The Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji has called for significant constitutional changes, focusing on national identity, governance reforms, an end to coup immunity, language rights, and land security.
While making a submission before the Constitution Review Commission, one of the Sabha’s National Vice-Presidents, Ravi Narayan highlighted that the Constitution clearly states that all citizens of Fiji are to be known as Fijians; however, this is not being reflected in practice, with members of his community still being referred to as vulagi, or outsiders, despite generations of contribution to the country since 1879.
Narayan says the organisation is calling for state entities and public officials to refer to all citizens as Fijians without ethnic qualifiers, and for a nationwide civic education campaign to reinforce the concept of a shared national identity.
INSERT: Narayan on Fijian for all 29th Apr
He says the Sabha is not asking for new laws, but for the enforcement of existing provisions.
HINDI INSERT: Narayan on one name 29th Apr
Narayan criticised the current electoral system, saying it disconnects Members of Parliament from the communities they serve.
He says the present system of 51 seats elected from a single national constituency has weakened the connection between voters and their representatives.
He says, to address this, the Sabha is proposing a mixed electoral system of 30 constituency-based seats, where every community has a local representative they know and can hold accountable, and 21 proportional seats to maintain national balance.
He also raised the idea of including up to four nominated seats in Parliament for major religious bodies, but acknowledged that it may be controversial.
Constitution Review Commissioner, Dr. John Fatiaki questioned whether enforcing the use of the term Fijian could conflict with fundamental rights.
He says while recognising all citizens as Fijians in the Constitution is one matter, mandating or enforcing how people refer to each other could raise issues under the Bill of Rights, particularly freedom of expression and speech.
He suggested the Sabha may need to reflect on whether such enforcement should go that far or remain as guidance rather than a legal requirement.
Dr Fatiaki also raised concerns about the proposal for religious representation in Parliament, questioning its compatibility with Fiji’s constitutional status as a secular state.
He pointed out that the Constitution clearly separates religion and the state, and requires equal treatment of all religions.
He says allocating parliamentary seats to religious groups could be seen as favouring certain religions over others, including smaller faiths or those with no religious affiliation.
In response, Narayan clarified that the Sabha was not proposing to remove secularism, but to ensure broader religious voices are heard in Parliament.
He also clarified that the reference to four specific religious groups was only an example, and the intention was not to limit representation to those groups.
Narayan says the Sabha is also calling for a decisive constitutional provision to prevent future coups.
He says Fiji has suffered repeated cycles of coups followed by immunity provisions, and is urging the Commission to put an end to this pattern.
He says the Sabha is proposing that no future law should grant immunity to individuals involved in coups, and that those involved should be permanently disqualified from holding public office.
In response, the Constitution Review Commission Chairperson, Sevuloni Valenitabua acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue of immunity and stressed that it would require careful consideration.
Narayan also stressed the importance of the Hindi language to the practice of Sanatan Dharam, saying that religious texts are written in formal Hindi, and without learning the language, younger generations will struggle to fully participate in religious rituals.
He says the Sabha is proposing an amendment to include state support for teaching formal Hindi in schools.
Commissioner Dr. Neelesh Goundar acknowledged the concern raised, explaining that the issue may be better addressed through existing education law reform rather than only through constitutional change.
He says there is an Education Bill which is attempting to revise the Education Act and advised the Sabha to make a submission to them which will have a more forceful effect in terms of implementation at the school level.
Narayan says land security is another major issue and that while the Sabha acknowledges iTaukei land ownership, many leasehold families who have lived on the land for generations face eviction without compensation when leases expire, which creates instability and hardship.
He says the Sabha is proposing that the right to housing be made enforceable in court, that families who have occupied land for more than three generations be granted a minimum 99-year lease, and that compensation be guaranteed for permanent improvements made on leased land.
Narayan says the Sabha is not seeking privilege, but fairness, and urged the Commission to deliver a Constitution that recognises all citizens equally, protects cultural and religious practices, ensures stability for families, strengthens democratic governance and decisively rejects coups.
The Constitution Review Commission has acknowledged the submission and confirms that all proposals will be considered as part of the review process.
