SUVA – Fiji Prime Minister’s announcement that Fiji is to change its national flag is being seen as testimony to a continued dicatorship in the Pacific nation.

It’s an issue that is again dividing the country with an online website already working hard to prepare a petition opposing the move.

Fiji opposition parties on Thursday questioned the government’s decision to change the nation’s flag, accusing Frank Bainimarama of acting like a dictator on the issue.

Bainimarama announced this week that the former British colony would scrap the existing flag, which has the Union flag in the top left corner, and replace it with a design “instantly recognisable” as Fijian.

“Irrelevant and riddled with colonialism” is Frank Bainimarama’s reasoning for ditching the existing flag and announcing the plan of unveiling a new one on Independence Day in October this year.

“We need to replace the symbols on our existing flag that are out of date and no longer relevant, including some anchored to our colonial past.

“The new flag should reflect Fiji’s position in the world today as a modern and truly independent nation state.”

“However, his opponents says he has resorted to justifying his arbitrary decision by saying ‘New Zealand’s doing it – so why not Fiji’.

“But hang on – New Zealand and other democratic countries hold a referendum when they want to change something as major as their flag, don’t they?” askes anti-government website Coup4.5.

“That’s right – the people of Fiji have not been consulted.”

The National Federation Party leader Biman Prasad says, “there should be a referendum”.

“An issue of national importance, especially when it involves an issue that has become an indelible part of our history, symbolizing transition from 96 years of Colonial Rule to full Independence 45 years ago, must involve the entire population of Fiji, including their elected representatives,” Prasad says.

Bainimarama says there is no need for a referendum, he has spoken and that’s it, says Coup4.5.

“He says a competition will run for two months and the voice of every Fijian will be heard.

“Will be heard how? So now every Fijian is a designer, artist, and painter? And everyone’s voice will be heard in two month. Bullcrap!

“And, sorry, Bainimarama your changing the flag won’t wash away Fiji’s colonial past.”

Only a referendum asking the Fiji people whether the Fiji flag is to be changed or not can justify such a change, states the website change.org.

“The current flag of the Republic of Fiji represents many things for the people of Fiji. It carries the history of its peoples and its future.

“To change the Fiji flag without asking its own citizens and people is setting a dangerous undemocratic precedent that sets Fiji back as a democratic nation and state.

“Sign this petition and let the Fiji government know that it needs to consult, you its citizens first, before any such change can be made.

“Fiji is your country, the Fiji flag is your flag! You decide. Your voice counts! Stand up and be counted! Sign this petition and let them know that you have to be consulted.”

The main opposition Sodelpa Party also beleives Bainimarama is acting without consultation on an issue of national importance.

“In a dictatorship, you can afford to order people around, and this regime has done that many times,” Peter Waqavonovono, a party spokesman, told AFP.

He said many people were against changing the flag, which has been used since Fiji gained independence in 1970.

Lavinia Padarath, the Fiji Labour Party president, said the Pacific nation’s fledgling parliament was the proper forum to debate such a change.

“Bainimarama should realise that in a parliamentary democracy issues of national importance should be approved by the houset,” she said.

“The people of Fiji must decide whether they want the flag changed and if so, what the changes should be.”

The Telegraph reports that Bainimarama scrapped the Queen’s Birthday public holiday in 2012 and also removed Queen Elizabeth’s head from the country’s currency when he ruled by military decree.

Websitre Coup4.5 adds: “Like all sugar coated snow jobs (remember the re-branding of Air Pacific to Fiji Airways and the theft of?) the regime has organised a national competition to find a winning flag design.

“Beware this PR exercise because it’ll be riddled with agendas – remember what they did with the Constitution.”