3 Apr 2006

Fiji Methodist Church supports Army Commander

6:14 pm on 3 April 2006

Fiji's powerful Methodist Church has come out in full support of the military and its commander, Commodore Bainimarama.

Radio Legend says this public show of support has been expressed by the general secretary of the Methodist Church, the Rev Ame Tugaue.

It comes after calls by the assistant general secretary of the church, the Rev Tuikilakila Waqairatu, for Commodore Bainimarama to resign or be disciplined by the president.

The Rev Tugaue says there is a good relationship between the Methodist Church and the military commander and the calls by the Rev Waqairatu are not those of the church.

He says if the church were to call for the commander's resignation, it would have to seek the views of all its members.

Meanwhile, six Methodist Church ministers employed as army chaplains have all pledged their support for Commodore Bainimarama and vowed to stand by him.