Fiji opposition says flag change undemocratic
6 Feb 2015 1:00 AM GMT
Fiji opposition parties on Thursday questioned the government’s decision to change the Pacific nation’s flag, accusing Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama of acting like a dictator on the issue.
Bainimarama announced this week that the former British colony would scrap the existing flag, which has the Union Jack in the top left corner, and replace it with a design “instantly recognisable” as Fijian. The main opposition Sodelpa Party said Bainimarama, a one-time military coup leader who won elections last year, had acted without consultation on an issue of national importance.
“In a dictatorship, you can afford to order people around, and this regime has done that many times,” party spokesman Peter Waqavonovono said. He said many people were against changing the flag, which has been used since Fiji gained independence in 1970. “Although there are segments of our population who are bitter about our British past, we all do not share the same sentiments and therefore cannot be forced to accept their ridiculous laws,” he said.
Fiji Labour Party President Lavinia Padarath said the Pacific nation’s fledgling parliament was the proper forum to debate such a change. “Bainimarama should realise that in a parliamentary democracy issues of national importance should be approved by the house (parliament),” she said.
Bainimarama announced this week that the former British colony would scrap the existing flag, which has the Union Jack in the top left corner, and replace it with a design “instantly recognisable” as Fijian. The main opposition Sodelpa Party said Bainimarama, a one-time military coup leader who won elections last year, had acted without consultation on an issue of national importance.
“In a dictatorship, you can afford to order people around, and this regime has done that many times,” party spokesman Peter Waqavonovono said. He said many people were against changing the flag, which has been used since Fiji gained independence in 1970. “Although there are segments of our population who are bitter about our British past, we all do not share the same sentiments and therefore cannot be forced to accept their ridiculous laws,” he said.
Fiji Labour Party President Lavinia Padarath said the Pacific nation’s fledgling parliament was the proper forum to debate such a change. “Bainimarama should realise that in a parliamentary democracy issues of national importance should be approved by the house (parliament),” she said.
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