Reverend Francois Pihaatae says Fiji's Prime Minister, Rear Admiral Frank Bainimarama, only mentioned the Kanaks, and failed to mention the plight of other territories in the region when he addressed a regional seminar of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation (C24) in Nadi last week.

"Fiji will continue to encourage both sides to work positively within the spirit of the Agreement (Noumea Accord, 1998) towards a result that is seen as legitimate by all parties," Bainimarama said.

Pihaate said, the PCC applauded the explicit support for Kanaky's self-determination.

He said that all Pacific governments, particularly Fiji and Papua New Guinea - the two regional representatives on the C24 - also needed to "take a similar position on other non-self-governing Pacific territories.

The PCC has launched an initiative to increase awareness on the issue of decolonisation of respective communities in the region.

Other territories on the C24 list are American Samoa, Guam, Maohi Nui (French Polynesia), West Papua, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Pitcairn and Tokelau.

West Papua is not on the C24 list but Pihaatae says the PCC will be lobbying Pacific leaders about sponsoring the inclusion of Indonesian territory.

Source

• Radio New Zealand International
• FBC
• Island Business
• Image: 2.bp.blogspot.com

Pacific church leaders from 12 countries have signed the petition which also calls on the WCC to send a fact-finding mission to the Indonesian-controlled territory and establish a specific commission to address the issue.

The petition contains a further two demands:

• The end to arbitrary arrests, detention, brutality, torture and abuse by Indonesian security forces of West Papuan people.
• The right of West Papuans to self-determination and their rights to exercise political freedom.

The petition follows an announcement by West Papua churches of their intention to join the Pacific Conference of Churches as a full member after the assembly.

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• Island Business
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He wanted to raise the issue of sovereignty for French Polynesia. "Getting my country back on the list is the first step."

His move to be included on the decolonisation list is opposed by France and Australia and New Zealand.

Temaru suggested Australia and New Zealand should abstain rather than oppose the territory's petition to be re-inscribed on the United Nations decolonisation list.

Last year the Pacific Conference of Churches called for the re-inscription of French Polynesia/Tahiti Nui on the UN decolonisation committee's list.

The Pacific Forum leaders had issued a communique recalling their 2004 decision to support the principle of French Polynesia's right to self-determination. They reiterated their encouragement to French Polynesia and France to seek an agreed approach on how to realize French Polynesia's right to self-determination.

However the PCC said the communique was vague and asked the Pacific Forum leaders to be clear about their stand on Maohi Nui's bid for re-inscription on the United Nations decolonisation committee's list.

"They should clearly state that they support the re-inscription of Maohi Nui and this should be noted in the communique," said Reverend Francois Pihaate, Acting General Secretary of the PCC.

"For too long Tahiti Nui has been fighting for her freedom and it's time, we, as a Pacific family stand up with a united voice to offer our support," he said.

Reverend Francois commended the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) in making a clear stand on the matter. A resolution passed at the recent meeting in Nadi, Fiji, stated that the MSG "Supported the re-inscription of French Polynesia/Tahiti Nui on the UN decolonisation committee's list as the first step in the process of self-determination, at international level."

"The Forum Leaders need to take heed of the resolution passed by the MSG Leaders and follow suit. They should not try to 'play it safe' by dodging the real issue and trying to cover up by inscribing words of encouragement on the communique, because this brushes aside the human rights struggles of the people of Maohi Nui," said Reverend Francois.

"During the recent Pacific Church Leaders meeting in Samoa a declaration was passed in support of Tahiti Nui's plight. The Church Leaders' Declaration said : "We have listened to the cry of the people of Maohi Nui, of their desire for freedom. We have discerned as Church Leaders and we hear the cry of God within the plea of the people of Maohi Nui. We have heard the appeal by the President of Maohi Nui, His Excellency Oscar Temaru, for the support of churches for the re-inscription of Maohi Nui in the United Nations Decolonisation Committee of 24 list."

"In this regard, we make the following pledges:

• We endorse the request of His Excellency Temaru to assist his lobby for the re-inscription of Maohi Nui in the United Nations Decolonisation List.
• Further, we pledge our support, individually as churches and as members of PCC, to do all that is within our means to help Maohi Nui attain political freedom.
• We welcome the World Council of Churches commitment to advocate for Maohi Nui's re-inscription in the Decolonisation List of the United Nations."

Source

• Pacific Conference of Churches
• Pacific Scoop
• Radio New Zealand International
• Image: Cook Islands News