"Fiji must be committed to safeguarding and upholding this fundamental human right, by defending the right of every citizen to practise Christianity or any other religion at home and abroad."

Kepa said Easter was a time for reflecting on the role Christianity plays in Fiji.

In her Easter message, she said many Fijians are firmly convicted that the country was founded on the principles, values and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

"Love above all, mutual respect and self-sacrifice for the greater good are some of the qualities reflected in Christ's life."

"Before I end, at the very heart of Christian teaching is the lesson to 'love thy neighbour' and I invite all of us to reflect this sentiment in our daily lives."

In March 2014 Kepa was elected leader of the newly formed Social Democratic Liberal Party.

She led the party into the 2014 election. The party won 15 of the 50 parliamentary seats.

Kepa, who won 49,485 votes in her own name, was the second-highest ranked candidate behind Bainimarama.

On 6 October 2014 She was appointed Leader of the Opposition.

In June 2016, Kepa announced that she was standing down as leader of SODELPA.

She was replaced by former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.

in 2004 Kepa succeeded her late sister, former Ro Lady Lala Mara, as Roko Tui Dreketi, or Paramount Chief of Dreketi.

This is considered to be the highest title in the Burebasaga Confederacy, one of three "confederacies", or tribal networks, of Fijian chiefs.

Ro Teimumu Kepa is the widow of Sailosi Kepa, a former High Commissioner to London, Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

He went on to become a High Court Judge, Ombudsman, and first chairman of Fiji's Human Rights Commission.

Source

• fijitimes.com
• fijivillage.com
• en.wikipedia.org
• Image: facebook.com

This resolution comes at the conclusion of the World Association of Christian Communication (WACC) Pacific Communications Rights for Peace symposium held in Suva last week.

The outcomes statement, released ahead of the International Day of Peace also reaffirms the commitment of church leaders to speak with one voice in society and also within the church community, and to speak together for peace as they face the next 12 months leading up to the scheduled September 2014 election.

President of WACC Pacific, Rev Akuila Yabaki, said the release of an outcomes statement reflects how the participants have reaffirmed their communication values grounded in the Christian faith.

One of the participants, Pastor Wame Sausau, of the SDA Church, said it was important for church leaders to work together to define the common vision of moving forward as a Christian community.

"We will need to speak what the government needs to hear, whether government accepts it or not," Sausau said.

He said churches had a lot of things in common even though they were miles apart in terms of doctrine teachings. "But there are so many things that unite us which make us work together."

The resolution agreed to at the end of the symposium last Friday states that the path to democracy must be inclusive and participatory and walked in humility and love.

It affirmed the churches commitment to work with civil society organisations in the walk towards a truly democratic, peaceful and prosperous Fiji.

Source

• Fiji Sun
• The Fiji Times
• The Fiji Times
• Image: thejournealofaspiritualwonderer

"Sega ni kena i naki ya me kalawaci na lotu, se na vanua se na turaga ni vanua (The purpose was not to overstep the church, the vanua or chiefs)," Commodore Bainimarama told Narocake villagers at a meeting in Rewa yesterday.

He said the major objective was to rid the nation of dirty politics, including racial politics, to allow for national development and prosperity.

A senior member of the Methodist Church in Fiji has called on the country's armed forces not to obey the military government.

Former Methodist Church president Josateki Koroi says soldiers are not obliged to obey the present government because it is not legal.

He told Radio Australia soldiers have a duty as Christians to question any orders they might get to shoot at people.

Mr Koroi said: "This should be the stand of the loyal citizens and also a stand of a Christian person in whatever government, a legal government, is in charge."

Source

• The Fiji Times Online
• Radio Australia
• Image: FBC