More about Fiji

Tensions between the 300,000-strong Methodist Church in Fiji and the military government continue to grow.

Kim Cain, of Ecumenical News International, writes that just singing hymns in Fiji could destabilise a whole government.

The Fijian Methodist Church's annual conference, which usually brings together up to 1000 church leaders for a week of discussion, celebration and singing, is the supreme decision-making body for the Methodist church.

However, the military government of interim prime minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama has attempted to stop the Conference from taking place in late August. Two top Methodist Church ministers and a paramount chief were charged with defying the Public Emergency Regulation over the conference plans.

Paramount Chief Ro Teimumu along with church president, Rev. Ame Tugaue, and secretary general, Rev. Tuikilakila Waqairatu, were granted bail on 23 July after being held in custody for two days. They were ordered to appear in court in three weeks.

Bail conditions included surrender of travel documents and bans on holding any meetings for 21 days. The two ministers are not to be seen in public or to conduct anything that might be construed to be a meeting.

It is believed to be the first time a Fijian government has clashed so openly with the Methodist church, which has a local reputation for moderation, conservative social values and harmony.

About one third of Fiji's almost one million people are Methodists.

In the days prior to the conference up to 10 000 singing Fijians normally gather for the nation's biggest social gathering: the Fijian choir hymn singing contest. Now church members say the government has also banned the choral feast, fearing it will lead to further political instability. But in a show of religious conviction and support for their church leaders that may have political reverberations for Bainimarama's fragile hold on power, it is rumoured that many more choirs plan to come to Suva to sing their hymns of God's power and might.

Ecumenical News International reports that between 20 000 and 50 000 Fijian Methodists plan to flock to the national capital, Suva, to ensure the hymn singing - and the church conference - goes ahead. "The tension is growing and there is a great deal of anger," an Australian church leader in regular contact with Fijians told ENI.

"People are concerned that it will just take a clash between a couple of angry young people and the military for violence to erupt, he said. "While there may be only two roads into the area around the airport and the military may think they can control the area, many are concerned that 50 000 people will be beyond their capacity and then they may resort to violence," he stated.

Meanwhile Methodist church leaders are reported to be finding alternative leadership structures to deal with the muzzling of their president and general secretary, whose strict bail terms prevent their from talking to more than one person at a time.

At this stage, the church is determined to hold its annual conference. ENI has learnt that many church members will still attend the location of the conference, even if church leaders call the gathering off. Radio New Zealand reports that Fijian church leaders fear that the government monitors their electronic communications - telephone and email.

As the stand off between the church and the military grows, the national assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia, which includes former Methodists, has pledged its "prayerful support" for the Fijian church, sending an envoy to Suva as a sign of support for the Methodists.

This is a situation calling for the prayerful support of Christians world-wide.

This blog is adapted from an article in Insights, the official publication of the Synod of New South Wales and the ACT, part of the Uniting Church in Australia. Last modified July 28, 2009 and republished by Rowland Croucher on Facebook.

The buzz continues about Fiji Methodist arrests

LOCAL NEWS REPORT

A full news report by the Fiji Times about the appearances of Methodist leaders and a local Chief in court in Suva appears at http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=126012.

GROWING ATTACKS ON METHODISTS

It seems that the Methodist Church in Fiji has been seen as a potential threat to the current regime for some months.

In a blog dated 24 January, widely associated with the Fijian Ombudsman, Shaista Shameem, an anonymous writer railed against Methodist leaders, describing them as The Snake in Priests Clothing, and saying,

"The Methodist Church is a sham. Its leaders (who spend time abusing young children) drive around in expensive vehicles while its members scrounge round for morsels of food. The very existence of this denomination raises serious concerns about the level of involvement the church has in politics and over time, the idiotic priests have stated that politics and religion should go hand in hand. We beg to disagree. People such as Tuikilakila Waqairatu should be strung by their feet and the people of this country should stone these heathens to death for their comments and actions which have led this country to the brink of a racial war. [My emphasis] The leaders of the church preach and promote racial hatred openly. Its members are then forced to give huge sums of money for the leaders benefits. We do not see this as a church of the people. We are certain that the leaders of the church have long given up their role as teachers of good and advocate everything the devil stands for."

On 27 Jan, the blog adds,

"We apologize to our readers that when we asked that Waqairatu be strung up by his feet, we had failed to add cult leader Manasa Lasaro to the whole affair. These two men should be strung up by their feet then set on fire for the world to see what happens when you try to commit seditious acts or incite racial hatred. [My emphasis] These men are not fit for this world and since they worship the devil in secret, they should be sent to his world accordingly."

THE GOVERNMENT LINE

The Fiji Government website (http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_15547.shtml) comments on this case:

"Government and Military spokesperson, Lt-Col Neumi Leweni, today said Government is firm about its decision to cancel the Methodist Church annual conference because the church is clearly pushing a political agenda rather than focussing on its core role of promoting spiritual development [...]

"The decision to defer the Methodist Conference indefinitely was borne out of the inclusion of political issues in the Methodist Conference agenda. This was a clear breach of the Public Emergency Regulation and also not a matter for the church to discuss.

"Government issued a permit for their meeting last week with conditions, and on the understanding that they will help find a way forward for our nation. “Government asked the committee to understand Fiji’s socio-political situation and assist in our nation-building initiatives that promotes, among other things, equal opportunities for all citizens in the country irrespective of race, colour or creed.”

“Instead the committee has chosen to continue to push its political agenda,” Lt-Col Leweni said.

He said some members of the church have now been taken in for questioning and will be released once the investigations are over.

"Also under investigation is Ro Teimumu for a statement released yesterday which could be termed as a form of incitement.

"Lt-Col Leweni said Government continues to appeal to the public to keep the peace and respect the rule of law."

TAIWAN MEDIA REPORT AUST RESPONSE

Meanwhile, the Taiwan News (http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1011649&lang=eng_news) reports, under the heading, Australian FM condemns Fiji church arrests, that the Australian Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, said from Thailand, "We absolutely condemn what has occurred," Smith told reporters. "It does show a consistent course of conduct so far as Commander Bainimarama and the interim military is concerned. This is just another very regrettable example of the regime further isolating itself from the international community and further stepping back from democracy and civil and human rights."

The TN report says that Smith added that the move will further isolate the Pacific island nation's rulers from the international community.

TN reports that one of those taken into custody, the Rev. Manasa Lasaro, was also arrested in June for a sermon demanding freedom of speech.

Fiji Methodists Update

The Baptist and Uniting Churches in NSW are now fully aware of the situation, and Church members are being circulated about the serious limitations on the religious liberty of Fijian Christian leaders. The Anglican Church has referred the matter to the Archbishop.

Baptists have been asked to take whatever action their consciences suggest, with the note that "Baptists have historically stood alongside all those who suffer on account of their religious belief/practice, and I would hope some decisive action might be taken by Australian Baptists in the face of the coercive actions by the Fijian authorities." (Rod Benson, Ethicist, Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT)

Whether Fijian Baptists are currently under pressure from the government is unclear. This situation was triggered by Methodist refusal to accept a Government ban on the annual Methodist Conference. This ban was imposed apparently out of fear that the widely supported Methodist Church in Fiji might form a base for opposition to the Government. (See earlier posting.)

There is evidence that some U.S. fundamentalists are strongly supporting the military dictatorship in Fiji, and some leaders in the current Government claim to be Christian.

So far, the President and General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Fiji have appeared in court in Suva facing charges under the Public Order Act due to alleged non-compliance with conditions of a Police Permit for a meeting of the Methodist Standing Committee. Why Police Permits are deemed necessary for a Church leaders' committee meeting is not explained.

The two ministers have been bailed  subject to travel restrictions and a conditions that they must not contravene the Public Order Act. Two others arrested with them were not charged.

The Chief of the Rewa Province was also charged under the same Act over a letter supportive of holding the Annual Conference.  The case has garnered considerable public interest in Fiji despite clamps on the media and on dissemination of information.

When the church gets political

News has just emerged (http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/fiji-church-leaders-arrested-by-regime-20090723-dumg.html) that the Fijian dictatorship has arrested about a dozen Methodist leaders who had threatened to go ahead with the annual conference despite a Government ban.

Self-appointed president, Frank Bainimarama, claims that the conference is a political move and those within the Methodist leadership who make decisions are all politicians.

The well-established Methodist Church in Fiji is one of the few institutions capable of providing a base for opposition to the coup leadership.

We should -- must -- pray for, and, where possible, act on behalf of, the Christians of Fiji.