Dialogue Fiji has urged the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) to retain the term “Fijian” as the common nationality for all citizens, arguing that replacing it with “Fiji Islander” would diminish Fiji’s identity as an independent nation.
In its submission to the CRC, the organisation said several foundational principles in the 2013 Constitution should remain untouched, including secularism, equal citizenry and the use of “Fijian” as the common national identity.
Dialogue Fiji said Fiji must continue to be a secular State, stressing that secularism does not oppose religion but instead guarantees equal treatment of all faiths.
“In a multi-religious society, secularism is not hostility to religion. It is the only fair basis on which the State can treat all religions equally and protect freedom of conscience for every citizen.”
The organisation also argued against any return to constitutional arrangements that distinguish citizens on the basis of race or ethnicity.
“The Constitution must also retain equal citizenry. There can be no return to constitutional arrangements that classify citizens into different political categories based on race or ethnicity.”
Addressing the debate over national identity, Dialogue Fiji said many people mistakenly confuse nationality with ethnicity.
It explained that ethnicity reflects ancestry, language, culture and communal identity, while nationality refers to legal and political membership of the State.
“A person may be iTaukei by ethnicity and Fijian by nationality. A person may be Indo-Fijian by ethnicity and Fijian by nationality. These are not contradictory identities. They operate at different levels.”
Dialogue Fiji said changing the common nationality from “Fijian” to “Fiji Islander” would represent a step backwards.
“Replacing ‘Fijian’ with ‘Fiji Islander’ would be a downgrade.”
The submission argues that the country’s official name is the Republic of Fiji, not the Republic of the Fiji Islands, and says the term “Fiji” reflects the country’s maturity as a sovereign nation.
“Citizens of France are French, citizens of India are Indian, citizens of Australia are Australian, and citizens of Fiji should be Fijian.”
Dialogue Fiji said retaining “Fijian” as the common civic identity does not diminish the status of the iTaukei people as Fiji’s indigenous community or affect their unique culture, language, institutions and land rights.
“The iTaukei people remain the indigenous people of Fiji, with their distinct culture, language, institutions and land rights. But the State must have one equal civic identity for all its citizens.”
