On this day in ...... 1970 (40 years ago today), the South Pacific group of islands known as Fiji won independence from Britain, pursuant to the country's new Constitution. The colonizer left behind lend tenure issues that rankled various groups in Fiji (flag at left). On this same day in 1987, a military government revoked that Constitution, leading the Commonwealth of Nations to expel Fiji and a number of states, including Australia and New Zealand, to decline to recognize the military government. A "coup cycle" ensued; the most recent occurred in 2006.
(Prior October 10 posts are here, here, and here.)
