POSTSCRIPT. Coupfourpointfive raises a valid question: Why hasn't Sanatan Dharma complained on behalf of Hindu police officers? Is this because its president, Dewan Maharaj, is pro-Government? One might also ask why all other religious institutions have not protested, and why Coupfourpointfive singled out Sanatan Dharma? And why it allowed such irrational and racist comments to its posting on this issue. Coupfourpointfive usually sets a far higher standard.The hold that Christianity, in its many forms, has over many ethnic Fijians -- and its fusion with Fijian ethnicity and Fijian politics, is difficult for people outside Fiji to appreciate. It it for this reason -- to show how difficult it is for the Bainimarama -- or any other religiously-diverse and ethnically-balanced government - to take the country forward, that I have broken a promise to myself. I'm going to publish the latest comments from RawFijiNews, one of the less rational blogsites that invariably mixes religion with its anti-Government politics. And then I'll look at the equally disturbing "Government" flip side.
Raw Fiji News Blog
RFN claims its sources have revealed that, despite the Government ban, the Methodist Church will go ahead with its annual conference scheduled for August. "This latest defiance from the Methodist Church," it states, "against Frank Bainimarama’s junta is something that will determine Fiji’s destiny in the coming years. Most christians in Fiji believe that the junta will succumb soon. There are even talks that Frank & Co. will seek assistance from the church as prophesied by Steven Penny* in 1997." [sic!]
To which "mrx77" (the photo accompanied his post) added, "I take my hats off to the Methodist Church leaders, members of the clergy and all devoted members for their stand. Lets show this illegal government who has the majority followers.Lets show this illegal government that strength is in the number of people you have. Lets show this illegal government that people power is mightier than their guns. Lets show it to them. POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!! Oh my, I have never been so proud to be a Methodist."
Even more to the point "Voresara" respondent said, "Thats more like it. Come on people no one and I mean no one will fight your battle for freedom accept yourselves or ourselves to be precise. Lets do it…its now or never…God bless Fiji. Oh I forgot… I hope they are prepared to shoot ministers, preachers, women and children. When that happens I am coming home to die."
*Steve Penny is the driving force behind the SP Ministries on Australia's Sunshine Coast. It is typical of the many evangelical, charismatic fundamentalist Christian sects that have gained influence in Fiji in recent years.
And Teleni's Ideas on "Government" is Just As Bad
Equally disturbing is Police Commissioner Esala Teleni's recent invocations of the New Methodist Church, of which his brother is the main minister, to mount Christian "Crusades" to reduce crime. That is arguably just acceptable. At least it's in a good cause. But to insist that all police officers must attend in totally unacceptable. Fijian youths, the most involved in petty crime, may turn to god and renounce crime as a result of these crusades, but it is clearly a breach of a basic human right -- and one would have thought contrary to the way the Interim Government seeks to lead the country -- to insist on attendance by officers who are not New Methodists, or even Christian. Even the choice of the word "crusade" is an affront to Muslim officers. Police spokesperson Ema Mua said "the crusade [funded by Government through the community policing budget] is the only [sic!] strategy the Commissioner Esala Teleni and senior police officers hope will reduce crime in the country and police officers who are against the idea have every right to leave the force." Local rugby stars "share their personal testimonies" at the crusades that so far have been held in Suva and Lautoka.
And it gets worse! The Police Commissioner has banned the drinking of yaqona (kava), a no-no to New Methodists, in all police quarters and barracks. Yaqona had previously been banned from police stations and police posts in a move to instill greater discipline and professionalism by former Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes who was deported soon after the 2006 Coup. This ban is different. Yaqona is an important social drink in Fiji. To ban it from police residences is as good as telling police officers they cannot entertain their friends in their own home.
The message to police officers is join the "crusade"-- or leave the force. Drink yaqona at home -- and start packing. Both edicts must be totally unacceptable to all reasonable people.
But the main issue is far bigger. And it will be pasted in large letters on national and international billboards.
Here is a government that says it wants a democratic, multi-religious, multi-ethnic Fiji where all people are treated fairly and equally, that seems to be condoning, -- if not actually promoting -- its diametric opposite.
Bainimarama may need Teleni -- but not, surely, at any price!
5 comments:
Well, breaking your promise to yourself will have done Fiji a big favour. What is to be made of this ranting and raving? Is this the 'talibanisation' of a nation by another name and means? The abdication of logic and rationality ably demonstrates the enormity of the difficulty in which Fiji finds itself today. The obfuscation of true religion by the fervour of fanatics who have lost their way. Is John Wesley turning in his grave? And what of the congregation, enslaved from the pulpit and 'put upon' by vipers demanding tribute in kind? There is no escape for them. Where would they go? No one who has ever been a witness to such performances could sanely call this 'religion'. So where does democracy fit into all this? The ideal of democracy is non-existent: it is an 'inconvenient truth'. Overlordship of the most oppressive kind reigns unchallenged through submission and fear.
VIIth Generation
The ban on yaqona drinking in Police Stations by former Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes was widely ignored in practice. There was little attempt at any rational understanding as to why such a ban was desirable in Police institutions, paid for by public money through taxes and intended to serve the Fiji Public. The concept of service to the public was scarcely considered. The risks of driving police vehicles or of attending to road accidents or victims of violent crime while 'grogged' were thus dismissed. 'Salus Populi' - the Welfare of the People (the Motto of the Fiji Police and worn on the shoulders of all police officers' shirts) was set aside to indulge in the drinking of 'yaqona' - a drug which was once culturally only to be indulged in by chiefs and their close retainers. Commissioner Teleni is quite right to restrict yaqona-drinking in the Police Force. If it appears draconian to restrict it in Police Quarters, so be it. Members of the Fiji Public are entitled to a functioning, responsible and disciplined Police Force. This must come first. And this is what it takes to instill such discipline.
Croz, what is this obsession with religion, particularly christianity....where does this come from?
I've had a look at Raw Fiji News and, "Frank"ly (pardon the pun!) it's a load of rubbish. It's not exactly easy to understand what people posting are saying. And even if I do understand them reasonably well, I've got to wonder about what they are saying!
And it needs to be asked: after all your time in Fiji, why is this a surprise to you? Have you had your head in the sand all these years?
Dictators and wannabe dictators will always use symbols linked to important institutions to support their cause. Look at Rabuka's coup - army, bible and flag all in one picture. He's using what he knows people will respond to. Or Pinochet, Lee Quan Yew, Suharto (need I go on?) who denounce communism while oppressing their own. It's not new. It's not pretty. But it's effective.
One hopes that thinking people will go beyond these symbols and think seriously about what's happening.
Anon, Disappointed perhaps but not surprised. But I would never discount the influence of what you call RFN "rubbish" or the political impact of Teleni's "crusades."
The obsession is not mine, but it needs mention because it's part of the Fiji politic scene. Had I failed, for example, to discuss the Methodist Conference, the bloggers' venom and the New Methodists, I really would have had my head in the sand. Croz
Yes, the New Methodists are an obvious Teleni creation, politically-motivated and crudely-constructed, its aim to split the main-stream Methodist Church and swing the majority of church followers behind Bainimarama.
Fortunately, at this very time in its post-independence history, the Methodist Church of Fiji has a strong and moderate leadership, as good as the years of Dr Tuwere.
To their credit, they appear to be attempting to prevent their followers from taking to the barricades, instead focussing on religious goals. Quite properly, they will not submit to Bainimarama's unreasonable demands to sack two of their ministers; but they seem ready to fragment their annual conference into a series of smaller meetings which will still allow the processes of the church to operate in these difficult times.
Their independent stance is annoying to the government, who know that they will never win the hearts and minds of the people when they so brazenly corrupt biblical practices in such phoney institutions as the New Methodist Church.
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