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Military–church relations in Fiji

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140: 687: 1107:, 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. 22: 973:
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
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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
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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.
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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.
470: 1121: 822: 43: 790: 864: 859: 785: 768: 648: 94: 1116: 940: 914: 800: 66: 594: 73: 1045:"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." 349: 943:, which the Military strongly opposes. The Bill seeks to establish Commission empowered to compensate victims and pardon perpetrators of the 849: 506: 974:
national interest, and to change churches if their minister's views conflicted with those of the military. He also asserted that if Fijian
80: 932: 493: 489: 475: 344: 62: 888: 734: 328: 113: 1141: 928: 555: 706: 224: 869: 641: 182: 47: 1084:"I have spoken with the military chaplain and told him to inform the military not to make such comments against the church." 739: 1006:"To do so is a breach of an individual's constitutional right to express their faith by joining a church of their choice." 944: 907: 879: 815: 758: 778: 621: 404: 399: 394: 389: 384: 379: 374: 369: 364: 359: 354: 339: 87: 810: 584: 445: 440: 686: 939:
belong. Relations became strained in 2005, however, over the church's support for the government's controversial
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strongly rebuked him for calling on soldiers to switch churches if their minister preached against the army.
589: 575: 570: 432: 291: 51: 36: 1101: 1002:"No leader in his right frame of mind urges his people to change their churches simply because of a Bill," 950: 720: 606: 545: 195: 280: 275: 1053: 966: 773: 160: 997: 1080:"He is not only speaking about the people in the church but also about the God which we all serve," 565: 511: 1063: 296: 255: 249: 188: 1071: 1008:
He accused Bainimarama of lacking wisdom and respect, the true foundation of sound leadership.
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belong, that their support for the Unity Bill would jeopardize their right to supply
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were giving wrong advice to their people, the military had a duty to correct them.
560: 1036: 284: 21: 1091:"We support reconciliation and the comments (Bainimarama's) would not do it," 1060: 1086:
He said the threat was unprecedented and he could not have imagined it.
1095:"I advise the commander not to vent his anger in such public comments." 1021: 982: 936: 990:"courageous, strong, and ... a saviour of Fiji in this time of need." 975: 970: 15: 1074:, the General Secretary of the Methodist Church, said he was 1089:
Tugawe reiterated the church's support for the Unity Bill:
1012:"Chaplains supporting the bill not welcome" - Bainimarama 471:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
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Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill (main article)
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On 1 October 2005, Commodore Bainimarama warned the
1041:"We will not be soft when it comes to the bill," 908: 642: 8: 50:. Unsourced material may be challenged and 1078:at the Commander's attack on the church. 915: 901: 660: 649: 635: 125: 114:Learn how and when to remove this message 949:which deposed the elected government of 878: 848: 799: 757: 719: 693: 674: 663: 128: 7: 1059:Assemblies of God General Secretary 48:adding citations to reliable sources 941:Reconciliation and Unity Commission 63:"Military–church relations in Fiji" 1137:International reaction to the bill 801:Proposed Reconciliation Commission 14: 1132:Military-church relations in Fiji 1142:Church involvement in Fiji coups 929:Republic of Fiji Military Forces 685: 138: 20: 1127:Military opposition to the bill 1122:Qualified positions on the bill 1028:to Fijian soldiers performing 1020:, to which some two-thirds of 935:, to which some two-thirds of 1: 1048:chaplaincy roles and recruit 965:In an Infantry Day speech at 889:Constitutional crisis of 2009 735:Constitutional crisis of 1977 707:The rise and fall of Cakobau 333:Post-independence elections 1178: 745:Military–church relations 556:House of Representatives 225:Leader of the Opposition 1070:On 2 October, Reverend 590:Great Council of Chiefs 840:International reaction 490:Diplomatic missions of 981:Land Force Commander 1004:he said on 29 June. 44:improve this article 1056:ministers instead. 988:called Bainimarama 850:Crisis of 2005–2006 828:Military opposition 823:Qualified positions 585:Legislative Council 524:Former and informal 1022:indigenous Fijians 961:Infantry Day, 2005 937:indigenous Fijians 835:Religious reaction 256:Naiqama Lalabalavu 189:Wiliame Katonivere 1054:All Nation Church 1050:Assemblies of God 955:Mahendra Chaudhry 925: 924: 779:Ratu Mara resigns 750:COVID-19 pandemic 702:Discovery of Fiji 659: 658: 551:Executive Council 507:Visa requirements 464:Foreign relations 329:Political parties 124: 123: 116: 98: 1169: 1162:Military of Fiji 1076:"in total shock" 1018:Methodist Church 994:Methodist Church 986:Ioane Naivalurua 967:Mount Nakobalevu 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665:Part of 595:Chairman 576:National 571:Communal 536:Governor 531:Monarchy 502:Passport 476:Minister 350:Sep 1977 345:Mar 1977 1102:Captain 983:Colonel 494:in Fiji 431:Recent 208:Cabinet 161:History 88:scholar 52:removed 37:sources 976:chiefs 786:Trials 669:on the 602:Senate 322:Voting 90:  83:  76:  69:  61:  95:JSTOR 81:books 992:But 971:Suva 927:The 678:Fiji 566:Open 446:2005 441:2002 406:Next 400:2022 395:2018 390:2014 385:2006 380:2001 375:1999 370:1994 365:1992 360:1987 355:1982 340:1972 183:list 67:news 35:any 33:cite 1052:or 1039:. 46:by 1158:: 953:, 492:/ 478:: 283:: 185:) 916:e 909:t 902:v 650:e 643:t 636:v 181:( 117:) 111:( 106:) 102:( 92:· 85:· 78:· 71:· 54:. 40:.

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Politics of Fiji

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