‘I want to lotu and live amongst the stars’ – Joeli Bulu

The illegal junta is getting jittery leading up to next weeks Methodist Church Conference. Leweni's laying down the conditions of the Conference on what they can and cannot do, contradicting the Police Permit already obtained.

I find it ironic, here we have the Military, the lawbreakers who bullied their way into Fiji's politics and removed its lawful elected Government in December 2006, warning Church Ministers from discussing politics during the Conference. How pathetic!

The illegal junta have decreed no laymen or Mata Turaga may attend the Conference, except Church Ministers. I question whether this Bose i Talatala have the full authority to make decisions binding on its members? For instance, the Bose i Talatala usually discussed only matters relating to Ministerial postings, discipline, etc, but needed the full Conference to make decisions with respect to the Church's budget and financial matters, projects, etc.

Also, within the Methodist Church hierarchy, the Vice President position is given to a layperson, so the Vice President in effect is prevented from the attending the Conference this year and this is the first time in the Methodist Church Conference's history, its very own Vice President is prohibited from attending. 

For the Conference to refrain from discussing political issues in my view is a serious dereliction and abdication of its moral responsibilities and pastoral duties. The Church cannot properly fulfill its role as a good Sheppard, if it turns a blind eye to the pain and suffering of its flock and the people of Fiji. The illegal junta in effect is trying to subdue the Methodist Church from discussing its faults and exposing their lies.

I question whether the illegal junta have the guts to stop this mini Conference if a Minister brought up a topic, which they viewed was political? I wonder what would the Conference's response be if a Military Officer walked up to the podium and stopped the Conference?

Will the delegates further humiliate themselves and bow down to their new Baal or stand up for righteousness? I challenge the Methodist Church to stand up to the illegal junta and follow in the footsteps of its trailblazers – Joeli Bulu, Aminio Baledrokadroka & Josua Mateinaniu.

• Tui Savu.
• President. SWM