Thousands of followers of the Fiji Sevashram Sangha last night prayed for the safe return of our 45 Golan peacekeepers held captive by the Al Nusra rebel group.

Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was invited to join one of the 45 prayer ceremonies, this one at the Bau Street Ashram.

Swami Sanyuktanand, who led the prayer, said that for any nation their soldiers and peacekeepers were their pride.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said as a nation, as Fijians we were all very concerned about their safety.

“I think we as human beings, irrespective of our backgrounds, irrespective of our socio-economic backgrounds, ethnicity and religion would all agree that we want peace.

“For us as a nation, we are simply concerned about the safe return of our peacekeepers, for them to be released. What is also important, and I think it is a wonderful thing that the prayers are being organized in various parts of Fiji, but it is also important that we remember the families.

“It is easy for us to sometimes sit here and talk about it, but the people who are going through it are not just the captives but also, their families, children, wives, parents, grandparents and extended families because it catches them more closely than it is for us.

“As citizens of this country, as Fijians, and those of you who are here, I am sure you would be grieved and would pray for them and their return.”

He said the captivity of these men had also brought the nation together.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum also thanked the Sangha for undertaking the prayers on a large scale throughout the country.

Swami Sanyuktanand said that they saluted the efforts of the 45 and the many Fijian soldiers who left behind their wives, children and parents to go to peacekeeping duties in other war-torn nations.

Swami Sanyuktanand said he was aware of heartbreak the family members of the 45 peacekeepers were experiencing.

He said that all they could do now was to pray for the men’s safe return.

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