Relations became strained in 2005, however, over the church's support for the government's controversial Reconciliation and Unity Commission, which the Military strongly opposes.
The Bill seeks to establish Commission empowered to compensate victims and pardon perpetrators of the coup d'état which deposed the elected government of Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry in May 2000.
[1] In an Infantry Day speech at Mount Nakobalevu outside Suva on 23 June, Bainimarama told 400 infanteers that he expected political instability to continue, and that in the event of an upheaval, they should follow his orders and no one else's.
Land Force Commander Colonel Ioane Naivalurua called Bainimarama "courageous, strong, and ... a saviour of Fiji in this time of need."
He said, however, that it was a matter of personal conscience whether a minister supported or opposed the legislation, and that the question should not be a factor in the appointment of military chaplains.
Captain Neumi Leweni, the Army's Media Liaison Officer, said on 4 October that the Military had principles to uphold, and therefore there would be no compromise on the Unity Bill.