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Fiji  Police detains Paramount Chief and Church leaders

Suva, July 23, 2009: One of Fiji’s senior most paramount chiefs  and head of the troubled island nation’s  largest confederacy, the Burebasaga confederacy, Ro Teimumu Kepa, has been detained at Central Police Station in Fiji’s capital, Suva.

In addition, two former presidents of the Methodist church of Fiji, Rev Manasa Lasaro and Rev Tomasi Kanailagi, were arrested by military security forces in the early hours of this morning and are being detained at the military barracks in Nabua, Suva.

As well, the National Director of the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL), Peceli Kinivuwai, was arrested 10am Fiji time today and is also being detained at the military barracks.

In other news, the military-appointed court has refused to release the passport of  deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.

Ro Teimumu Kepa is a former minister in the Laisenia Qarase-led government that was deposed by military strongman, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, in the 2006 coup.
 
According to well-placed sources, Ro Teimumu was picked up from her traditional village, Lomanikoro in the province of Rewa  – in eastern Viti Levu – about midnight Fiji time.

Sources said up to 16 uniformed and civilian police officers made the arrest but charges have yet to be confirmed.

It is understood however that this latest crackdown is directly related to the military-led arrests of members of the steering committee of the Methodist church of Fiji.

The Church has been vocal in its opposition to the military regime and defied a ban by the regime to cancel its annual Church Conference, a major event in the church calendar, normally held in late August.

Ro Teimumu had given her approval for the conference to be held in Lomanikoro next month in direct defiance of the military ban.

On Monday night, the military arrested and late released the General Secretary of the Methodist Church, Rev. Tuikilakila Waqairatu.  In a series of crackdowns on the dissident Church, the military arrested and detained another eight Church ministers by Tuesday afternoon.