happening in small (with a population of less than a million), lush Fiji, in the South Pacific, which was granted independence from Britain in 1970. We hope that the imbroglio there ends before it does permanent damage.

On May 19, George Speight, a bankrupt businessman, tried to stage an armed coup. The attempt failed, but his small band, which stormed the parliamentary compound in Suva, the capital, captured more than two dozen officials, including Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry. Since then, the situation has not changed much: The captives are being held hostage; the military, under Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has the Speight entourage trapped and, most significantly, has placed the nation under martial law.

Mr. Speight says he wants to promote the cause of indigenous Fijians. They are being pushed aside, he feels, by Fijians of Indian descent. But of course, the so-called native Fijians (roughly 51 percent of the population) aren't really indigenous; they are descended from Melanesians and Polynesians who migrated to Fiji centuries ago. Let's face it: No people can truly be called "indigenous.'' Just about everyone's ancestors came from somewhere else.

As for Fijians of Indian descent (about 44 percent of the population), most were brought there in indentured servitude during the 19th Century by British colonial rulers. They have stayed and become successful in urban businesses and professions. What are they supposed to do? Refuse to work to the best of their abilities? Or go to India, where most have never lived? (Some ultra-nationalist "indigenous'' Fijians have actually called for "repatriating'' the Indo-Fijians!) Fiji has some important local crops, notably sugar. It is also an idyllic and remote place, 1,100 miles north of New Zealand and 2,800 miles southwest of Hawaii. Tourists, including many from America, flock there.

But all that could change -- for the worse. The British Commonwealth has suspended Fiji's membership, calling for "the restoration of democracy'' there. Other nations are also prepared to exert diplomatic and economic pressures. The European Union poses a particularly serious threat. Under a deal involving former colonies of the organisation's members, the EU buys some 75 percent of Fiji's exported sugar even though the price is some three times that of the world market. With the threatened end of this special treatment, Fiji would have trouble selling its sugar anywhere, which means the jobs in that industry would very quickly evaporate.

As for tourism, few people desire to disturb their comfort, much less risk their safety, while on vacation. The longer the troubles continue on Fiji, the less alluring a trip there becomes. And when visitors disappear, so will jobs in tourism.

Fijians of all backgrounds will have to get along with each other; the only alternative is to bear the costs of jealousy, antagonism and discord.

The Journal-Bulletin