Fiji's Roman Catholic church head warns against intolerance

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Fiji says the nation has no hope of reconciling its racial groups unless there is an acknowledgement of the pain suffered during the May 2000 coup.

Archbishop Petero Mataca has described Fiji society as both racist and religiously intolerant.

And he says unless there are concrete signs of repentence for the events of 2000, there can be neither healing, nor justice for anyone.

The archbishop also says religious and racial fear has increased since general elections last September.

He says this has been compounded by vigorous policies of racial exclusion and domination.