Source: Fiji Times
LABASA, FIJI, March 18, 2002: A group of youth has been blamed for an attack on Hindu temples here March 14. One temple said six statues of Deities worth US$1,300 were stolen by thugs who also dismantled prayer items. The temple manager said the priests went to the temple and found it a mess with the statues missing. A group of Christian youths who had been attending a mission training session nearby are suspected. “We are doing our mission and it is better for our youth leader, who is in town, to comment on the dismantling of the prayer items,” one said. Several Christian organizations condemned the attack. An Assemblies of God spokesperson said, “We should not impose our Christian religion on anyone, the only thing we should do is pray for our Indian friends to know God. We should not condone violence because it cannot change anyone.”