Information leaked from the military camp in Nabua confirm that the military top brass is looking at detaining Rev Manasa Lasaro concerning the stance taken by the Church against the military government.
Since the abrogation of the Constitution in April 2009 the Methodist Church has expressed serious concern for the potentially explosive social, economic and political crisis in Fiji.
The Church supports peace, and the desire of people to escape from poverty and political uncertainty. With its responsibility for instilling Christian values and those of good citizenship, the current Fiji situation begs some important questions especially of the leaders of government:
What have our children to learn when they see the illegal actions and misconduct of our national leaders?
What kind of role model are our government leaders of today offering our children and the world?
Can we expect better leaders of our children tomorrow, if our leaders act contrary to the law and the Constitution, and disrespect the basic rights of the people?
The Church has to uphold God’s justice and God’s concern for human dignity.
The Bible teaches that citizens are not obligated in conscience to follow the prescriptions of civil authorities if their actions, precepts and policies are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or to the teachings of the Gospel.
What is happening in Fiji today points to the State having lost its moral authority to govern and having become tyrannical against the people it is supposed to serve.
At the meeting of the Methodist Consultative Council of the Pacific held in Suva in mid-April 09, leading officials of the Methodist Church had agreed on a common petition with its Pacific counterparts to make a call on Head of State Ratu Josefa Iloilo, and Prime Minister Bainimarama to:
- Reinstate the Constitution and comply with the rule of law as directed by the Appeals Court on Thursday 09 April 2009
- Return the country to democratic elections under the 1997 Constitution, and under foreign, independent supervision, not later than December 2009
- Protect all the rights of its citizens as stipulated under the 1997 Constitution, especially from arbitrary arrest, harassment, torture and inhumane treatment
- Reinstate the law courts and ensure an independent judiciary.
- Ensure that any changes to the electoral system are democratic, constitutional, participatory, and inclusive and accounts for the interests of all individuals and ethnic groups complying with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
- Ensure that the Charter is considered and acted upon in line with the provisions of the 1997 Constitution.
- Ensure the operation of a free and independent media
- Set up an independent truth and reconciliation commission towards national forgiveness, reconciliation and healing.
With annuals meetings of the Methodist Church’s 53 divisions Fiji-wide underway in the past two weeks, strong sentiments of support have been expressed on the stance of the Church for justice, the protection of basic human rights, the rule of law, and early return to democracy. It appears that the stance of the Church is a perceived as a serious threat against the Bainimarama junta, hence the intention to take Rev Lasaro up to the military camp.
12 May 2009
Watch this corner for further developments
Twitter Updates
May 12, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Just a few words of encouragement for the Methodist Chruch,” If god is for you who can be against you”…you play a very important role in Fiji during this time! It is time to make a stand and speak out the truth! the country needs your wisdom,council and guidance ! Keep up the good work and remember “that the perfect love of Christ will cast out all fear”!Stand up for what you think is right for your country and it’s people! God Bless you all!
May 12, 2009 at 1:45 PM
This is long overdue but it is in His own time. The Church is the watch-dog of society. If it is aware of danger,it needs to bark. This has been legally and systematically done with the voices of all; from the muddy grounds (the local churches in villages(Leaders Meeting), fed on to the Circuits(Quarterly Meeting), collected at the divisional level (Annual Divisional Meeting) which has been done last week. This is real democratic participation of the people fully alive in the church although it is not part of public politics now. The Ivory Towers had their voices together as Pacific Methodist Leaders in mid-April. The Pacific Forum, the Commonwealth, the EU all share the same views. Taking Rev Lasaro to lock him up will not solve the problem but disturb the muddy grounds. But taken for an open dialogue will be a positive path forward. I pray that they will only take this man of God for dialogue and not to torture as they will instigate violence. Let God speaks in the long silence of the Church………..
May 12, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Bravo to the Methodist Church and all its senior officials. If anyone of you is taken in by the military the world will know of the atrocities going on in Fiji and the international community will come to our aid. We cannot continue to be imprisoned in our beloved county with our freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom of movement, and freedom for the media taken away by the stupid dictator and military. Remeber that our Maker promised to take care of our enemies. Whoever fights with you is fighting GOD and they better know what is in store for them.
May 13, 2009 at 3:02 AM
If the methodist church leaders are man enough to go and face Frank, I think the whole christian community in Fiji should all go up to the camp in a peaceful protest and face him.
Power to the people through the love of Christ our Saviour is the only redeemer that save us now and everybody should protest with the banner of Christ nothing is impossible through him.
God bless you motives and may his lead you to freedom from captive.
May 14, 2009 at 11:43 AM
I agree with you Hector…Iam annoyed and frustrated with friends and families who say that all they can do during this time is to pray! I challenged them every now and then that “FAITH WITHOUT WORK IS DEAD”It is time for all Christians or the body of Christ to come together in Unity and practically confront this regime!