Fiji abolishes Great Council of Chiefs

Fiji's military ruler disbanded the Great Council of Chiefs, a leadership tradition on the Pacific island nation that dates back more than a century.

Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama made the announcement on Wednesday, saying the Great Council of Chiefs was a product of colonialism, and helped feed a climate of divisiveness.

The council was first established as the ``Native Council'' under British colonial rule in 1875. Most of its 55 chiefs inherited their positions, and the Council oversees the vast network of local Fijian village chiefs, who collect taxes and provide services.

When Bainimarama seized power in a 2006 coup, he took away much of the council’s power, including appointing the country’s president and vice-president.

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