Fiji politicians urged not to play religion card before election

Friday, August 1st, 2014

A group of Muslims in Fiji are asking politicians not to use religion to gain support before the nation’s General Election on September 17.

Spokesman Mohammed Sareem said the group had formed because a former government minister overseas has been accusing Muslims of being part of the 2006 coup.

“We urge politicians to keep religion out of politics,” Mr Sareem said.

He is the managing director of Suva Car Rentals.

Former politicians had also charged that Muslims were endangering the lives of others, he added.

Mr Sareem said members of Fiji’s Muslim community are in government because of their achievements.

“They are not there to represent the Islamic community in Fiji, we were born and bred here in Fiji, we call this place our home and all we want is to live peacefully in Fiji,” he said.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong of Suva said last month that the upcoming General Election on September 17 will define the nation’s future.

Archbishop Chong urged Fiji Catholics to make informed voting decisions for the betterment of the country.

Speaking at a workshop at St Joseph’s Secondary School in Suva last month, he said that while the Church is apolitical, it has a responsibility to inform its members to make wise decisions.

“The Catholic Church recognises that the political decisions of the Fijian people in the election will define the future of our nation,” Archbishop Chong said.

He said the Church would contribute towards building a better Fiji.

“The Catholic Church, therefore, wishes to contribute to building a better Fiji by helping our Catholics make a well-informed political decision based on the Scriptures and the teachings of the Church.”

“The Church is not an expert in politics,” the archbishop said.

“Rather, the Church is an expert in the gospel of Jesus Christ and whatever that pertains to the promotion and protection of the human person as a son and daughter of God.”

Sources