08 June 2012
Fijian Church given permission to meet
The Methodist Church in Britain has welcomed the news that the
Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma has been granted permission by
the Government to hold its annual Conference. If the permit is not
withdrawn, as it was in previous years, it will be the Church's
first Conference in four years.
Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu, General Secretary of the Methodist
Church in Fiji, welcomed this move by the police commissioner and
said that the Church is very appreciative. He was also glad that
this early permission gives time for planning, but he reminded
people that last year's Conference was cancelled just hours before
it was due to start.
"This is good news for the Church and an important step towards
reinstating freedom of religion and the right to meet freely in
Fiji," said Christine Elliott, Secretary for External Relationships
for the Methodist Church in Britain. "We share the relief and
appreciation expressed by the Methodist Church in Fiji and hope
that the relationship between church and state will continue to
improve."
However, concerns have been raised about the strict conditions of
the permit, which include:
• the meeting should not coincide with the national Hibiscus
Festival (August 17-25)
• the meeting is to be held for three days only
• the meeting is to be conducted Wednesday-Friday
• the meeting is to be held from 8am to 8pm
• the meeting is to be confined to the Centenary Church
premises
• church matters only are to be discussed
• no political issues are to be discussed
• a request to extend the time frame cannot be made during the
meeting
The traditional activities which surround the Conference, such as
the choir competition and information or sales stalls, have also
been forbidden. The Commissioner of Police added ominously, "These
conditions are to be acknowledged, as serious actions will be
instituted if violated or contravened; hence, [they] demands [sic]
your strict observance and adherence."
"Despite these strict conditions, granting permission for the
Conference to meet is clearly a step forward, and we shall give
thanks as well as praying for further steps as Fiji finds its way
back to democracy," added Ms Elliott.
The Fijian Church was told that it could hold its annual meeting
last summer, but permission was withdrawn the evening before the
2011 Conference was due to begin. At the time, the British Church
spoke of it as a serious setback in the relationship between the
church and state in Fiji.