Constitution

Fiji

Jay

•lack flags flew around Fiji on July 27 in protest against Constitution Day, celebrated for the first time with a public oliday. Members of the Fiji Youth and Students League and tie National Federation Party youth wing staged the protest ay to “mourn Constitution Day”. he League said black flags were hoisted throughout the Duntry to “mourn the unjustifiably, undemocratically and legally declared Constitution Day”. Flags were pinned to trees

and houses and in front of parliament house. Some youths wore black ribbons on their shirts.

Earlier, parliament had defeated a motion to rename the public holiday Reconciliation Day. Members of the opposition had argued the constitution had not been accepted by many people in Fiji and it was pointless for them to celebrate something they did not believe in.