Former A-G backs secular state

Former Attorney-General Lawyer Graham Leung has defended Fiji's status as a secular state while calling for stronger constitutional recognition of Indigenous rights and greater protection of the iTaukei language.

Appearing before the Constitutional Review Commission yesterday, Mr Leung warned against misconceptions surrounding the constitutional provision declaring Fiji a secular state.

He said calls for Fiji to become a Christian state misunderstood the purpose of secularism.

"The purpose of a secular state is to prohibit politics and religion from mixing," Mr Leung said.

A Roman Catholic, Mr Leung said secularism was not a rejection of Christianity or religion but a safeguard against governments imposing religious beliefs on citizens.

He cautioned that declaring Fiji a Christian state could create risks if future governments sought to enforce religious practices.

Turning to Indigenous rights, Mr Leung said recognising the special place of the iTaukei people should not be viewed as racism or ethnic superiority.

"Special does not mean superior," he said.

He said Indigenous economic empowerment could be achieved without discriminating against other ethnic communities and that reducing economic disparities was essential for Fiji's long-term peace and stability.

"If the Indigenous people feel secure, then the rest of us feel secure," Mr Leung said.

Mr Leung also proposed stronger constitutional measures to promote the use of the iTaukei language, describing language as central to cultural identity.

While supporting English as the language of government and commerce, he suggested iTaukei should be recognised as Fiji's national language while English, Hindi and other languages remain official languages.

He said protecting the iTaukei language was essential in an era of globalisation and would strengthen Fiji's national identity while respecting its multicultural society.

Mr Leung said constitutional reform should promote shared values, democratic governance and equal opportunities for all Fijians while acknowledging the country's unique historical and cultural foundations.