Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi- A True Christian Soldier

With all the clamour generated by Frank’s propaganda machine against the Methodist Church and especially Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi it may well pay to revisit the facts of the May 2000 coup involving the ex President of the Methodist Church .

Rev Kanailagi is from the chiefly yavusa Nayaumunu of Viwa Bau. It was Ratu Namosimalua the then Roko Tui Viwa who welcomed Reverend Joseph Hunt to set up the Methodist mission on Viwa as Ratu Cakobau and Bau were still about there heathen ways. The Reverend is also a blood relative of Viwa high chief Ratu Varani the notorious but later staunch Christian convert who ‘bent his knee to Jehovah’ on Good Friday 1845.
Reverend Captain Kanailagi is most admired amongst the real RFMF soldiers as the Padre of the 1st Battalion’s second contingent (Batt 2) UNIFIL during the tough Palestinian Liberation Organisation’s era of 1978-80. This era is when the first Fijian’s underwent their baptism of fire and stamped the Fijian character in Middle East UN peacekeeping. He was tested under fire such as the firefight in Qana when Private Leitubadei was killed in action. Most unlike some in high military office today who are calling for his resignation.

His leadership during his presidency of the Methodist Church in the dark days of the 2000 coup is exemplary for the moral courage and physical fibre of the man. Here is the evidence from the Fiji Times of Tuesday 23rd May 2000, (page 15):

Methodists Stay Out
Methodist Church President Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi has dissociated the church from the events on Friday (19th May). Reverend Kanailagi visited the President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara at Government House on Sunday morning and the two held a prayer session together. He later visited the group held hostage at the parliamentary complex and then the captors. Reverend Kanailagi said the church had made known its stand on what happened on Friday and it did not want to meddle into the politics of it.

Wesleyans and all Christians stand up! For such a man of God in his twilight age who does not fear Frank and his guns. His strength is eternal! Praise the Lord!
With the Lotu and Vanua’s defiant stand on the Bose ko Viti being held in Rewa, let’s again revisit the facts of the May coup 2000 involving the ex President of the Methodist Church Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi.

Frank in his convoluted ‘non political’ mind spews his political venom accusing the Padre of being deviantly motivated and an agent of political instability.
Well here is published evidence in the Fiji Times of Thursday May 25th 2000 to the contrary:

Churches unit against crimes

The Fiji Council of Churches say it is against the unchristian act of those who seized members of the democratically elected government last Friday (19 May).
“We the Fiji Council of Churches stand together to oppose this very thoughtless crucifixion of democracy that has taken place” its chairman Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi said.
The Council expressed its sincere apologies to everyone affected by the rioting, looting and fires experienced last weekend.

It was an understatedly unchristian act that truly shocked us all”
The Council called on Christians to play their part in restoring order through little acts of love and kindness to all their neighbours.
“Let us look for the images of God in the faces around us and treat every individual with utmost love and respect in these trying times”. Reverend Kanailagi said.

Amen to that venerable Reverend! Stand up Wesleyans! And defend your faith against the great usuper of the state and church of our fore fathers! Come hell or high water!
Tebara sili wacala.