Ethnic tensions are on the rise at the University of the South Pacific, in
the Fijian
capital Suva, mirroring those that led to an attempted coup in Fiji.
This month, scores of indigenous students, angered at the promotion of a Fijian
of
Indian descent to be the institution's chief executive, staged sit-ins.
A leading academic at the university said last month that the institution faced
a mass
exodus of faculty members because of ethnic turmoil in the island nation.
The coup was directed against the government of Prime Minister Mahendra
Chaudhry, who, along with 45 others, was taken hostage at the country's Parliament
House. The military has responded to the coup by taking control of the government,
although the rebels continued to hold hostages last week.
Meanwhile, Fiji witnessed unprecedented rioting, with supporters of the
ultranationalist Taukei Movement -- from whose ranks the insurgents came --
destroying as many as 200 buildings.
Those events followed months of growing tensions between the majority population
of indigenous Fijians and the 43 percent of those who trace their roots to Indian
migrants who came to Fiji as indentured laborers in the late 1800's.
Today, the Indo-Fijians play a leading role in the nation's commerce and at
its only
university. That has led to widespread resentment against their perceived good
fortune,
not least because of the recent election of one of them, Mr. Chaudhry, as prime
minister.
"Everybody knew there are unresolved ethnic issues here, but nobody, I
think, was
prepared for what happened," said Vijay Naidu, a professor of development
studies
who is Indo-Fijian.
The University of the South Pacific serves 12 member countries and territories
across
20 million square miles of ocean. It enrolls 4,700 full-time students and has
about 300
faculty members.
The university's new leader, Rajesh Chandra, was chosen over Savenaca Siwatibau,
an
indigenous Fijian. Amid the current unrest, the university's council has deferred
a final
decision on the appointment.
Mr. Naidu, a sociologist who was detained without trial during a similarly
motivated
outbreak 13 years ago, believes that the latest violence suggested that time
is fast
running out for Indo-Fijian educators.
"I believe the situation gives a very clear message that we're not wanted,"
he said. "For
Indo-Fijians, this could be time to leave."
http://chronicle.com
Section: International
Page: A61
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