Labour condemns arrest of Methodist leaders, Fiji

24 July 2009 Media Statement
Labour condemns arrest of Methodist leaders in Fiji

Labour Foreign Affairs spokesperson Chris Carter has condemned the arrest of Methodist church leaders in Fiji.

“This is an attack on the freedom of Fijian people and will only further isolate the military rulers from the rest of the world and create more internal friction in Fiji

“The Labour Party appreciates that the Methodist church has been a strong voice in Fiji for human rights and enjoys wide support among the Fijian people,” Chris Carter said.

“This arbitrary move is another example that Commodore Bainimarama’s Government was operating outside of the normal constitutional and legal processes,” Chris Carter said.

“We utterly condemn this latest outrageous move by Fijian military rulers and know that the arrest of, leading chiefs, including Rewa Paramount Chief Ro Teimumu Kepa, will shock many ordinary people in Fiji.

“Since seizing power the Fijian military rulers have continued to try and silence the voice of the people, firstly by ruling out democratic elections before 2014, by censoring the press and now by arresting church leaders and cancelling the Methodist Church’s annual conference.

“We have serious concerns about the continuing erosion of human rights in Fiji,” Chris Carter said.

ENDS