Assembly of Christian Churches in Fiji
Encyclopedia
The Assembly of Christian Churches in Fiji is an umbrella organization comprising several Christian denominations in Fiji
. The ACCF website describes the ministry as working "to encourage support and strengthen member churches through its constituted vision, mission, objects, powers and all related activities," with a goal of facilitating "reconciliation, unity, peace, and prosperity in Fiji." http://dedwin01c.internetfiji.com/csd/acfc.aspx
which deposed the government of Prime Minister
Laisenia Qarase
on 5 December 2006. On the day of the coup, Chairman Rev. Tuikilakila Waqairatu said the ACCF would oppose the formation of any interim government. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/12/05/fijilive23.html Not all churches participating in the ACCF agreed with the statement, however. In a letter to the Fiji Sun
on 9 December, Roman Catholic
Archbishop
Petero Mataca
agreed that the statement was right to condemn the coup, but considered that it should have qualified that the Qarase government had pursued policies that were partly to blame for it. Other media quoted him as saying that the ACCF statement was "politically biased and theologically flawed," http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=53312 and that it was hypocritical to oppose this coup after failing to oppose the previous coup led by George Speight
in 2000. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_34338.shtml
The presence of the ACCF at a meeting of the Great Council of Chiefs
in December 2006 to discuss the recent military coup
was criticized by the Military. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_34622.shtml
The ACCF was formerly chaired by Rev. Ratu
Epeli Kanaimawi, who was appointed Fiji's High Commissioner
to Malaysia in August 2006. The Fiji Sun
quoted the Military on 30 August as stating its opposition to the appointment, saying that Kanaimawi had been implicated as a supporter of the civilian coup of 2000, which was fronted by George Speight
.
On 20 December 2006, the Military announced that it was investigating a F$20,000
gift to the ACCF by deposed Prime Minister Qarase just before the May 2006 parliamentary elections
. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_34561.shtml
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. The ACCF website describes the ministry as working "to encourage support and strengthen member churches through its constituted vision, mission, objects, powers and all related activities," with a goal of facilitating "reconciliation, unity, peace, and prosperity in Fiji." http://dedwin01c.internetfiji.com/csd/acfc.aspx
The ACCF and the coup of 2006
The ACCF strongly condemned the military coup2006 Fijian coup d'état
The Fijian coup d'état of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and 2005-2006 Fijian political crisis....
which deposed the government of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Fiji
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji is the head of government of Fiji. The Prime Minister was appointed by the President under the terms of the now-suspended 1997 constitution....
Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase is a Fijian political figure. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. After the military quashed the coup that led to the removal of Mahendra Chaudhry, Qarase joined the Interim Military Government as a financial adviser on 9 June 2000, until his appointment...
on 5 December 2006. On the day of the coup, Chairman Rev. Tuikilakila Waqairatu said the ACCF would oppose the formation of any interim government. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/12/05/fijilive23.html Not all churches participating in the ACCF agreed with the statement, however. In a letter to the Fiji Sun
Fiji Sun
The Fiji Sun is a daily newspaper published in Fiji. Owned by Sun News Limited, it was first published in September 1999. An internet edition is also published....
on 9 December, Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church in Fiji
The Roman Catholic Church in Fiji is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.-Demographics and organization:...
Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Petero Mataca
Petero Mataca
Petero Mataca is the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Suva, Fiji. After his education at St. John's College, Cawaci, he was ordained as a priest on 20 December 1959...
agreed that the statement was right to condemn the coup, but considered that it should have qualified that the Qarase government had pursued policies that were partly to blame for it. Other media quoted him as saying that the ACCF statement was "politically biased and theologically flawed," http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=53312 and that it was hypocritical to oppose this coup after failing to oppose the previous coup led by George Speight
George Speight
George Speight , occasionally known as Ilikimi Naitini, was the principal instigator of the Fiji coup of 2000, in which he kidnapped thirty-six government officials and held them from May 19, 2000 to July 13, 2000...
in 2000. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_34338.shtml
The presence of the ACCF at a meeting of the Great Council of Chiefs
Great Council of Chiefs (Fiji)
The Great Council of Chiefs is a now dormant 1997 constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. In April 2007 the council was suspended, due to an unworkable relationship with Frank Bainimarama, leader of an "interim government" which came to power through a military coup in December 2006...
in December 2006 to discuss the recent military coup
2006 Fijian coup d'état
The Fijian coup d'état of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and 2005-2006 Fijian political crisis....
was criticized by the Military. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_34622.shtml
The ACCF was formerly chaired by Rev. Ratu
Ratu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
Epeli Kanaimawi, who was appointed Fiji's High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
to Malaysia in August 2006. The Fiji Sun
Fiji Sun
The Fiji Sun is a daily newspaper published in Fiji. Owned by Sun News Limited, it was first published in September 1999. An internet edition is also published....
quoted the Military on 30 August as stating its opposition to the appointment, saying that Kanaimawi had been implicated as a supporter of the civilian coup of 2000, which was fronted by George Speight
George Speight
George Speight , occasionally known as Ilikimi Naitini, was the principal instigator of the Fiji coup of 2000, in which he kidnapped thirty-six government officials and held them from May 19, 2000 to July 13, 2000...
.
On 20 December 2006, the Military announced that it was investigating a F$20,000
Fijian dollar
The dollar has been the currency of Fiji since 1969 and was also the currency between 1867 and 1873. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively FJ$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
gift to the ACCF by deposed Prime Minister Qarase just before the May 2006 parliamentary elections
Fiji election of 2006
The Constitution of Fiji requires general elections for the House of Representatives to be held at least once every five years. The latest election was held on 6-13 May 2006. Acting President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi issued a proclamation on 2 March, effective from 27 March, dissolving Parliament...
. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_34561.shtml