Military-church relations in Fiji
Encyclopedia
The Military of Fiji
has always had a close relationship between the country's churches, particularly the Methodist Church
, to which some two-thirds of indigenous Fijians
belong. Relations became strained in 2005, however, over the church's support for the government's controversial Reconciliation and Unity Commission
, which the Military strongly opposes. The Bill seeks to establish Commission empowered to compensate victims and pardon perpetrators of the coup d'état which deposed the elected government of Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry
in May 2000.
on 23 June, Bainimarama told 400 infanteers that he expected political instability to continue, and that in the event of an upheaval, they should follow his orders and no one else's. He told soldiers to stay away from people who opposed the stance of the military on what he called matters of national interest, and to change churches if their minister's views conflicted with those of the military. He also asserted that if Fijian chiefs
were giving wrong advice to their people, the military had a duty to correct them.
Land Force Commander Colonel
Ioane Naivalurua called Bainimarama "corageous, strong, and ... a saviour of Fiji in this time of need." But Methodist Church spokesman Rev. Iliesa Naivalu strongly rebuked him for calling on soldiers to switch churches if their minister preached against the army. "No leader in his right frame of mind urges his people to change their churches simply because of a Bill," he said on 29 June. "To do so is a breach of an individual's constitutional right to express their faith by joining a church of their choice." He accused Bainimarama of lacking wisdom and respect, the true foundation of sound leadership.
belong, that their support for the Unity Bill would jeopardize their right to supply chaplains
to Fijian soldiers performing United Nations
peacekeeping
duties in the Middle East
. "We will not be soft when it comes to the bill," he warned. "I will not allow the pastors who support the bill to relay a different message to my troops, especially when the military is not for the bill." He said that clergy seeking to travel with the troops would be required to state their attitude to the legislation, and that supporters of it need not apply. If the Methodist Church as a whole continued to endorse the bill, Bainimarama said he would ban all Methodist ministers from overseas chaplaincy roles and recruit Assemblies of God
or All Nation Church ministers instead.
Assemblies of God General Secretary Reverend Apete Tanoa responded by saying that while his denomination would appreciate being offered chaplaincy assignments with the Military, it would not want to get involved in a dispute between the Military and the Methodist Church.
On 2 October, Reverend Ame Tugawe, the General Secretary of the Methodist Church, said he was "in total shock" at the Commander's attack on the church. "He is not only speaking about the people in the church but also about the God which we all serve," Tugawe said. "I have spoken with the military chaplain and told him to inform the military not to make such comments against the church." He said the threat was unprecedented and he could not have imagined it.
Tugawe reiterated the church's support for the Unity Bill: "We support reconciliation and the comments (Bainimarama's) would not do it," he said. "I advise the commander not to vent his anger in such public comments." He said, however, that it was a matter of personal conscience whether a minister supported or opposed the legislation, and that the question should not be a factor in the appointment of military chaplains.
, the Army's Media Liaison Officer, said on 4 October that the Military had principles to uphold, and therefore there would be no compromise on the Unity Bill. Contrary to Reverend Tugawe's assertions, the threatened ban on chaplains out of favour with the Military was not unprecedented, Leweni said. The Military was not speaking against the Methodist Church, he insisted, but was stating its own position.
Military of Fiji
The Republic of Fiji Military Forces are the military of the Pacific island nation of Fiji. With a total manpower of 3,500 active soldiers and 6,000 reservists, it is one of the smallest militaries in the world. However, most of its surrounding island nations have no militaries at all...
has always had a close relationship between the country's churches, particularly the Methodist Church
Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma
The Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma is the largest Christian denomination in Fiji, with 36.2 percent of the total population at the 1996 census...
, to which some two-thirds of indigenous Fijians
Fijian people
Fijian people are the major indigenous people of the Fiji Islands, and live in an area informally called Melanesia. The Fijian people are believed to have arrived in Fiji from western Melanesia approximately 3,500 years ago, though the exact origins of the Fijian people are unknown...
belong. Relations became strained in 2005, however, over the church's support for the government's controversial Reconciliation and Unity Commission
Reconciliation and Unity Commission (Fiji)
The Reconciliation and Unity Commission is a proposed government body to be set up if the Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill, which was introduced into the Fijian Parliament on 4 May 2005 is passed...
, which the Military strongly opposes. The Bill seeks to establish Commission empowered to compensate victims and pardon perpetrators of the coup d'état which deposed the elected government of Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party...
in May 2000.
Infantry Day, 2005
In an Infantry Day speech at Mount Nakobalevu outside SuvaSuva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
on 23 June, Bainimarama told 400 infanteers that he expected political instability to continue, and that in the event of an upheaval, they should follow his orders and no one else's. He told soldiers to stay away from people who opposed the stance of the military on what he called matters of national interest, and to change churches if their minister's views conflicted with those of the military. He also asserted that if Fijian chiefs
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"...
were giving wrong advice to their people, the military had a duty to correct them.
Land Force Commander Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Ioane Naivalurua called Bainimarama "corageous, strong, and ... a saviour of Fiji in this time of need." But Methodist Church spokesman Rev. Iliesa Naivalu strongly rebuked him for calling on soldiers to switch churches if their minister preached against the army. "No leader in his right frame of mind urges his people to change their churches simply because of a Bill," he said on 29 June. "To do so is a breach of an individual's constitutional right to express their faith by joining a church of their choice." He accused Bainimarama of lacking wisdom and respect, the true foundation of sound leadership.
"Chaplains supporting the bill not welcome" - Bainimarama
On 1 October 2005, Commodore Bainimarama warned the Methodist Church, to which some two-thirds of indigenous FijiansFijian people
Fijian people are the major indigenous people of the Fiji Islands, and live in an area informally called Melanesia. The Fijian people are believed to have arrived in Fiji from western Melanesia approximately 3,500 years ago, though the exact origins of the Fijian people are unknown...
belong, that their support for the Unity Bill would jeopardize their right to supply chaplains
Military chaplain
A military chaplain is a chaplain who ministers to soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and other members of the military. In many countries, chaplains also minister to the family members of military personnel, to civilian noncombatants working for military organizations and to civilians within the...
to Fijian soldiers performing United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
duties in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. "We will not be soft when it comes to the bill," he warned. "I will not allow the pastors who support the bill to relay a different message to my troops, especially when the military is not for the bill." He said that clergy seeking to travel with the troops would be required to state their attitude to the legislation, and that supporters of it need not apply. If the Methodist Church as a whole continued to endorse the bill, Bainimarama said he would ban all Methodist ministers from overseas chaplaincy roles and recruit Assemblies of God
Assemblies of God
The Assemblies of God , officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 140 autonomous but loosely-associated national groupings of churches which together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination...
or All Nation Church ministers instead.
Assemblies of God General Secretary Reverend Apete Tanoa responded by saying that while his denomination would appreciate being offered chaplaincy assignments with the Military, it would not want to get involved in a dispute between the Military and the Methodist Church.
On 2 October, Reverend Ame Tugawe, the General Secretary of the Methodist Church, said he was "in total shock" at the Commander's attack on the church. "He is not only speaking about the people in the church but also about the God which we all serve," Tugawe said. "I have spoken with the military chaplain and told him to inform the military not to make such comments against the church." He said the threat was unprecedented and he could not have imagined it.
Tugawe reiterated the church's support for the Unity Bill: "We support reconciliation and the comments (Bainimarama's) would not do it," he said. "I advise the commander not to vent his anger in such public comments." He said, however, that it was a matter of personal conscience whether a minister supported or opposed the legislation, and that the question should not be a factor in the appointment of military chaplains.
Leweni clarifies
Captain Neumi LeweniNeumi Leweni
Neumi Leweni is a Fijian Army officer and diplomat, who holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He hails from the Lau Islands. He joined the Military in 1974 and by 2006 was one of two official spokesmen for the Military, the other being Lieutenant Colonel Orisi Rabukawaqa. In August 2007, he...
, the Army's Media Liaison Officer, said on 4 October that the Military had principles to uphold, and therefore there would be no compromise on the Unity Bill. Contrary to Reverend Tugawe's assertions, the threatened ban on chaplains out of favour with the Military was not unprecedented, Leweni said. The Military was not speaking against the Methodist Church, he insisted, but was stating its own position.