Paramount Chief of Fiji

Paramount Chief of Fiji

The Paramount Chief of Fiji (Fijian:"Ilisapeci-Na Radi ni Viti kei Peritania" or "Ilisapeci-Na Tui Viti") is the name given to Queen Elizabeth II in Fiji. The Great Council of Chiefs recognises her as the most senior chief, but the position is not one of a constitutional, or otherwise legal nature.

The Fiji coups of 1987 resulted in the overthrow of the elected government of Fijian Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra, and in the declaration of a republic. The first coup, in which Bavadra was deposed, took place on May 14, 1987; a second coup on September 28 ended the Fijian Crown, and was shortly followed by the proclamation of a republic on October 7.

As a Commonwealth Realm, Fiji's Head of State was the Queen of Fiji, Elizabeth II. The Fijian Supreme Court ruled the coup unconstitutional, and the Queen's representative, Governor General Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, unsuccessfully attempted to assert executive power. He opened negotiations, known as the Deuba Talks, with both the deposed government, and the Alliance Party, which most indigenous Fijians, supported. These negotiations culminated in the Deuba Accord of September 23, 1987, which provided for a government of national unity, in which both parties would be represented under the leadership of the Governor-General. Fearing that the gains of the first coup were about to be lost, Sitiveni Rabuka staged a second coup on September 25.

The Great Council of Chiefs, a formal body of mostly hereditary chiefs, continues to recognise Elizabeth II as its Paramount Chief, as was officially confirmed by the Great Council in 1998 [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19980720/ai_n14161765 "Fiji votes to make Queen `supreme tribal chief'"] , Robert Keith Reid, "The Independent", July 20, 1998] [ [http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=2883 "Fiji chiefs say Britain’s Elizabeth still Queen of Fiji"] , Radio New Zealand International, November 19, 2002] . The majority of the members of this Council are descendants and blood relatives of the chiefs who ceded Fiji to Queen Victoria, Elizabeth's great-great-grandmother, in 1874. The declaration by the Great Council of Chiefs affirming Elizabeth's rights as Paramount Chief is unique, as it indicates she takes precedence within the Council over the President of the Republic of Fiji, who again can only be selected from a chiefly house and member of the GCC.

ee also

*Tui Viti
*Queen of Fiji

References

External links

* [http://www.pacificmagazine.net/issue/2004/05/01/ratu-mara-a-family-man-leader-and-statesman Ratu Mara: A Family Man Leader And Statesman] (reference to Ratu Mara's support for restoring monachy in Fiji)


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Paramount chief — A paramount chief is the highest level traditional (usually tribal) chief or political leader in a regional or local polity or country typically administered politically with a chief based system. This definition is used occasionally in… …   Wikipedia

  • Fiji during the time of Cakobau — The first three quarters of the Nineteenth Century were marked by tribal warfare, incursions from neighbouring Tonga, and the increasing encroachment of foreign powers. This period also saw the rise of a warlord by the name of Seru Epenisa… …   Wikipedia

  • Paramount Ruler — The term Paramount Ruler, or sometimes Paramount King, is a generic description, though occasionally also used as an actual title, for a number of rulers position in relative terms, as the summit of a feudal type pyramid of rulers of lesser… …   Wikipedia

  • Fiji Week, 2005 — Fiji Week celebrations commenced on 7 October 2005, and culminated with Fiji Day on 10 October, the 35th anniversary of Fiji s independence from British colonial rule. The official program focused on forgiveness and unity. It culminated with a… …   Wikipedia

  • Fiji — For other uses, see Fiji (disambiguation). Republic of Fiji Matanitu ko Viti  (Fijian) Fijī Ganarājya फ़िजी गणराज्य   (Fiji Hindi) …   Wikipedia

  • President of Fiji — Fiji s Head of State is the President of the Republic of the Fiji Islands. He or she is appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five year term. The Great Council of Chiefs is constitutionally required to consult the Prime Minister, but… …   Wikipedia

  • Monarchy of Fiji — Nobility of Fiji Titles Adi Bulou Ro Roko Ratu Institutions Great Council of Chiefs Chairman, Great Council of Chiefs House of Chiefs Confederacies: Burebasaga Kubuna Tovata Rotuman Traditional Leadership Gagaja …   Wikipedia

  • Queen of Fiji — The title of Queen of Fiji was held by Queen Elizabeth II between 1972 and 1987. The constitutional monarchy of Fiji was replaced by a republic following two military coups carried out in 1987 by Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka. After the… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Fiji-related articles — NOTOC Articles (arranged alphabetically) about people, places, things, and concepts related to or originating from Fiji, include: 0 9 2007 Colonial Cup A Rodney ACRAMAN Adi Adi Da James AH KOY Air Fiji Air Pacific Air Pacific destinations Ahmed… …   Wikipedia

  • Great Council of Chiefs (Fiji) — The Great Council of Chiefs (Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian) is a now dormant 1997 constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. In April 2007 the council was suspended, due to an unworkable relationship with Frank Bainimarama, leader… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”