People's Alliance backs 'Fijians' for all: Dimuri

The People's Alliance Party has reaffirmed its support for "Fijian" as the inclusive term for all citizens, with party president Ratu Josefa Dimuri backing Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka's long-held position amid the ongoing constitutional review.

Mr Dimuri said Mr Rabuka had made the party's position clear.

"Fijian" is the common, inclusive identifier for all citizens of Fiji, regardless of ethnic background, he said.

"While 'iTaukei' is for the native Fijians, as citizens of this country, we are all Fijians.

"I think 'Fijians' is the most appropriate term for all of us."

Mr Dimuri's comments follow Mr Rabuka's recent remarks that he was the first leader to use the term "Fijians" to describe all ethnic communities.

He recalled an exchange shortly after the 1987 coup when he told a visitor that Indo-Fijians should not be referred to as "Indians".

Mr Rabuka also confirmed that the People's Alliance Party manifesto did not state that Indo-Fijians should be called "Indo-Fijians" instead of "Fijians".

Under the 2013 Constitution, all citizens of Fiji are recognised as Fijians "united by common and equal citizenry", with Section 5 stating that all citizens "shall be known as Fijians".

The issue remains part of the national debate as the review of the 2013 Constitution continues.