Sunday, 06 December 2009
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Appeal to the Vatican in Rome for Human Rights Breach Against Methodist Church and Ro Teimumu Kepa
AUSTRALIA'S ambassador to the Vatican, Tim Fischer, will raise the plight of 10 Fijians for whom he has been lobbying in Rome when he addresses the Parliament of the World's Religions tomorrow.
The former deputy prime minister said the group known as "the nine plus one" "nine Methodists and a Catholic" were arrested earlier this year by the military regime led by Frank Bainimarama.
"Their alleged offence was daring to hold an annual meeting of the Methodist Church of Fiji and, in the case of the Roman Catholic leader, daring to host the conference at a venue in her district," Mr Fischer said.
He told The Age that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Foreign Minister Stephen Smith were most concerned. He said the 10 had been bailed, apparently unharmed, but under the most stringent conditions.
Government forces also broke up another Methodist church worship service last month.
Mr Fischer said the Bainimarama Government was trying to maintain strict control, and saw the Methodists as a possible vehicle for protest and a measure of organisation against the regime.
"It is now known that an attempt has been made to create a new official 'Patriotic' Methodist Church," he said.
He said he had been working with the Methodist Centre in Rome, led by the Reverend Trevor Hoggard, and had liaised closely with the Holy See, but could not reveal whom he had spoken to or what was said.
Mr Fischer said he had been working on diverse issues in Rome, including religious freedom, interfaith dialogue, food security and modern-day piracy.
The Age 12-05-09
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