SHINE A LIGHT
‘We don’t practise human sacrifice’
The so- called First Nation’s Spiritual Revival Movement says it does not practise human sacrifice. Also called Lotu Vanua, its leader, Timoci Nacola (Nacolatabisa), said they do not condone human or blood sacrifice.
“Wara! (No!),” he declared in the Ra dialect at his Bucalevu, Ra, home.
“We are all about reviving godliness and not devilish acts in our vanua (land).” He was responding to claims levelled at the cult after the mysterious disappearance of Eliki Yaco Junior, also known as Tua, in Ono-i-Lau.
The claims were made by Ono-i-Lau villagers and on social media.
Mr Yaco has not been seen by fellow villagers since going by boat to collect two people overnighting on a close by island. The couple told villagers he was taken by a shark while swimming. One of the two persons last seen with Mr Yaco said he was a Lotu Vanua follower.
Manoa Tikomaicina is married to Maria Tupou – a nurse who was stationed on the island at the time of the incident. He hails from Nayavu, Wainibuka.
Mr Tikomaicina had told Nukuni villager, Jone Tikoduadua, that as a follower of the Lotu Vanua, they do not believe in the Bible and God, Mr Tikoduadua said. They only worship deities, he was claimed to have said. Repeated requests by the Fiji Sun to interview Mr Tikomaicina and his wife Ms Tupou have been unsuccessful. He said he and his wife had given their statements to Police and would not be saying any more. The Police CID (Crime Investigation Department) are still investigating Mr Yaco’s death, Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said. Mr Tikoduadua said Mr Tikomaicina told him to check the Lotu Vanua Facebook page, if he wanted to learn more,
Retort
Mr Nacola appeared surprised when asked about the claims made on social media regarding the incident and one of his followers.
He said: “I don’t know the guy (referring to Mr Tikomaicina). I’ve never met him. Probably they follow us on social media, I accept that. But in reality, this movement does not condone any human sacrifice.”
He insisted that the movement aimed to bring enlightenment.
He was also mindful that some people may join to fulfill hidden evil motives.
“This was never the intention for the movement,” he said.
Mr Nacola is closely linked with the socalled Ra secession group. He spent four months in jail after being convicted of sedition and urging political violence.
Asked about Lotu Vanua membership, he said they do not keep a membership register. They don’t intend to keep one moving forward. Mr Nacola is in the process of putting together a guideline for members. Once this is released, they will no longer use the Bible for reference.
He said that they served the same God Christians served but used the term Ratu Navosa or Navosavakadua instead.
It is believed military intelligence has been monitoring Lotu Vanua and Ra secessionists.