Fiji FNU Student’s - Climate Peace Rally Stopped by Police
by John McEvoy
Catholic Students from the various FNU (Fiji National University) campuses throughout Fiji decided to hold a Rally at ‘My Suva Park’ on Saturday 6th Nov in union with the hundreds of thousands of youth from all over the world praying for and supporting those attending COP 26 in Glasgow. They were calling for the same thing as World Leaders in Glasgow which is a reduction in carbon emissions, political determination and action against global warming and climate change. (Keeping 1.5 degrees alive).
On their behalf Atalemo Cakaudorove, FNU student from Nasinu campus talked to the RAF (Roads Authority Fiji) got their OK, then got a permit for the Rally from Suva City Council, who told him that the police would be in charge. It was made clear to SCC that the youth would not be using the road – but would walk along the footpath to ‘My Suva Park’. The Archbishop, Peter Loy Chong and Adi Mariana Waqa (Pacific Council of Churches) would address the gathering there.
Many students from FNU Natabua came from Lautoka. Fr Frank Hoare, Vitalina Vukinagauna (Columban Communications Coordinator) and Nani Mo’unga (Columban Lay Missionary Coordinator) who worked with the FNU students throughout the year, invited other students from various Suva Parishes as well as students from PRS, and Corpus Christi Teachers Training College. The students decided to start the rally with a Mass at the Columban Formation House, which was celebrated by Fr John McEvoy (Columban leader in Fiji).
After the Mass all proceeded to the Japanese Garden, opposite the Pacific Theological College to join other youth waiting there, as well as members of other faith groups. It was here that the police intervened and stopped the students from proceeding to ‘My Suva Park’ on the context that they had no police permit to march. But of course, they were not using the road only the footpath and didn’t need a permit to do so. Four officers stopped the students, priests, seminarians and private citizens to take part in this peaceful march/walk for climate change. They requested them to remove their banners and disperse.
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