Wednesday, August 14, 2013

An interview on Radio National about the Fiji Methodist Church

from w
I don't think this interview really says much - Hill does not understand the intricacies of how the Fiji Methodist Church is integrated into the Fijian vanua, but still holds the rest of the Fiji community with respect. The ethnic division has been over-emphasied by Hill. What happened twenty-six years ago - that's an old story. The tensions with the current government are not about that, but the wariness of criticism. The heading here is rather misleading. However it is a good thing that Rev Josateki will be involved though it's been rather tardy. Rev Dr Sevati Tuwere will be in Fiji also which is excellent. In my view a concentration on the spiritual (without the social justice emphasis on the Kingdom of God) isn't enough.

Fiji Methodists seek harmony between rival factions

Updated 14 August 2013, 19:09 AEST

Fiji's influential Methodist Church says it's preparing itself for the future by trying to bring it's two rival factions together.

Fijian nationalists dominated the church in the 1980s, leading to the imposition of Christian laws on non-Christians after the 1987 coups, but there is also a strong faction that wants to concentrate on faith matters rather than ethnic politics.

There have been serious tensions between the Methodist Church and the coup installed military government of Commodore Frank Bainimarama since the 2006 coup.

But as deputy general secretary Reverend Tevita Banivanua explains to Bruce Hill, the church is concentrating on its own internal renewal at the moment.

Presenter: Bruce Hill

Speaker: Fiji Methodist church deputy general secretary Reverend Tevita Banivanua

BAINVANUA: The Methodist Church was divided into two different factions in the late 80's, when Lasaro and Koroi had that difficulty eh. We are trying to bring the two factions together, so that Josateki Koroi and the immediate past president who normally does these things will join together in inducting the new president as a sign that there is unity within the church and then we will take it on from there to move into reconciliation like washing of feet and all this next year as we celebrate the 50th. anniversary of our conference.

HILL: For the benefit of our listeners who aren't familiar with the history of the church in Fiji. You're referring here to the split between Fijian-ethno nationalists in the church who were very prominent in the late 1980s and in the aftermath of the 1987 coup. It was pretty clear that the Methodist Church as a whole supported that coup and was doing activities that were seen as being aimed at Indo-Fijians, in particular, and many people have said well, look if the church is getting a few problems from the interim government at the moment, the church kind of deserves it?

BAINVANUA: Yes, that was how it looked to the general public eh. But it was more than that. All we're trying to do now is to mend the broken net of the church as a whole.

HILL: Do you think that can be done that the ethno-Nationalists stream in the church and the more universalist, more religiously centred stream can come together and work together?

BAINVANUA: As you notice Bruce, we're trying now our very best. I think we are successful so far and the move forward now to have a united or connectional plan that we will be working together in and all the other programs and projects that we are trying to do together here are all goes well for the future of the Methodist Church.

HILL: What about relations with other Christian churches and, indeed, interfaith relations with other religions in Fiji?

BAINVANUA: That is part and parcel of our national plan eh and the faith, so we will continue to pursue that line so the reconciliation process will start from within and then we'll move into those areas.

HILL: What kind of a church does the Fiji Methodist Church want to become, as opposed to where it is now. It's been identified with a strong stream of ethnic Fijian identity. But from what you're saying, it seems like the church wants to focus inwards and become a bit more of a church than just a representative of one ethnic group?

BAINVANUA: Yes, ah, I'm sorry to say that our involvement then was more ethnicity area. So we just want to become the church of Jesus, the church of the New Testament, the church of the Bible. So our president, he's been emphasising that and picking up the bible as the main stage within the church, rather than culture and all these other areas, which are important as well. But I know sometimes they determine what the church does.

Now, we are trying to refocus and go back into the roots of the church as in the New Testament and in the Bible.

HILL; What about the churches political role today. You have rather famously got into some arguments with the interim government since the 2006 coup. What's your attitude towards that now?

BAINVANUA: The government has that idea behind them, because they think the church now is the same church as then. So we're trying to show them that no, this is a different church. We are moving into a different area now and they should trust us and work with us and we work with them.

HILL: They don't necessarily trust you, because the police, I understand, have to look at your agenda before you have the conference and approve it first, which is kind of unusual for a church, isn't it?

BAINVANUA: Yeah, and they came here, because this is a military government and these little things are part and parcel of their strategy. So whether we can say that they trust us or not, we hope that they do eh, because in all that we are doing, we are just trying to help them to trust us more, because we are not enemies of Fiji.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Descendants of Solomon Islanders in Fiji

from w
There are a few small settlements in Fiji of the descendants of Solomon Islanders who were brought to Fiji over a hundred years ago in the awful days of 'blackbirding'. One such settlement is not far out of Labasa town. They now have integated into the Fijian society and speak Fijian and remnants of their own language. There's an article about them in the Fiji Times.

The stolen people of the Pacific

Avinesh Gopal
Tuesday, August 13, 2013

IT is something similar to the indentured labour system.

The only difference is the places where people were picked from to work as labourers in Fiji.

For many people, the term "blackbirding" would be just another word like the thousands of words in a dictionary.

However, for those from some Pacific Island countries such as the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to name a few, blackbirding brings alive a pain of the past.

Like the indentured labour system or girmit as it is commonly known, blackbirding also has historical links to certain groups of people living in Fiji.

The present generation of Fijians of Indian descent living either in Fiji or overseas have their historical links to the girmit.

Similarly, a certain percentage of the Fijian population has links to blackbirding.

According to the free encyclopaedia Wikipedia, blackbirding is the recruitment of people through trickery and kidnapping to work as labourers.

From the 1860s, blackbirding ships were engaged in seeking workers to mine the guano deposits on the Chincha Islands in Peru.

In the 1870s, the blackbirding trade focused on supplying labourers to plantations, particularly the sugar cane fields in Queensland, Australia and Fiji.

The first documented practice occurred between 1842 and 1904.

Story has it that people were also sold as slaves in Levuka in the early 1870s for 30 pounds per person, during the cotton trading days.

History books say those "blackbirded" were recruited from the indigenous populations of nearby Pacific islands or northern Queensland.

According to Wikipedia, the blackbirding era began in Fiji in 1865 when labourers from New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) and Solomon Islands arrived in Fiji to work on cotton plantations.

Cotton had become scarce and potentially an extremely profitable business when the American civil war blocked most cotton exports from the southern United States.

"Since Fijians were not interested in regular sustained labour, the thousands of European planters who flocked to Fiji sought labour from the Melanesian islands," according to the Wikipedia.

On July 5, 1865, one Ben Pease received the first licence to provide 40 labourers from the New Hebrides to Fiji.

Furthermore, the free encyclopaedia says attempts were made by the British and Queensland governments to regulate this transportation of labour.

Melanesian labourers were to be recruited for three years, paid three pounds per year, issued with basic clothing and given access to the company store for supplies.

"Despite this, most Melanesians were recruited by deceit, usually being enticed aboard ships with gifts and then locked up," says the Wikipedia.

"The living and working conditions in Fiji were even worse than those suffered by the later Indian indentured labourers.

"In 1875, the chief medical officer in Fiji, Sir William MacGregor, listed a mortality rate of 540 out of every 1000 labourers."

The Wikipedia says that after the expiry of the three-year contract, the labourers were required to be transported back to their villages but most ship captains dropped them off at the first island they sighted off the Fiji waters.

It says the British sent warships to enforce the then law — Pacific Islanders Protection Act of 1872 — but only a small proportion of the culprits were prosecuted.

A notorious incident of the blackbirding trade was the 1871 voyage of the brig Carl that was organised by Dr James Patrick Murray to recruit labourers to work in the plantations of Fiji.

Dr Murray had his men reverse their collars and carry black books, so to appear to be missionaries, the Wikipedia says.

When islanders were enticed to congregate, Murray and his men would produce guns and force the islanders onto boats. During the voyage, Murray shot about 60 islanders.

The Wikipedia says Murray was never brought to trial for his actions as he was allowed to escape trial by giving evidence against crew members. The captain of the Carl, Joseph Armstrong, was later sentenced to death.

"With the arrival of Indian indentured labourers in Fiji from 1879, the number of Melanesian labourers decreased but they were still being recruited and employed, off the plantations in sugar mills and ports, until the start of the First World War.

"Most of the Melanesians recruited were males. After the recruitment ended, those who chose to stay in Fiji took Fijian wives and settled in areas around Suva.

"Their descendants still remain a distinct community but their language and culture cannot be distinguished from native Fijians," says the Wikipedia.

According to reports, indentured labourers from India and labourers from Melanesia continued to be recruited until the end of the labour trade in 1914.

Some of the Melanesian labourers, mostly from the Solomon Islands, made Fiji their home after the end of their three-year contract, and at the end of the labour trade in 1914.

Their descendants are living in various places in and around Suva while some are residing in two settlements outside Lautoka City.

Most of them have blended in well with the local iTaukei population, with some even speaking the language and enjoying the same lifestyle.

Some descendants of the Melanesians brought to Fiji have gone to great lengths to trace their roots, some as far as the other corners of the world.

On the other hand, the third or fourth generation of those brought to Fiji as slaves from Melanesian countries and India may not have the slightest idea of their historical links — their roots

Thursday, August 08, 2013

Good will towards the Muslims

from w
It is a very good sign of good will when the Methodist Church of Fiji officials send a greeting to the Muslim community who are celebrating one of their most important annual festivals, that of Eid. One of my favourite sweets is given to friends and neighbours at this time - sawai though I'm not sure of the spelling.
from the Fiji Times today:

Methodists wish well

Tevita Vuibau
Friday, August 09, 2013

THE Methodist Church in Fiji has shared in the festival of Eid with a message of solidarity between faiths.

The message comes as the Islamic faith celebrates Eid ul-Fitr, the festival of the breaking of the fast marking the end of Ramadan.

Methodist Church general secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra Banivanua said Fiji was a country with diverse ethnic, cultural and religious communities and part of the Christian practice of loving one's neighbour meant not only being in solidarity with them during times of difficulty but also celebrating special occasions.

"Loving your neighbour means living in mutual respect of each," Mr Banivanua said.

"While we recognise fundamental differences in faith on issues such as salvation, we acknowledge our inherent connection of the so-called Abrahamic faiths of Judaism and Islam with Christianity.

"The deep spiritual significance of Ramadan as a month of prayer, fasting and alms-giving as part of spiritual renewal for the Muslim community echoes the Christian's spiritual journey during Lent, the 40-day period leading up to Holy Week and Easter.
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Hospitality is essential in most religions and the sharing of the sweet that we call sawai in Fiji is an example. Here is a recipe that looks similar to the one I used to enjoy.

Vermicelli Kheer / Seviyan Kheer

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

20 mins

vermicelli kheer – a delicious sweet pudding from india

Author: dassana

Recipe Type: dessert

Serves: 2-3

Ingredients

1 or 1.5 cups broken vermicelli
500 ml milk
3 tbsp sugar – add more or less for your preferred sweetness
2 tbsp ghee/clarified butter
4-5 green cardamom pods
3-4 cloves
7-8 roasted or fried unsalted almonds, chopped or
7-8 roasted or fried unsalted cashew nuts, chopped
2 tsp raisins or
any dry fruits of your choice

Instructions

Heat ghee in a pan.
Fry the cloves and cardamom till the release their aroma in the ghee.
Now add the vermicelli and fry till they become golden brown.
Pour the milk and let it come to a boil.
Add sugar and mix well.
Lower the flame and let the milk simmer for 5-7 minutes till the vermicelli gets cooked and the milk thickens a little.
Lastly add chopped almonds or any dry fruits.
Serve hot, warm or cold.
If serving chilled, then refrigerate and then serve later.

Sunday, August 04, 2013

Baker Hall needs renovating

from Peceli
I read a story about Baker Hall in today's Fiji Times and it's a shame that Baker Hall has deteriorated to such an extent. It does need attention so the plan is for a soli from all over Fiji to help pay for it. I know Baker Hall well - as a student in Davuilevu at the Bible School and Vuli Talatala and at various other times. It's not only Baker Hall that we have to think about, but the face of Davuilevu needs attention. There is a lot of empty land that can be developed and the road maintenance and a house for visiting talatalas and vakatawas. Is Baker Hall suitable for modern day purposes or do they need another large modern hall? Is there a memorial building/church in the place where Rev Baker actually died in Navatusila, Navosa. I lived up in that region as my first appointment as a talatala. There's a song about Thomas Baker that goes 'Isa oilei o Navosa, isa oilei o Navosa.'

Prayers for Baker Hall

Solomoni Biumaiono
Sunday, August 04, 2013

Davuilevu theological student Avavira Waqa Makasiale knelt down on the second floor of the imposing tower of the Baker Hall with his elbow resting on the window ledge.

The pine trees outside singing to the strong Rewa River breeze breaking the hallowed silence of Avavira's prayerful meditation.

Above his head wasps hovered, curiously eyeing Avavira like an intruder, buzzing loudly to make their presence known.

In fact these wasps have claimed Baker Hall as their own, as the years of neglect and the ravages of time has allowed nature to reclaim parts of this building.

The hall is named after martyred missionary Reverend Thomas Baker who was killed by cannibals of Navatusila Village in 1867.

The hill where the hall sits was the site of Mr Baker's homestead and his mission home, as the Methodist Church had its headquarters in Navuloa, at the Kaba Peninsula.

Wasp nests cradle the roof overhang and they have even invaded the ceiling, making it their home.

The debilitating state of the building is clearly visible upon close inspection as the guttering now sags, window panes missing, moss carpeting parts of the roof, benches are in need of repair and the wooden floors creak.

Baker Hall officially opened in 1913. This year marks the 100 year anniversary, and the Methodist Church wants to renovate and restore this 100-year-old building which played a huge part in it's beginnings.

Church general secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra had previously mentioned that the church had saved some funds to renovate Baker Hall but added that they were looking at raising more funds to restore the building to its former splendour.

One plan that the church had come up with was to raise the funds through a choir competition to be held alongside its annual Bose Ko Viti meeting this year, but this had to be shelved after they were denied the permit to do so.

Baker Hall, one of the church's historical buildings, needs urgent repairs and money hoped to have been raised at the conference was meant for it.

The plan to restore Baker Hall falls in neatly with the church's preparation to celebrate its golden jubilee celebration next year when it gained independence from the Australian Methodist Church.

The church is now forced to find other ways to raise money to renovate Baker Hall.

Mr Nawadra said Baker Hall was considered an historical building because it was the site of the first teaching school in Fiji and also the first technical college.

When Baker Hall was built and opened, it was the tallest building of its time.

The institution's history showed that the hall was built with concrete blocks created by students from the nearby Rewa River by the Davuilevu Theological College students.

Much of the work was done through sheer manpower as there were no machines back then and it was hard work, but the hall was completed and opened on the 14th of October 1913, at the cost of £51, 125.

According to a book, Light on the hill — To commemorate the 100 years of the church in Fiji taken from the church's records, the church's historian described the work done by the students: "They not merely carried the hod, levelled hills and dug trenches, but made the concrete brisks on which the imposing structures is built and done much of the carpentry. They walked in as proud owners and were at once, the hosts and the guests of the great institution."

An account from Light on the hill described the day Baker Hall was officially opened which depicted the scene as one of the significant events to be held in Fiji.

"From the mountains came the sons of the people who had killed and eaten the man whose name their children now delight to honour. Men from rivers and valleys seldom visited by white men. Men from proud Bau whose fathers not very long ago ruled parts of Fiji with an iron hand. Men of Tongan descent from the distant Lau Group, the men of very mixed blood from the far away isle of Rotuma, men of darker hue from Ba. Women, old and young with children in arm and others clinging to their dresses all with one purpose in view and laden with food and fruit for the feast. Chatting, laughing and frolicking, they swarmed over the place had not their sons laboured to build this brand new college, call it a Vakananumi kei Misi Peka, Baker Memorial.

"Chiefs of high degree, Roko Tuis, governors of provinces, native magistrates and police, ladies of rank, who sent their servants beforehand to instruct their hosts of how they will be lodged and entertained. A large number of leading whites, missionaries and their wives and to crown all the genial and gentlemanly representative of His Majesty King George, Sir Wickham Sweet Escott governor of Fiji and the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific.

"The Church hierarchy was also present with Rev. A.J. Small (chairman of the Fiji District); the Bishop of Polynesia; Dr Youngman (ex-president of the General Conference); Rev. B. Danks (general secretary of Missions); Hon. H. M. Scott K.C.; Hon. J.M. Hedstrom; Rev. C.O Lelean(secretary of synod); Rev. W. Deane and the then principal of Davuilevu Theological College Rev. W.E. Bennett."

The historical account provided by the church also said that the descendants of the people who killed Rev. Baker were also present at the opening of the hall.

"In the course of the afternoon three tambuas (whales' teeth) were presented to the people who had killed Mr Baker and his party. These people feel acutely the deed of their fathers, and when in 1885 Rev. A.J. Small visited their district, he administered the right of baptism to five adult male natives on the spot where Mr Baker fell, two of whom, 18 years before, had taken part in the tragedy.

"The village had long before this been abandoned and the oven in which the body was cooked was closed and never again used, and finally a house was built upon its site."

It was said with its solid appearance and its imposing tower, Baker Hall dominates the whole Davuilevu estate and as it was aptly described —"It is an imposing and spacious structure, well worthy of the name it bears, and the purpose it is intended to serve. It is the centre from which will radiate throughout Fiji that light, ever yet seen on sea or land, but which lightens and beautifies the world of thought and action, for here will future generations of Methodist ministers find full equipment

Saturday, August 03, 2013

Australia and Nauru

from w
It is unbelievable that Rudd (representing Australia) expects little Nauru to resettle asylum seekers by offering a bribe to Nauru. How can he sleep at night?

Nauru signs asylum deal

Date: August 4, 2013

Cameron Atfield, Chris Johnson and Daniel Flitton

Kevin Rudd signs a memorandum with President of the Republic of Nauru, Baron Waqa, regarding asylum seekers who will be processed and settled on the Pacific Island nation. Photo: Michelle Smith

As Kevin Rudd kept the nation guessing on an election date, the federal government struck a deal with Nauru that will see the tiny Pacific island nation process and settle children and family groups who arrive by boat seeking asylum in Australia.

And Labor hinted there might be more asylum-seeker deals soon struck with other nations in the region.

In Canberra, VIP jets lined up to fly both party leaders and media packs around the nation in an election campaign expected to start on Sunday, but it seemed Mr Rudd, announcing the Nauru deal in Brisbane, wanted to leave his options open.

Appearing with Nauru President Baron Waqa - after signing a deal ''parallel'' to the $1.1 billion agreement struck with Papua New Guinea last month - Mr Rudd said he had been ''busy in the business of government'' and had not decided on a date. Mr Rudd said it was his intention to attend the G20 leaders' summit in St Petersburg, Russia, on September 5 and 6. That would likely rule out a speculated September 7 election.

Mr Rudd and Mr Waqa signed a memorandum of understanding that will make the 21-square-kilometre Pacific nation - home to about 10,000 inhabitants - a major destination for asylum seekers.

Mr Rudd said he was aware of Nauru's size - it is the smallest country in the United Nations - but said the number of refugees settled there would be up to the Pacific island.

As part of the deal, Nauru will receive $29.9 million in aid plus $17 million to refurbish the nation's prison, which is severely overcrowded following last month's riots.

''It's all about sending a very clear message back to the people smugglers, and we're banging that message through loud and clear.''

As a result of the riot, Immigration Minister Tony Burke said, no single males would be settled in Nauru as part of the deal.

''The priority there will be groups involving children, whether it's unaccompanied minors or family groups,'' he said. ''It's quite reasonable for the government of Nauru, given the incident more than a week ago, that they are more comfortable taking groups that involve children than they are taking single adult males.''

Mr Burke hinted further deals with regional nations could yet be

announced. ''[More announcements] will depend on decisions made by other countries. I'm prepared to say there are other countries who have raised this with us as well,'' he said.

Nauruans had a mixed reaction to the news. ''For me, it's a bad idea because Nauru is a very small island,'' said Angeline Dick, 21. ''I think it is already overpopulated and if they bring in a lot there won't be enough land.'' But Ms Dick said if the people to be settled were families and children that would be better.

At present only men are detained on the island and the riot just over a fortnight ago by 119 of the 541 asylum seekers has left many locals angry and suspicious. The prospect of permanent refugee settlements worries some.

''It depends what kind of people they are,'' said DJ Brechtefeld. ''After seeing the riot, you don't know. If they [the government] trust them, it should be OK. But where would they stay? Will they build some place for them?''

Australia has already funded two camps for asylum seekers in what is known as ''Topside'', a plain of ragged exposed rocks left from phosphate mining. Some locals believe the only land available for new migrants would be in this barren landscape, with the narrow coastal stretches jealously guarded by landowners.

Nauru President Baron Waqa said asylum seekers were not just a problem for Australia. ''It is a regional solution for us as well and we've happily engaged ourselves right from the start with the original Pacific Solution and nothing has changed,'' he said.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said the Nauru announcement was about gearing up for the election, not a real solution to solve the asylum seeker problem. ''This announcement delivers no real change in the capacity of offshore processing on Nauru, and the prospect of resettlement is remote.''

Greens immigration spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young was quick to condemn the announcement. ''Dumping young children, mothers and children who are all alone on Nauru is heartless and irresponsible,'' she said.

Babasiga