Archbishop David Moxon, and Bishops Brown Turei and Winston Halapua say the church is trying to keep open the lines of communication with the present Fijian administration.

Archbishop Moxon says all issues considered at the Synod, including Fiji governance, will be given the same kind of respect and honour that was shown when Synod members were welcomed on Friday.

He said the Synod will encourage and pray for the journey, that is underway, to free elections and democratic governance in Fiji.

Strict guidelines from the Fijian military regime meant permits had to be obtained to hold the synod, which will run from 7th to 12th July at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi. 160 senior church members, from New Zealand and elsewhere in the Pacific, are attending it .

The General Synod is the main forum for discussion and decision making in the Anglican Church and it meets every two years. It has not visited Polynesia since 1990.

The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, is a constitutionally autonomous member of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia encompasses the area described by its title. The 1992 Constitution of this Church provides for three partners to order their affairs within their own cultural context. Within Aotearoa New Zealand, Tikanga Pakeha comprises seven Dioceses, Tikanga Maori comprises five Hui Amorangi, the boundaries of which differ from those of the dioceses. Tikanga Pasefika encompasses Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands, and is known as the Diocese of Polynesia.

Source

• Scoop
• Scoop
• Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
• Image: Anglicantaonga

Mr McCully today thanked the Fiji administration for its agreement to the MCG visit.

"This visit will enable the MCG to resume direct dialogue with Fiji after a significant interval," Mr McCully said.

"New Zealand as Forum Chair has placed high importance on the maintenance of dialogue and engagement with Fiji.

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He told the Assemby that the Fiji government is removing electoral provisions that were based on race because it has clearly divided the people over the years.

Speaking in New York on Friday, Commodore Bainimarama said Fiji has a history of racial discrimination and until 2009, the Fiji constitution created a parliament which preserved communal seats where a voter could only vote if he or she came from the same racial group as the candidate.

He said ethnicity was also a distinguishing feature to access services, housing, education and political favors.

He said these features of racism resulted in a lack of unity, a culture which was undemocratic and led to the growth of nationalistic violence in the society.

The Prime Minister told the UN delegates that for a hundred years, the different ethnic groups in Fiji were unable to call themselves "Fijian", because this was a term reserved for the indigenous population.

He said citizens were born in Fiji, carried Fiji passports, they were called "Fijian" in every other part of the world, yet they could not call themselves "Fijian" in Fiji.

Commodore Bainimarama said the government has changed that now and every citizen can call themselves "Fijian" with no fear of reprisal.

He also highlighted the abolishing of race based school names.

"We believe that only by doing so will we be able to achieve harmonious and fair societies that will be able to focus on economic empowerment and equal opportunities for all regardless of race or creed," he said

Source

• FijiVillage.com
• Image: UN News Centre

The poll - commissioned by the independent Australian think tank, the Lowy Institute - reveals that Bainimarama enjoys the support of 66 per cent of Fijians, with 39 per cent of those questioned strongly supporting the premise that he's doing a good job as prime minister.

Click here to see full report

Source

Grubsheet
Image: The Lowy Institute

The military banned the church's meeting for the third year in a row because the church leaders would not comply with orders to stand down.

The General Secretary of the Church Reverend Tevita Banivanua says being able to hold its conference, even under scrutiny and on a reduced timetable, is a step forward for freedom and its relations with the interim government.

The Republic of the Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) has warned the Church not to deviate from the initial agenda agreed by Prime Minister

This warning came after the RFMF was reliably informed of plans to utilize the Methodist Church Annual Conference as a place to instigate instability

The Church has assured government it will not use the church conference to discuss political matters. Banivanua says government observers are likely to be there to ensure church leaders stick to the agenda and avoid discussing politics

Assistant general secretary, Reverend Tevita Nawadra said " I have personally given warnings to members that we will not entertain any political talk at the Methodist Church Conference."

The conference will be held at the Centenary Church in Suva from August 23-25.

Source

• Radio New Zealand International
• Fiji Live
• Pacific Island Report
• Image: Fiji Times Online