Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Fiji Methodist Minister set for military detention

Posted at 07:56 on 13 May, 2009 UTC

A Methodist Minister in Fiji says he is waiting to be taken into military custody because of statements the church has made opposing the actions of the interim government.

Reverend Manasa Lasaro says the church office has been informed by the military that he will be detained at an army camp.

He says the church issued a statement last week stating its opposition to the military regime.

He says this position was reiterated at its divisional meeting in the last week, along with a statement about the way Fiji’s constitution had been thrown out by the military dictatorship.

Reverend Lasaro says there is nothing he can do but wait to be taken into custody but he says he is not worried.

“It’s a cost that the church will have to carry, cost of being the church in Fiji right now. We are struggling in a very peaceful way to try and bring about political stability, to bring about democracy, to bring about justice amongst our own people.”

Reverend Manasa Lasaro