The recent election of a new government, which had promised to help mend the ethnic rift that led to the overthrow of the previous government in a coup last year, has produced more dissention among ethnic Indians and native Fijians. The new prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, defied the constitution by naming no ethnic Indians to his cabinet despite their winning 27 of the country’s 71 parliamentary seats. By law, any party with eight seats should have a cabinet post. Ethnic Indians, who make up 44 percent of the population, now have little voice in the government, and the chance of a harmonious future between the two groups appears slim.
