Intermarriage between Indo-Fijians and indigenous Fijians is, reportedly, "almost unheard of" in Fiji (BBC 9 Sept. 2001; Harris and Reilly 1998). As well as stating that intermarriage "remains very rare," a New York Times article further reported that, "while Indian men sometimes date Fijian women, the opposite almost never happens, at least in public" (7 June 2000).

No further information on intermarriage between Indo-Fijians and indigenous Fijians, including on the treatment of such couples by their communities, could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

BBC News. 9 September 2001. Phil Mercer. "Analysis: Fiji Risks New Ethnic Gulf." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1533728.stm [Accessed 5 Feb. 2003]

Harris, Peter and Ben Reilly, eds. 1998. Democracy and Deep-Rooted Conflict: Options for Negotiators. Stolkholm, Sweden: International Institute For Democracy and Electoral Assistance: (IDEA) http://www.idea.int/publications/demcoracy_and_deep_rooted_conflict/ebook_cs_fiji.htm [Accessed 6 Feb. 2003]

The New York Times. 7 June 2000. Sam Howe Verhovek. "Burst of Ethnic Tension in Fiji Threatens South Seas 'Eden.'" http://www.nytimes.com/library/world/asia/060700fiji-crisis.html [Accessed 6 Feb. 2003]

IRB databases

NEXIS

Unsuccessful attempts to contact an academic source

Internet sites, including:

Amnesty International

Fiji Human Rights Commission

Human Rights Watch

Minority Rights Group

Radio Fiji

World News Connection

Search engine:

Google