World Notes FIJI

Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka is the most indecisive of strongmen. In May he overthrew Fiji's Prime Minister Timoci Bavadra, but quickly turned authority over to a civilian-dominated council. Two weeks ago the colonel seized power ! once more. But early last week he had second thoughts yet again. The colonel released Bavadra from prison and began talks aimed at restoring civilian government. Rabuka was responding in part to an appeal from Queen Elizabeth II that the former British colony not quit the Commonwealth.

By week's end Rabuka had done another about-face. He revoked the Constitution, declared himself head of state and said he would proclaim Fiji a republic on Oct. 10. The colonel's latest change of heart apparently came under pressure from the Taukei Movement, a group of militant Fijians who are demanding that ethnic Indians be excluded from power. Indians dominate Bavadra's Labor Party and slightly outnumber ethnic Fijians among the island chain's 725,000 people.