30 October 2024 |
In response to the allegations arising from an unidentified woman accusing Fiji Mission president Nasoni Lutunaliwa of sexual abuse when she was 13, the Fiji Mission says it has initiated an investigation.
In a statement published in the Fiji Sun, mission secretary Epeli Saukuru, he said,
“The safety and wellbeing of our community remain our highest priorities, and our thoughts and prayers are with those who may be impacted by this situation. We respect and uphold the right of victims to be heard, supported, and see justice is served; and we encourage any alleged victims of sexual abuse by any member of the church to report the matter to law enforcement authorities immediately. The church (SDA) in Fiji continues to prioritise and deliver safeguarding training to individuals, in adherence to long-established policies available to all employees and leaders.”
The mission initiated the investigation after an unidentified woman claimed on a podcast that Nasoni Lutunaliwa tried to abduct her when she was 13, when he was the pastor of her local church. The mission said it has a “zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse and is going to fully cooperate with any investigation.”
Critics say the accusations have been known for years, with no response from the mission, the union mission, the South Pacific Division (SPD), or Nasoni Lutunaliwa himself. “Why haven’t they dealt with this?” one concerned SPD Adventist wrote to Adventist Today. “They knew it for years! They respond only when they can’t hide it anymore!”
Friends of Nasoni Lutunaliwa say he’s privately admitted to the assault. He has yet to response publicly.
Letitia Shelton, podcaster on Disruptive Voices of the Pacific has said that 4 out of 5 children in Fiji are sexually abused, and that statistics in the church are no better than in the public at large.
Adventist Today will continue to monitor the situation.
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