Church ban will remain, says Fiji PM

One wonders how the Church can rid itself of its politics when the very people who are members of the Church are the very ones whose lives have been affected by the ill-conceived mission by a band of thugs who have taken it upon themselves illegally to be involved in politics.

This is the very reason our Fiji does not need an ARMY WITH GUNS...we could have an army but get rid of the guns!

Voreqe's much touted rhetoric of the church to remove politics then HE can give the go ahead for the conference to be held, must be posed back to him...THE ARMY MUST STOP MEDDLING IN POLITICAL ISSUES THEY HAVE NO INTELLIGENCE IN LEADING, THEN WE WILL BE BETTER OFF AS PEACE LOVING AND THRIVING CITIZENS!

The excuse of "social stability" is as lame as it comes!

June 03, 2009 05:25:08 PM

Fiji Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has turned down a request by leaders of the country’s largest Christian church to lift the ban on its annual conference in August.

Bainimarama told FijiLive that unless the church rids itself of politics it’s much-anticipated annual conference will not be given the green light.

“Basically the conference will happen once they remove politics not only from their agenda but from the church too,” he said.

Bainimarama said he had reiterated to the church president Reverend Ame Tugaue this morning his military council’s stand on the matter, and its reasons for canceling the meeting.

“We have requested the church president to remove politics from church and they can go ahead with the conference.

“The Methodist church leaders, however, remain adamant to continue with politics in the church,” he said.

Government spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Neumi Leweni further clarified that in the meeting with the PM and senior military officers in Suva this morning, Reverend Tugaue pleaded to have the conference go ahead as scheduled.

“However the president and secretary of the church seemed reluctant to address the issue of removing politics by dealing with the instigators,” said Lt Col Leweni.

“Commodore Bainimarama said in view of their reluctance to adhere to Government's request, it has left him with no option but to defer the Methodist conference indefinitely.”

Lt Col Leweni added that “Government will not be swayed by anything and will not allow elements to destabilise the country and detract us from our vision of Building a Better Fiji”.

“We again appeal to the public to respect the rule of law and not be misled by foolishness of a few in trying to cause instability,” he said.