At Suva’s World Indigenous Day, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, chairman of Fiji’s Great Council of Chiefs, asked indigenous Fijians to be tolerant and respectful of the rights of non-indigenous Fijians. He simultaneously stressed that indigenous and non-indigenous prosperity was interdependent, and that indigenous land rights were safe, and protected by the constitution. Ratu Epeli’s assurances, however, conflict with nationalist claims that indigenous rights are threatened by Indian Fijians.
