World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Kiribati
| Publisher | Minority Rights Group International |
| Publication Date | 2007 |
| Cite as | Minority Rights Group International, World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Kiribati, 2007, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4954ce2025.html [accessed 25 September 2016] |
| Comments | In October 2015, MRG revised its World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples. For the most part, overview texts were not themselves updated, but the previous 'Current state of minorities and indigenous peoples' rubric was replaced throughout with links to the relevant minority-specific reports, and a 'Resources' section was added. Refworld entries have been updated accordingly. |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Environment
Kiribati is a Micronesian state, with a vast maritime area, spanning the Equator and crossing the dateline, consisting of three coral island groups, two of which are populated, separated by 3,500 kilometres. Its maritime area is one of the largest in the world with an Exclusive Economic Zone, which covers over 3 million square kilometres of ocean.
History
Kiribati was part of the British territory of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, and gained its independence in 1979 (the southern- most Polynesian islands of the British territory broke away to become the nation state of Tuvalu in 1978).
The island of Banaba produced phosphate until closure in 1979, the same year that Kiribati achieved independence. The mining of Banaba from 1900 to 1979 resulted in the postwar displacement of the Banaban population, who were transferred to the island of Rabi in Fiji. There has been some minority interest in returning to Banaba, and a few Banabans live there, but compensation payments made to the Banabans have been invested in Fiji, and the island has not been rehabilitated.
Peoples
Main languages: Gilbertese
Main religions: Christianity (Roman Catholicism and Protestantism)
Minority groups include Banabans. There has been considerable migration from the outer islands to the main island of South Tarawa, where over 40 per cent of the population live. Almost all the population are Micronesians. The language of the few hundred Banabans is slightly different from that of the Gilbertese of Kiribati.
Governance
There is one 42-seat House of parliament (Maneaba ni Maungatabu) which includes a Banaba representative. Historically political parties are not of great significance, but recent elections have shown the development of closer political alignments. In 2002 the Kiribati government passed a controversial law enabling it to shut down newspapers, in response to the launch of the first successful non-government run newspaper. The economy is highly dependent on remittances (from workers on merchant shipping lines or elsewhere) and overseas aid. Exports are few and a subsistence economy of fishing and agriculture dominates. The economy is also reliant on revenues from foreign fishing fleets operating in Kiribati's vast Exclusive Economic Zone, which covers over 3 million square kilometres of ocean.
Minorities
None listed.
Resources
Minority based and advocacy organisations
Abara Banaban (Our Homeland Banaba)
[Queensland, Australia]
Email: admin@banaban.com
Sources and further reading
Abara Banaban: www.banaban.com
Teaiwa, K., 'Banaba Island - paying the price for other people's development', Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA, Copenhagen) No.1, January-March 2000
Weingartner, G., The Pacific: Nuclear Testing and Minorities, London, MRG report, 1991.
