OCEANIA/ISOLE FIJI - Archbishop urges Catholics to pray and fast over the constitutional crisis and coup

Suva (Agenzia Fides) - Catholic Archbishop Petero Mataca has called on Catholics throughout the Fiji Islands to pray and fast over the constitutional crisis and coup presently underway in the Pacific island state. The military coup to oust premier Laisenia Qarase was led by army chief Commodore Frank Bainimarama.
At this moment of crisis the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Fiji called for prayer and fasting to stop the impasse and restore the rule of law.
Archbishop Maraca had previously criticised government policies, including its proposal to establish a Reconciliation and Unity Commission with the power, subject to presidential approval, to compensate victims and pardon perpetrators of the coup that deposed the elected government of prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry in 2000. “The coup cycle would continue unless those involved faced the consequences of their crimes”, the Archbishop.
Tension has been high in the Islands for the past few weeks and many feared another outbreak of violence. Yesterday 5 December army chief Commodore Frank Bainimarama announced that he had deposed the government of Laisenia Qarase and appointed a new prime minister and a government of transition. Local sources say the coup caused no bloodshed. Bainimarama, who had accused the ousted premier of corruption, also declared a state of emergency, called for calm, and said elections would be held at a date to be established.
The Fiji Muslim League also appealed to leaders for good sense to prevail in resolving the impasse between the military and the government. The coup was the fourth in Fiji in twenty years. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 6/12/2006 righe 27 parole 267)