ottoman vs. british colonial rule

[Ivo Skoric]

When British colonized Fiji islands, they found the climate there 
perfect for sugar cane. Only they couldn't find anyone to do the hard 
manual labor for them. Since Fijians did not care about employment 
for cash, British rulers had to bring in Indians to work on sugar 
cane plantations. As in many other places, British imperial policies 
created long term problems. Now, Indians are a half of Fiji 
population. In his curious providence and old British governor made a 
law ensuring that Fijians remain in possession of at least 83% of 
Fiji land. Naturally, Indians resent that. Resulting tension produced 
two coups so far. Here is the story about an event that happened 
during the first coup ("The Two Worlds of Fiji", National Geographic, 
vol. 188, no. 4, 10/1995): "A young Indian ran into two Fijian boys, 
who gave chase. The Indian boy, who was much smaller, fled through 
steeply rolling meadows where groves of trees gather in catchments. 
As the bigger boys closed in on him, he followed the road over a hill 
and toward a low bridge that spans one of the highlands many streams. 
He hesitated a moment, saw the Fijians come into sight, and threw 
himself off the bridge. The two Fijians began laughing at the sight 
of the Indian boy floundering in the stream until they realized he 
was drowning. Then they dived in, rescued him, and sent him home." 
That story, similar to the recent drowning of three Albanian boys in 
Kosovo, that provoked burning and demolishing of thirtysomething 
places of worship across three post-Yugoslav countries, differs in 
one important point: the happy ending. 
ivo---------------------------------------------------------
Ivo Skoric
19 Baxter Street
Rutland VT 05701
802.775.7257
ivo at balkansnet.org
balkansnet.org