More Fiji Methodist Church ministers arrested

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Updated February 4, 2010 17:01:05

Fifteen more Fiji Methodist Church ministers have been arrested and charged with breaking the Public Emergency regulations. They've been questioned and released on bail, and are expected to appear in court next month. The group attended the church's standing committee meeting last year; which has already led to another nine clerics facing charges.

The arrests follow an announcement by the interim government earlier this week, that it would extend the ban on the Methodist Church's annual conference to also cover divisional and quarterly meetings. Fiji's military government accuses the church of acting as a political organisation, overstepping its religious authority.

Presenter: Bruce Hill
Speaker: Reverend Tevita Banivanua, deputy general secretary, Fiji Methodist Church

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