Fiji police detain church leaders and chief

Sam Seke and Michael Cavanagh

Last Updated: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:46:00 +1000

Fiji's military regime has again arrested and detained key members of the country's Methodist Church.

It is believed they are being questioned in relation to an upcoming Methodist Church Conference, which the government wants to cancel.

Among those arrested was former President of the Fiji Methodist Church, Reverend Manasa Lasaro; General Secretary, Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu, the Secretary for Pastoral Ministry, Tomasi Kanailagi and the Church's Finance Secretary Viliame Gonelevu.

Observers say at least three military vehicles turned up at their respective residences overnight and picked them up.

Political agenda suspected

Though church leaders insist the meeting will go ahead as planned, Fiji's government has reaffirmed it is cancelling an annual Methodist Church conference planned for the end of August in Rewa, near Suva.

Government spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Neumi Leweni says Fiji's authorities believe the church plans to push a political discussion rather than spiritual development.

In a statement, Colonel Leweni said if the conference covers political issues it would be a clear breach of the Fiji's Public Emergency Regulation.

He says the leaders of the Methodist Church who are in custody for questioning will be released once an investigation is complete.

Earlier questioning

Reverend Waqairatu was also among five Methodist Church leaders and another five lay people, who had also been taken in for questioning by the military regime the previous day.

The interim government authorities are not talking about their action, but Reverend Waqairatu had earlier said that it was in relation to conference.

The Church says it is planning to go ahead with the conference regardless of the interim government's stand.

Chief also arrested

Colonel Leweni says the Chief of Rewa, Ro Teimumu Kepa, has also been arrested and detained over a statement she released Tuesday.

She was picked up late Tuesday night by more than a dozen police officers and escorted to military barracks for questioning.

Since then she has been held in a Suva police station.

Authorities would not tell her family or lawyer what she has been charged with.

A statement from the interim government said she was being investigated for possible incitement.

Ro Teimumu Kepa had urged that the proposed Methodist church conference should still go ahead in her village as planned which is just over a half hour drive from Suva.