WORLD PRESS MOCKS FIJI'S CHRISTIAN PRIME MINISTER

           The following is from a recent edition of Christian
            Crusade Newspaper, P.O. Box 977, Tulsa, OK 
            74102. The newspaper is in its 42nd year of 
            publication. Dr. Hargis can be E-mailed on 
            America On Line as BJHargis, on Compuserve at 
            72204,541, and via the Internet as 
            BJHargis@aol.com .

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            and Christian Crusade Newspaper is included. 

            copyright 1993 Christian Crusade Newspaper.
            All rights reserved. 

from CHRISTIAN CRUSADE NEWSPAPER
by Dr. Billy James Hargis, publisher
Keith Wilkerson, editor
     
The Fiji Islands have re-elected a devout Christian, Sitiveni 
Rabuka, as Prime Minister, however, the international press 
viewed his election as an opportunity to portray him as a 
religious nut and his followers as bigots.
    "Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, coup leader and 
Methodist lay preacher, thanked God on Sunday for his sweeping 
election victory in a traditional Fijian church service Ñ around 
his backyard pool," wrote the Reuter news agency's Michael 
Perry. 
    "When Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka invited friends 
and supporters to his home to celebrate his weekend election 
victory it was not to sit inside his plush residence, but in a shed 
in his backyard," wrote British journalist Fiona Gillies. "Makeshift 
open-sided shelters are common in the villages of this South 
Pacific nation, where they are used for ceremonies and social 
gatherings."
    She wrote that Rabuka's shed is no fancier than any other Ñ 
big enough to seat 100 people comfortably Ñ but looks oddly out 
of place behind the prime ministerial residence in one of the best 
sections of Fiji's capital, Suva.
    "Bringing the village to his home is typical of the man 
considered a folk hero to many Fijians," wrote Gillies. 
    Rabuka seven years ago overthrew his island republic's ruling 
clique, which had been dominated by immigrants from India. 
    "Deputy Prime Minister Ratu Timoci Vesikula," noted Perry, 
"flatly ruled out including Indians in the new government. 'No, 
we have the numbers. We have the capacity of forming a new 
government without Indians,' Vesikula said after the poolside 
church service for some 200 party faithful, tribal chiefs, and 
family members.
    Rabuka, however, has said he would work towards a 
government of national unity, working with Indian politicians. 
He has said his Soqosoqo ni Vakevulewa ni Taukei, or "Fijian 
Political Party" would discuss including Indians in his 
government.
    As leader of the military in 1987, Rabuka overthrew the then 
Indian-dominated government, claiming indigenous Fijians were 
losing control of their land. In 1992, he was elected prime 
minister in multi-party elections.
    "To Fijians, he's still the hero of the coup," agreed long-time 
Fiji political observer Sir Len Usher. "He's almost a living legend, 
even though there's a good deal of disenchantment with him."
    Sunday after the election, Rabuka once again showed the 
common touch that has earned him grassroots support in the 
election. "The gates of his property were thrown open and 
members of parliament and campaign workers alike streamed in 
to attend a religious service in his shed followed by a feast," wrote 
Gillies. 
    There Rabuka thanked those who gathered for their support 
and read passages from the Bible, which he often carries in his 
shirt pocket.
    "Rabuka is a devout Methodist," wrote Gillies. "He believes God 
gave Fiji to the Fijians."
    Rabuka once told author Eddie Dean that his role as coup 
leader was "a mission that God has given me."
         
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      Christian Crusade Newspaper is in its 
42nd year as a monthly voice of Christian conservativism. 
It has a worldwide circulation and is published by 
Christian Crusade, P.O. Box 977, Tulsa, OK 74102. 
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