Commodore Bainimarama made the comment as police held Rewa high chief Ro Teimumu Kepa and at least four church ministers.
Among those questioned was former president of the Fiji Methodist Church, Reverend Manasa Lasaro; General Secretary, Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu, the secretary for Pastoral Ministry, Tomasi Kanailagi and the Church’s finance secretary Viliame Gonelevu.
“We told the church to take politics out of the conference agenda and they failed to do, so there will be no conference this year…and that’s it,” he told FijiLive.
Commodore Bainimarama said the church leaders violated the Public Emergency Regulation by holding a meeting last week that was not in accordance with the permit issued them.
“If somebody breaks the law, the police will take them in for questioning,” he said.
According to Commodore Bainimarama, the detention does not mean that the conference can not go ahead next year.
The detentions came amidst tension between the church and the military-led government over the church’s conference, which is planned for the end of August in Rewa.
The Government has cancelled the annual meeting, but the church insists it will go ahead.
Commodore Bainimarama said Ro Teimumu, a Catholic and member of the deposed Qarase government, had issued a statement to the church which was then released to church members saying that the conference in Rewa will go ahead despite the government order.
Permanent secretary for Information Lieutenant Colonel Neumi Leweni said the group will be released once police complete investigations.
He said Ro Teimumu’s statement can be termed as “a form of incitement.”
