September: Fiji Coup
Two members of the Anglican church were taken hostage during the Coup on May 19, 2000. A few days later I received a call from my Bishop indicating that they were asking for Holy Communion. The Bishop called me again in the evening to tell me there was no guarantee for my safety. I decided that I would still go, despite
the warning.
After I called my only contact, a member of the Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit, I asked my Warden to drive me down to Parliament. He stayed in the van while I made my way in, wearing cassock and stole. It was clear that those guarding the main gate had never handled guns before and this made it very scary.
Twice they searched the Communion Set, as if I was concealing firearms in it. Then I was taken to meet the Indo-Fijian hostages, who were held in the room directly beneath George Speight’s office. I introduced myself before our service. When I invited them for Communion, everyone came forward: Christians, Hindus and Muslims. After this I was taken to the Parliament Chambers where I conducted another Communion Service for the Fijian hostages.
I visited the hostages every Sunday and Wednesday, while their wives, families and friends held prayer vigils in the Cathedral every day. I would come back from Parliament with messages from the hostages to share with their loved ones congregating in the Cathedral.
This continued until all hostages were released from Parliament.
The Very Reverend Fereimi Cama, Dean of Suva
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