The people of Fiji need a common identity as some policies that have been implemented by past governments formalizes racism and sends a message out to non-indigenous Fijians that they do not belong here.

While speaking on a talk back on Viti FM, military spokesperson Liutenant Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga said everyone who is born here, is committed to Fiji and has worked hard to build the country, so they are Fijians.

Liutenant Colonel Tikoitoga said this does not mean that the identity of the indigenous Fijians is under threat as the military council only wants to ensure that there are no formalized racist policies in place that favour only one race.

He highlighted a case where a person from Fiji went to work at the World Bank in Singapore and his nationality in the ID card was Fijian. Tikoitoga said the person then went to work in India and his nationality was still stated as Fijian. However, when the same person returned to Fiji, he had to fill in his Immigration Card that he is an Indian. Tikoitoga said this shows that the current systems in place do not give the people of other racial backgrounds any sense of security and belonging.

Lieutenant Colonel Tikoitoga said so much has been said about the proposed People's Charter. He said the overall objective of the Charter is to rebuild Fiji into a non-racial, culturally vibrant and united, well governed, truly democratic nation that seeks progress and prosperity, through merit-based equality of opportunity, and peace.