The Communications Secretary for Fiji’s Methodist Church, Reverend James Bhagwan, says the key message from the church is that, “We don’t condone violence in any way, shape or form.”
He said it’s a challenge for the church to help people find ways to resolve conflict peacefully.
Bhagwan said they have noticed domestic violence on the increase as the result of people being more frustrated.
He hopes that now that Fijians are moving into a more democratic environment these things will start to change.
Bhagwan says violence is legitimised by many cultures, institutions and some Christian groups but the church’s role in Fiji is to develop a climate of openness and build ways to keep the vulnerable safe from harm.
He says this is a massive task for a society raised with the notion of ‘if you spare the rod, you spoil the child’.
Fiji’s Police Commissioner says the police have a zero tolerance policy on offences against children and he has issued a plea to the community to report child abuse.
Commissioner Groenewald says hitting children is against the law and while it is common it is not often reported.
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