Editing Fiji (section)

=== Demonym ===

Fiji's constitution refers to all Fijian citizens as "Fijians".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Government of Fiji|title=Constitution of the Republic of Fiji|date=2013|location=Suva|page=3|url=http://www.fiji.gov.fj/getattachment/8e981ca2-1757-4e27-88e0-f87e3b3b844e/Click-here-to-download-the-Fiji-Constitution.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206063023/http://www.fiji.gov.fj/getattachment/8e981ca2-1757-4e27-88e0-f87e3b3b844e/Click-here-to-download-the-Fiji-Constitution.aspx|archive-date=6 February 2016}}</ref> Former constitutions referred to citizens of Fiji as "Fiji Islanders", though the term ''Fiji nationals'' was used for official purposes. In August 2008, shortly before the proposed [[People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress]] was due to be released to the public, it was announced that it recommended a change in the name of Fiji's citizens. If the proposal were adopted, all citizens of Fiji, whatever their ethnicity, would be called "Fijians". The proposal would change the English name of indigenous Fijians from "Fijians" to ''itaukei'', the [[Fijian language]] [[Exonym and endonym|endonym]] for indigenous Fijians.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fijilive.com/news_new/index.php/news/show_news/7352 |title=Charter proposes common Fijian name |access-date=5 August 2008 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080817045049/http://www.fijilive.com/news_new/index.php/news/show_news/7352 |archive-date=17 August 2008 }}, Fiji Live (4 August 2008).</ref> Deposed Prime Minister [[Laisenia Qarase]] reacted by stating that the name "Fijian" belonged exclusively to indigenous Fijians, and that he would oppose any change in legislation enabling non-indigenous Fijians to use it.<ref>[http://www.fijivillage.com/?mod=story&id=080808151d4615fbbca6b1f2d9d72e "The Name "Fijian" Belongs to Indigenous – Qarase"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113005025/http://www.fijivillage.com/?mod=story&id=080808151d4615fbbca6b1f2d9d72e |date=13 January 2009 }}, FijiVillage, 8 August 2008</ref> The [[Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma|Methodist Church]], to which a large majority of indigenous Fijians belong, also reacted strongly to the proposal, stating that allowing every Fiji citizen to call themselves "Fijian" would be "daylight robbery" inflicted on the indigenous population.<ref>[http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=99088 "Communalism is 'to love thy neighbour'"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511090956/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=99088 |date=11 May 2011 }}, ''Fiji Times'' (29 August 2008).</ref>

In an address to the nation during the constitutional crisis of April 2009, military leader and interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, who was at the forefront of the attempt to change the definition of "Fijian", stated:
{{blockquote|text=I know we all have our different ethnicities, our different cultures and we should, we must, celebrate our diversity and richness. However, at the same time we are all Fijians. We are all equal citizens. We must all be loyal to Fiji; we must be patriotic; we must put Fiji first.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_14715.shtml |title=PM Bainimarama – Address to the nation following appointment of Cabinet |access-date=22 April 2009 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418183329/http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_14715.shtml |archive-date=18 April 2009 }}, fiji.gov.fj (11 April 2009).</ref>}}

[[File:Fiji (9476712582) (2).jpg|thumb|Fijians]]
In May 2010, [[Attorney General of Fiji|Attorney-General]] [[Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum]] reiterated that the term "Fijian" should apply to all Fiji nationals, but the statement was again met with protest. A spokesperson for the Viti Landowners and Resource Owners Association claimed that even fourth-generation descendants of migrants did not fully understand "what it takes to be a Fijian", and added that the term refers to a legal standing, since legislation affords specific rights to "Fijians" (meaning, in that legislation, indigenous Fijians).<ref name="RNZI_53323">{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=53323 |title=All Fiji nationals to be known as Fijians, says AG |date=3 May 2010 |website=[[Radio New Zealand International]] |access-date=30 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904091907/http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=53323 |archive-date=4 September 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>