This is the opinion expressed by the Methodist Church in its submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights last Thursday.

The Bill was introduced in Parliament by the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum last year.

It was sent to the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights in June after the second reading.

Under the heading "Defamation", clause 24 of the Bill says that "Any person whose words or actions defame, demean or undermine the sanctity of Parliament, the Speaker or a committee commits an offence and is liable on conviction."

Methodist Church vice president Apisalome Tudreu said the proposed provisions would make it an offence for the electorate to hold their elected representatives and their leaders accountable and this was a basic requirement of democracy and good governance.

Tudreu said the church participated because of its role and that was to serve the needs of the society.

"What is considered thre­a­tening and defamatory sho­uld be left to the laws that apply to others," he said.

The chair of the committee hearing submissions, the MP Ashneel Sudhakar, said the clause would only protect the institution.

"It doesn't mention anywhere that you cannot criticise the government or cannot crticise the members of parliament," Sudhakar said.

"The words of clause 24 are clear and all it's saying is that you cannot criticise wrongly the institution of parliament, the speaker and the committees. That's all that the clause mentions."

The Citizens Constitutional Forum wants clause 24 removed. "Section 24 will further dissuade people from exercising their rights to critique Parliamentarians' role and their performances for fear of being sued for defamation by Parliament," said its Chief Executive Officer

Source

• fijitimes.com
• newswire.com
• radionz.co.nz
• Image: newswire.com.

Fijians Helping Fiji Co-operative Limited was set up last year by a Hanemel Hansen along the lines of Americans Helping America (AHA), a US organisation involved in adult adoption work leading to US citizenship.

It is understood that Mr Hansen is the chief executive officer of AHA whose US operation has been under investigation by the FBI.

He is variously described as being a New Zealander, an Australian or a Tongan who is living in the United States.

Wesleyan Church, President Reverend Tevita Banivanua, when questioned said the church did not support the FHFCL.

He said this, despite a picture of Reverend Apete Toko, head of the Country's Men's Fellowship, appearing on the Fijians Helping Fiji facebook page.

Reverend Toko was spotted in a picture during a recent FHFCL gathering where he was seated next to Ratu Meli Vesikula, the chairman of the organisation.

"Everyone is given their freedom to choose whatever organisation they wish, but I would like to confirm that the church does not hold a position in the organisation," he said.

"However, we are yet to be convinced on the allegations levelled against the organisation and we need more evidence to fully know what this organisation is about."

Fiji's prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama has also stressed that he has not and will not endorse FHFCL.

Bainimarama said he had heard that this group had gone out telling the public at large that he had endorsed their operations.

"This is not true," he said.

"I have not given my endorsement and nor will I give my endorsement to such a group as this."

Bainimarama has warned people about a similar group back in 2002/2003 led by a man from Hawaii who came with a claim of bringing in about $8 billion.

"I remember there was a big celebration in Suva Civic Centre, they were prayed over by the church and the Government officials were standing around and I remember telling the then government that it was not good; it was a con job and we need to stay out of it," Mr Bainimarama said.

Of Fijians Helping Fiji, Mr Bainimarama said: "I have no doubt that those people who have put money in there will never get their money back. It is a very sad case.

"We turn to be very gullible when it comes to projects likes this."

Source

• fijitimes.com
• fijisun.com.fj
• Image: plus.google.com

Church general secretary, Reverend Dr Epineri Vakadewavosa, made the call in light of the latest figures revealed by the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre (FWCC) showing 756 cases of domestic violence from January to July.

"Ever since the church began, it has always stood against violence, everyone is treated equally, respect is very important and this is based from the Bible," Dr Vakadewavosa said.

Dr Vakadewavosa said the church could even conduct training and workshops so families and individuals are protected and church ministers and leaders play a vital role in doing so.

FWCC co-ordinator Shamima Ali attributed the rise in emotional/verbal abuse to more and more women recognising and getting to understand better what they are about.

"More and more women are recognising emotional abuse," she said.

"The more women get a sense of what they should expect, the more they understand what is happening to them that they don't like and they will report them.
"What we found out was that in a lot of cases where there is physical and emotional abuse, there is also emotional and verbal abuse."

Emotional/ verbal abuse according to the FWCC includes swearing, denying a woman the right to make any decision, denying her the right to pursue a career, denying her the right to decide how many children she can have and many other related cases.

Ms Ali said all these things cause a lot of emotional trauma for women.

"The contributing factors to domestic violence are things like alcohol — not the fact that he's drunk but because of the money spent, jealousy also triggers this kind of violent behaviour, affairs particularly in the part of the men and financial or work stress.

21 new communities are currently in the process of becoming champions for violence free communities in Fiji.

Minister of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar said the training program will help these communities become well equipped with skills to effectively address issues concerning domestic violence, child abuse and gender inequality.

Akbar highlighted the Zero Tolerance Violence Free Communities program has been established to strengthen networks with the local and rural communities in terms of eliminating violence against women and children.

Source

• fijtimes.com
• fijitimes.com
• fijivillage.com
• Image: emu.edu

Following the success of the reconciliation process within the Church last year, as part of her golden jubilee, the Methodist Church is now reaching out to the wider community.

In recent weeks, Banivanua, general secretary Reverend Dr Epineri Vakadewavosa and deputy general secretary, Reverend Ili Vunisuwai have visited the Prime Minister, the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and the Leader of the Opposition.

"Over the past years we have been working with ECREA (Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education and Advocacy) and the Roman Catholic Church, since the time of the late archbishop emeritus Mataca to discuss ecumenism in a very concrete way — how we, as the different branches of the tree that is Christ, can have fellowship with each other and especially, how we can work together and speak with one voice on important issues affecting Fiji," said Banivanua.

Divisional superin­tendents and divisional stewards from the Church's 56 divisions have been attending a three-day meeting in Suva's Centenary Church.

Source

• The Fiji Times
• Image: Fiji Sun

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.

Source

• Radio New Zealand International
• Image: Fijiblog.govt

The reaction came in the wake of a response by the Prime Minister Rear Admiral (Ret) Voreqe Bainimarama on Wednesday suggesting the letter was causing racial discord and did not unite Fijians.

The letter was written by the Methodist Church's secretary for Christian Citizenship and Social Service, Reverend Iliesa Naivalu, to divisional superintendents.

The general secretary of the Methodist Church, Reverend Tevita Nawadra, says he will be writing to the Prime Minister.

"I will be writing to the Prime Minister to affirm him of our earlier stance that we are willing to work together for the betterment of our beloved Fiji," Nawadra said.

He said the church was optimistic of a good working relationship with the government in spite of the embarrassing issue which had caused a slight rift between the two parties.

Nawadra said the issues raised in the letter were based on resolutions passed in the 2014 conference in which more than 1000 pledgees and lay members representing the 56 divisions of the church deliberated and voted on.

"With the election fast approaching, we wanted our members to be fast aware of the conference resolutions before they make up their own mind on who to vote for.

"As you will see while there are references to past government work and policies, there is no mention of any particular political party.

"My understanding of the situation is that Reverend Naivalu's efforts were well intended."

Source

• The Fiji Times
• Republika
• Image: FijiOne

The Methodist Church is the second biggest land owner in Fiji.

"We want people to utilise the land and make a living for themselves, especially farmers," says the Church's newly-elected president Reverend Tevita Nawadra.

He said the next land development the church would be focusing on was the housing development in Davuilevu where the church had vacant pieces of land it had agreed to be used for housing.

Source

• The Fiji Times
• Image: lh5.googleusercontent.com

Bhagwan said the church would stay neutral and it should not be seen to be favouring anyone.

"But at the same time we are pastorally speaking to our members, encouraging them to pray before each major decision and our prayer is that when election comes God will help us that the right leaders are chosen given the circumstances we have."

Mr Bhagwan said church halls around the country could be used by political parties depending on the agreement between the vanua and respective church leaders in the villages.

"The issue is that in some cases the only place that is available is the church hall and so we would have to look at it on a case-by-case basis. The local church area needs to make those decisions, the church would hope that people exercise good judgement in that area."

Source

• The Fiji Times
• Image: www.electionsfiji.gov.fiji

That is the message from church communications secretary Reverend James Bhagwan.

"If any minister wants to join a political party and stand under the party's banner, they will have to resign from their appointment," he said.

Bhagwan said the church would also continue to encourage people to exercise their democratic rights.

"It's been a while since we have been able to vote — when we do have election, people should exercise good judgement, vote for responsible leaders who have integrity and good character."

Source

• The Fiji Times
• Image: 3.bp.blogspot

Church communications secretary Reverend James Bhagwan said they would continue to honour Waqairatu's views, however, the church standing committee is working on ways to balance the ban and culture and tradition.

"One way in which people can honour the late president's memories is to respect his views," Mr Bhagwan said.

"There have been a lot more hits or views on our You Tube page on him explaining his views on kava. And since his passing there has been an increase in people who are trying to understand him better.

He was elected president of the Methodist Church in Fiji in August last year following its annual conference.

Tuikilakila Waqairatu had promised to reform the church and made a significant step by banning the consumption of yaqona and smoking during the church conference and at all church facilities.

A spokesperson for the church, the Reverend James Bhagwan, says traditional ceremonies to commemorate Reverend Tuikilakila will take place from Monday before his full funeral on Thursday.

Waqairatu was 66 years old.

Source

• The Fiji Times
• The Fiji Times
• Image: Bishop Warner Brown

This was confirmed by church general secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra on Monday.

Nawadra said the special committee was headed by church senior officials.

"We will make sure the submissions are handed in to the government before the deadline," he said.

Last week Nawadra said neither the head office nor any of their branches will have anything to do with politics in 2014.

Nawadra says the church will not affiliate itself with any political party.

He added that political involvement in the past has hurt the church.

"The Church has learnt their lesson from the past and we are coming out of that and we are even discouraging the use of the Methodist Church building or premises for politics because we have suffered from that in the past."

Nawadra says office bearers have also been informed that they must leave office if they are planning to contest the 2014 polls.

"If they are forming a political party, that is good and that is their prerogative but the hope is that the current Government have to resign before hand to enable another form of Government to continue or deal with this election and that will be fairer to other members."

Source

• The Fiji Times
• FBC News
• Image: FBCNews

Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu is the newly appointed president of the Fiji Methodist Church. At the University of the South Pacific seminar run by the Constitution Commission on Thursday night, Mr Waqairatu said that the government of Fiji is at a critical point.

He pointed out that Fiji is a pluralistic society and went on to say "Their positive inter-church relation in the ecumenical circle and mission should enrich their corporate ministry in the country".

He also said that Islam, Hinduism and other faiths make a contribution to the nation, and this reality must be acknowledged.

Close understanding between religious groups and the government, allied with ongoing communication, would ensure a positive future for the country.

"Fiji has been ravaged by the coup-culture with its negative repercussions psychologically embedded in the minds of the people, especially the young generation, whose behaviour has been heavily affected by the noted phenomenon," he said.

Sources

• The Fiji Times Online
• Image: Peceli Fijian Methodist Church of America

Submissions to the Constitution Commission recommending that Fiji should be declared a Christian State have caused considerable debate.

The idea would continue to be debated, Mr Koroi said, "because many of us accept this concept at face value rather than following Jesus Christ's teaching as recorded in the scriptures, 'come follow me'."

According to Mr Koroi, Fiji needs to separate Church and State — to distinguish clearly between the State's role to govern and the role of Christianity.

Christianity, he said, was personal and to do with a person's living relationship with the living person who is Jesus Christ.

Declaring Fiji to be a Christian State would mean that Christianity became an ideology enshrined in law, and adherence to this ideology would be compulsory.

Mr Koroi said that Christianity was never meant to be like that.

"Christianity is a worldwide religion; it is not sectarian, closed religion of one's own race or country as the Fiji Christian state being advocated by others", he said.

Sources

• The Fiji Times Online
• Image: Fiji Guide