fijian Fiji Labour Party in the government.

Related Topics:
Laisenia Qarase - Fiji Labour Party

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