The Social Democratic and Liberal Party has backed the statement by Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu and Ro Teimumu Kepa, saying the party still believes that the name Fijian is only for indigenous Fijians.
Senior SODELPA official, Doctor Tupeni Baba maintained that the party does not recognize the 2013 constitution and does not recognize Fijian as the common name for all the citizens of the country.
Doctor Baba said SODELPA and others who stand by this should not be termed as racists because they are just asking for the protection of their group rights and name.
He said there was no referendum on the common name to be Fijian.
Meanwhile, Doctor Baba maintains that the Great Council of Chiefs should be reinstated.
Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has maintained all along that the common name for all the citizens will be Fijian and this was also a non negotiable for the 2013 constitution.
The official name for the indigenous Fijians is i Taukei.
The word Fijian does not exist in the i Taukei language.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
