Fiji to remove ‘outdated’ union jack from flag
Voreqe Bainimarama, a one-time coup leader who was elected in September in Fiji’s first elections in eight years, said the flag had served the country well since independence in 1970 but was now outdated.
“We need to replace the symbols on our existing flag that are out of date and no longer relevant, including some anchored to our colonial past,” he said. “The new flag should reflect Fiji’s position in the world today as a modern and truly independent nation state.”
Fiji’s flag is light blue with the union jack in the top left corner. It also features a shield with the cross of St George and a British lion, along with sugar cane, bananas, a palm tree and a dove of peace. “What does this have to do with us?” Bainimarama asked, saying the images were “honoured symbols of our past, but not our future”.
He said a national competition to design a new flag would be held, with the aim of hoisting it on 11 October, the 45th anniversary of independence.
“We must all have an open mind about the final result, but it should be symbolic of the unity of the nation and instantly recognisable the world over as uniquely and proudly Fijian,” he said.
Bainimarama scrapped the Queen’s birthday public holiday in 2012 and also removed the monarch’s head from the country’s currency when he still ruled by military decree.
He pointed out that New Zealand, Australia and Tuvalu were the only other former British colonies that still had the union jack on their national flag.
New Zealand will hold a binding referendum next year on changing its flag, with conservative prime minister John Key favouring a design featuring a silver fern, similar to the one worn by the All Blacks rugby team.
Australia has also faced periodic calls to change its flag, particularly before key events such as the 2000 Olympics.
The flag debate in Australia is closely linked to whether the country should become a republic, an idea rejected in a 1999 referendum.
My fellow fijians whats your take on this.. I know we should change our flag at some point,im all for it,but is this the right time to do it,is Voreqe the right person to be making the changes.Or just because Britains stance on how he got to power since 2006 and wouldnt cooperate with him and his government on some issues that he retaliates with this kind of reaction to inflict some form of retribution..Im quite suprised with the timing of this flag change..After all Britain has provided our young men with jobs(British Army) and education since Ratu Sukuna and the likes till today and is one of our closest ally and still gives aid to us . I think we should do it in a much more friendly way considering Britains help in the past to our people by changing it through a refferendum maybe without being so obvious just because our current government cant get their way with them(Britain) on some issues. So whats your view. New Flag or Not. Your reasons...What design would you put or like to see on the new flag ..Should we have a refferendum for the change or let one person decide i.e Voreqe. Should we leave it for another future government and leader to do the changing since Voreqe maybe such a divisive figure for the nation ..Views please
Wednesday 4 February 2015 17.37 AEST
Shares
Comments
89Fiji’s newly elected prime minister and one-time coup leader Frank Bainimarama has taken another step towards implementing a vision for a new unified Fiji with the announcement that the nation’s flag will bechanged by October this year, in time for the 45th anniversary of Fiji’s independence. It’s a move made as part of his response to continuing ethnic and religious division in the Pacific island state.
The nation is dominated by two significant communities: Indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians. The latter, mostly Hindu or Muslim, were marginalised throughout the colonial period and again during the coups staged over the past 30 years. Bainimarama has tried to label all citizens as “Fijian” in the of hope of promoting inclusiveness. Creating a new flag is part of his plan to embed a sense of unity, as well as a bid to cement the legitimacy and authority of his government.
Bainimarama has framed the flag change as an effort to break free of the shackles of Fiji’s colonial past. The flag that has existed since 1970 features the Union Jack – a nod to the British monarchy’s role in governing the islands from 1874 to 1970.
The colours, the shield and the dove of peace were, however, also on flags flown by the self-proclaimed supreme chief and king, Ratu Cakobau, in around 1870. That the British allowed the flag to retain some of these features, and that they were used in the flag of independent Fiji, reflect a continuation of the chiefly authority of Indigenous Fijians.
Bainimarama’s idea then is not merely to move away from Fiji’s colonial past but also to break down chiefly power – the source of his greatest opposition. This extends on actions he’s already taken, through the dismantling of the great council of chiefs, for example.
His opposition to chiefly authority is in part due to the perception that celebrating it only further deepens ethnic rifts. He angered many when he implemented a new constitution in 2009 in which there is no distinction made between the Indigenous and Indo-Fijian communities: all are considered equally Fijian.
It is not just those with chiefly heritage who see this as a threat to Indigenous rights, particularly land title. It is also, as Bainimarama said in his announcement, significant that the flag announcement was made at Nasinu, near to the government buildings but also close to the military barracks from where his own 2006 coup and Major General Sitiveni Rabuka’s coup in 1987 received support. Bainimarama’s connections to the military are therefore still significant, despite renouncing his military rank.
Bainimarama has invited public input on the design for the new flag. Suggestions are flooding on to social media platforms. One, from the author of the blog Fiji Coup Four Point Five, incorporates the Chinese and Islamic State (Isis) flags with the shield from the existing Fijian flag: a cynical reflection of Fiji’s increasingly close relationship with China, as well as anti-Islamic and by extension anti-Indian sentiment.
This design reflects Fiji’s shifting gaze away from the Commonwealth nations towards Asia, but the topic of discussion places it in step with debates among these close neighbours. New Zealand intends to hold a referendum (a process Bainimarama will not follow) in 2016 on whether to swap the Union Jack for the silver fern. Australians are also constantly revisiting the Republican debate through questions about replacing the flag. Fiji is following regional trends while still in the process of mending relationships with Australia and New Zealand that were harmed by the 2006 coup.
The decision has provoked a mixed response: some see it as a necessary step forward, other see it as abstract and secondary to the real issues that face many Fijians day today. The frequent water and electricity cuts are a problem, and while the official unemployment rate is around 8%, approximately 45% of the community is living below the poverty line. Bainimarama is playing one tune to unite the people of Fiji but whether they choose to play along with him is another question all together.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/04/postcolonial-y...