Religious repression comes in many forms. The usual military thug has seized power in Fiji and is upset that religious people dare oppose his rule. So religion as well as politics is being suppressed.
The Fiji government has extended the ban on the Methodist Church’s annual conference to its divisional and quarterly meetings. Only monthly “parish” meetings are allowed with restrictions.
Government spokesman and permanent secretary for Information, Lieutenant-Colonel Neumi Leweni said the decision was made following a meeting between a church delegation and Commissioner of Police, Commodore Esala Teleni this week.
Reverend Tevita Nawadra, said the extension of the ban was brought about as a result of claims by the Police Commissioner, Commodore Esala Teleni, at their meeting last week, that some Methodist Church Ministers, some members and former SDL Ministers, were intending to set up a new political party.
However, Nawadra said no evidence was given to this effect especially the names of the Ministers and members of the Church who are supposedly part of this set up. He has still not been told the names of those previously accused of spying for the government.
Lt-Col Leweni said the only meeting that the church is now allowed to hold is its monthly meeting, which he said specifically, focuses on the spiritual development of the church and not be involved in discussions of outside or fundraising.
“Meetings to do with issues other than the spiritual development are being suspended as of today,” he said.
It’s obvious that history hasn’t ended in the Mideast. It looks like history hasn’t even ended in the south Pacific.
