Church, indigenous bodies urged to reject future coups

Fiji's religious and indigenous institutions must reject any future coups carried out in their name, a former journalist urged. Joe Nata told the Constitutional Review Commission that past unlawful takeovers were wrongly justified using religious and indigenous interests. He implored traditional and religious leaders not to support any future illegal government takeovers.

"The Methodist church and indigenous institution should never again support a coup supposedly done in their name," Nata stated. "All the coups that were supposedly done in their name were based on lies, on reasons of self-grandeur, opportunism, and, very generally."

Nata advocated for removing immunity for future coup plotters to deter unlawful takeovers. He stressed that ending Fiji's coup culture demands accountability and a commitment from all institutions to uphold democracy. RFMF Commander Ro Jone Kalouniwai echoed this sentiment, asserting that the nation cannot achieve true stability by protecting past actions.

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The Methodist church and indigenous institution should never again support a coup supposedly done in their name. All the coups that were supposedly done in their name were based on lies, on reasons of self-grandeur, opportunism, and, very generally. I say to the iTaukei, I say to the churches, nothing replaces an old-fashioned outlook.