THE MILITARY VERSION
All Methodist Church members who were at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Nabua on Monday evening went on their own free will and were not forced as reported by the overseas media, says the Land Force Commander, Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga.
“We (the military and the church) have been having continuous meetings at the military camp because we do not have to pay for the use of the facility,” he said.
“There has been a lot of give and takes in our meetings up there to clarify and discuss the agendas and consultations on issues by both parties.”
Col Tikoitoga added that Monday (August 22) was the last meeting and vehicles were provided to help Methodist ministers get to the venue on time.
“That is the reason a vehicle with officers from Nabua was sent to pick up Reverend Josateki Koroi who lives in Navua and also to seek a wider range of opinions from non-serving ministers,” Col Tikoitoga said.
“The soldiers picked up a police officer from Navua to accompany them to Rev Koroi’s residence, He was asked politely to be part of the meeting, which he hesitated. They asked again and he declined so the officers returned
“At no point, did soldiers force the Methodist Church hierarchy into the car to be taken to camp.”
The Land Force Commander also refuted overseas media reports that the military personnel had seized ministers, adding that no church minister was detained because all had left after the meeting.
Ministry of Information permanent secretary Ms Sharon Smith – Johns questioned the integrity of overseas media reports saying the issues should have either been verified with a government representative or the military.
“The part that hits Fiji most is that there is no verification of the subject. I am always available by phone even odd hours and anybody can just call and verify,” she said.
THE COUP FOUR AND A HALF VERSION
A former president of the Methodist Church last night refused to go to the Queen Elizabeth Barracks with military soldiers who turned up at his Suva house.
After yesterday cancelling the Methodist Church conference, Frank Bainimarama's henchmen tried to take retired Methodist Church president, Reverend Josateki Koroi, to QEB.
No one was ever taken by force
“We (the military and the church) have been having continuous meetings at the military camp because we do not have to pay for the use of the facility,” he said.
“There has been a lot of give and takes in our meetings up there to clarify and discuss the agendas and consultations on issues by both parties.”
Col Tikoitoga added that Monday (August 22) was the last meeting and vehicles were provided to help Methodist ministers get to the venue on time.
“That is the reason a vehicle with officers from Nabua was sent to pick up Reverend Josateki Koroi who lives in Navua and also to seek a wider range of opinions from non-serving ministers,” Col Tikoitoga said.
“The soldiers picked up a police officer from Navua to accompany them to Rev Koroi’s residence, He was asked politely to be part of the meeting, which he hesitated. They asked again and he declined so the officers returned
“At no point, did soldiers force the Methodist Church hierarchy into the car to be taken to camp.”
The Land Force Commander also refuted overseas media reports that the military personnel had seized ministers, adding that no church minister was detained because all had left after the meeting.
Ministry of Information permanent secretary Ms Sharon Smith – Johns questioned the integrity of overseas media reports saying the issues should have either been verified with a government representative or the military.
“The part that hits Fiji most is that there is no verification of the subject. I am always available by phone even odd hours and anybody can just call and verify,” she said.
THE COUP FOUR AND A HALF VERSION
Retired Methodist Church Minister stands his ground telling soldiers: "Shoot Me First"
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| EMPTY: Centenary Church was to have been busy today with the Methodist Conference. |
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| REV KOROI |
After yesterday cancelling the Methodist Church conference, Frank Bainimarama's henchmen tried to take retired Methodist Church president, Reverend Josateki Koroi, to QEB.
Rev Koroi told Coupfourpointfive early this morning that he returned home at about 8 o'clock last night to find an army truck parked at his house, with two soldiers and a policeman inside the vehicle. He says one of the soldiers was a Lance Corporal but he couldn't make out the rank of the second one who remained in the dark and on the phone with someone from the barracks.
The former military chaplain says the policeman spoke to him first, telling him the Army Commander, Bainimarama, wanted to see him. He told him other senior ministers from the Church were already at QEB waiting for him and they "can't finish talks" until he joins them.
The retired minister says he refused to go telling them "It's late at night" and he had had a long day.
He says he told them the only way they were going to get him to camp was if they bundled up his feet and forced him physically or "shoot me and take my dead body".
Rev Koroi says the soldiers and the police kept pressuring him to accompany them, so he told them to call the Commander so he could speak to him but they refused.
The trio finally left when it was clear the Reverend was not going to listen to them.
Rev Koroi recently wrote a paper detailing why Christians should be involved in Politics in Fiji and suspects Bainimarama wanted to talk to him about it as well as the conference.
He says if he is visited again today by military soldiers and police he will repeat his message from last night: and that is that only way they will get him to the barracks is to shoot him and take his body.
It has also been reported that Rev Manasa Lasaro was taken to QEB. Rev Lasaro has confirmed to Coupfourpointfive that is not the case and that he hasn't heard of any other minister being hauled in either.
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