State of Suffering: Political Violence and Community Survival in Fiji.

• Author: Tonkin-Covell, John
• Position: Book review

STATE OF SUFFERING: Political Violence and Community Survival in Fiji

Author: Susanna Trnka

Published by: Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 2008, 214pp, US$65(hb), $32.95 (pb).

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This book is an interesting study of the immediate downstream effects of the upheaval in Fiji from 2000 by an anthropologist resident in Fiji at that time. It takes a very close look at the disorder and chaos that accompanied the attempt to overthrow the Chaudry government, and perceptions by people on the ground of their experiences, and their fears. That attempt succeeded partially, in that the Fiji Labour government was not restored to office, although the 'coup' was eventually put down by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. A mutiny by a small section of the RFMF followed later and was suppressed. This careful work is based on personal observation and analysis, and fills a gap in that the Indo-Fijian experience provides the main focus. In turn, the book underlines how intertwined the Fijian and Indo-Fijian fortunes are.

Violence, the collapse of everyday life, the suggestion that the 2000 coup was an invitation to anti-Indian violence, the idea of living in fantastic times, looting, fear of return to the jungli, victims and assailants and friends, and restoring 'normalcy' are the subjects of the seven chapters. The work has full and useful footnotes, along with a very extensive bibliography.

The interim government in Fiji has been in power for quite some time now, and will remain in place until elections bring back parliamentary rule in the long run. Dr Trnka's work is dispassionate and looks at the various sides of what is essentially an intra-societal conflict in Fiji. What she terms 'the radical rupture in Fiji's political, economic and social life' has been a watershed for increased uncertainty in Fiji, yet she shows quite clearly how people adapt to potentially parlous circumstances, and explores the ambiguities in social relations between the communities and individuals. There is a lot of reporting of individual experiences through the upheavals, some of which is very graphic, but she exerts a measure of prudent caution not to allow harrowing experiences to overwhelm her analysis.

Throughout the book, the difficult circumstances of the Indo-Fijian community come in for close attention. A good deal of back ground is covered carefully and the trend of ever-increasing problems is given due notice. There is no easy way forward, and the...