Fiji warned of backlash

Press, 17 January 1989, Page 4

Fiji warned of backlash

NZPA Suva Fiji’s deposed coalition Government warned yesterday that ethnic Indians eventually would retaliate with violence if a draft constitution designed to enshrine the political dominance of indigenous Fijians was adopted later this year. It also foresaw confrontation between rival indigenous clans. The scenario was outlined in a-46-page submission to an. inquiry and advisory committee set up to gauge public views on the draft which has been put forward by the present post-coup interim Government. ' VV The document, pre-'*

sented at a behind-doors hearing, was the strongest and most detailed criticism of the draft voiced by . the Coalition, which has not spoken of an Indian backlash since its overthrow by the military in May, 1987. The warning came as Fiji’s Bureau of Statistics announced that . indigenous Fijians have outnumbered ethnic Indians in population for the first time since 1946. It estimated that at the end of last year, there . were about 343,000 Fijians against 340,000 Indians. The change follows a massive migration of Indians after the two coups in 1987.