Number: RS20690
Title: FIJI ISLANDS POLITICAL CRISIS: BACKGROUND, ANALYSIS, AND CHRONOLOGY
Authors: Thomas Lum, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division 
Abstract: On May 19, 2000, Fijian businessman George Speight and his followers took Prime Minister Mehendra Chaudhry, an ethnic Indian Fijian, and 30 government and parliamentary officials hostage in an attempt to return the political system to indigenous Fijian dominance. The Fiji military appointed an interim civilian government, negotiated the release of the hostages on July 14, 2000, and then arrested Speight on July 26, 2000. The interim civilian government, while expressing disapproval of Speight's actions, has indicated plans to revise the Constitution to bar Indo-Fijians from the position of rime Minister. The United States government has not recognized the interim government as legitimate.
Pages: 6
Date: December 11, 2000