Fiji Prime Minister refusing to hold referendum on potential flag change
http://www.radionz.co.nz/internation...rendum-on-flag
Fiji Prime Minister refusing to hold referendum on potential flag change
Polling shows most Fijians opposed to flag change being promoted by military government
Quote:
Originally Posted by Radio New Zealand
Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has told parliament there will be no referendum on whether Fiji should change its national flag.
After taking power in a military coup in 2006, Bainimarama won election in 2014 under a new constitution that undermined the power of traditional chiefs. With one person one vote, it makes no distinction between indigenous peoples and Fijians of Indian origin.
After Australia and New Zealand lead criticism of his military government, he reduced ties to the Commonwealth under a foreign policy called Face North, which pivots toward China and Russia.
Three years ago, his government removed the image of Queen Elizabeth II from the Fijian dollar. A poll last year found that 53% of the population wanted to keep the current flag and 86% would like to vote on the matter, but Bainimarama refuses to consider a referendum.
He told the house the simple answer was no to a question raised by the leader of the opposition Ro Teimumu Kepa.
The government recently extended consultations on the design of a new flag which Mr Bainimarama says should reflect a modern Fiji and do away with remnants of the country's colonial past.
There has been fierce debate in the country about the flag and a poll conducted by Tebbutt Research and the Fiji Times found at least 86 percent of Fijians would prefer to vote on whether the flag should be changed.
FBC News reports another opposition MP asked the prime minister why his answer was so brief.
He replied that the opposition was against anything progressive.
Hopefully nothing comes of his plans as it has been delayed and delayed for a few years now.
If not and he refuses to listen, hopefully the Fijians make sure the old flag is seen absolutely everywhere as an act of defiance.
Maybe he looked at the New Zealand referendum and realised if they lost with millions of pounds behind them, he'd lose for sure.
Thoughts?
