fijidemocracymovement.org

MEDIA RELEASE
July 22, 2009

Fiji military cracks down on Methodist Church leaders

Sydney, July 22, 2009

The military-backed regime of Fiji strongman, Frank Bainimarama, has cracked down on senior figures within the Methodist Church of Fiji, making a number of arrests last night and this morning in response to the Church’s defiance against the military ban to go ahead with its annual church conference in August.

The Military had earlier this month imposed a ban on this event   which has been a firm fixture on the Church calendar since the 1840s.

“The General-Secretary of the Methodist Church, the Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu, was arrested and released last night,” said Peceli Kinivuwai, Spokesman for the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) Party which was ousted from government by Commodore Bainimarama in the 2006 coup.

Mr Kinivuwai confirmed that eight ministers of the church were arrested this morning, putting to rest any doubts about the validity of the claims of arrests, in the midst of the military-imposed news blackout in the island nation.

”Of the eight arrested, police are questioning: Rev. Apete Toko – Head of the Men’s Fellowship; Rev.  Simione Koli —  Divisional Superintendent of the Suva Division and Rev.  Ili Vunisuwai – Head of the Evangelical  Division.

The Sydney-based Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement (FDFM) meanwhile, has condemned  this latest move saying it is a direct reaction to the defiant stand taken by the Methodist church against the military’s declaration of a ban against the holding of Church conference.

“The Annual conference, which can attract up to 100,000 people, is an established event in the spiritual calendar of the majority of Fijians,” Movement President, Usaia Waqatairewa said.

“This annual event normally held in late August, has been around since the 1840s and this dictator wants to put a stop for the purposes of political expediency."

This year, the conference was scheduled to be held at Lomanikoro Rewa (in eastern Viti Levu) -- which is the traditional powerhouse  seat of the Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Teimumu Kepa – One of Fiji’s three Paramount Chiefs and traditional Head of Fiji’s largest confederacy, the Burebasaga confederacy.

It was at the personal invitation of the Roko Tui Dreketi in 2006, that led to her province of Rewa hosting the annual Conference this year. “This is the most powerful evidence yet of the kind of opposition facing this regime,” Mr Waqatairewa said.

“What this regime has done in issuing a ban on the conference, is a direct assault on the

1997, Constitution, which says, under section 31, subsection 1: “Every person has the right to assembly and to demonstrate with others peacefully.

“And every person has the right to freedom of conscience, religion and belief.”

                                                            --ENDS--