Church leaders in Vanuatu have described the jailing of 14 members of parliament as an answer to their prayers for God to reveal the truth.
And when the MPs were escorted to the High Risk Correctional Centre, inmates were overheard praying and singing their favourite song, “This is the day that the Lord had made…”
The 14 MPs, have been given jail sentences for their roles in a corruption case.
They have two weeks to appeal against their sentences.
Previously Vanuatu’s Council of Churches had said the actions of the acting president, Marcelino Pipite, when he pardoned himself and 13 other MPs convicted of bribery makes a mockery of the country’s motto: “In God We Stand.”
A member of the council’s executive, Pastor Allan Nafuki, says the constitution is based on Christian principles and deserves respect from the country’s leaders.
Pipite, who is the speaker, took the opportunity to pardon himself and the other 13 members of parliament while the President, Father Lonsdale was out of the country and he was acting President.
On his return, Lonsdale revoked the pardons.
When the pardons were given Nafuki said “What has been happening is not in the interests of our people, it’s not in the interests of the church, it’s only come to a conclusion by saying that it is the interest of each political party’s interest.”
He said it had appeared there is one law for the people and one for the leaders, which is unacceptable.
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Additional readingNews category: Asia Pacific.
