The bishops advice - delivered in a recent pastoral letter - was made both to mark Poland's centenary of independence and to warn the nation's Catholics that freedom could be lost again if Poles abandon their Catholic faith.

They explained independence is not just about "armed struggle, and political and diplomatic efforts" but also involves "resolute faith and prayer."

The bishops also noted love of homeland is a divine command and is expressed through "daily civic honesty, readiness to serve, and dedication to the common good.

"Our homeland's painful history should sensitize us to threats to the nation's spiritual freedom and sovereignty," the bishops' letter says.

These threats include the way Poland is being "morally and spiritually weakened" by what the bishops describe as: "a spreading captivity, especially among young Poles, from alcohol, drugs, pornography, internet threats, gambling, etc.

"Celebrating this anniversary impels us to reflect on Poland's current state and the dangers to its sovereign existence. The gravest of these arise from abandoning the Catholic faith and the Christian principles governing our national life and state's functioning. This has already led in the past to our republic's collapse.

"Among our national shortcomings, we increasingly witness the voice of private interests, individual and group egoism, lack of regard for the common good, and slander and abuse of the Catholic faith and Polish national traditions," the bishops said.

Source

• Catholic Herald
• Crux Now
• National Catholic Register

Miriori is the former Bougainville Interim Government (BIG) and the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) and Secretary and international spokesman.

A referendum on the status of Bougainville is scheduled for June 2019. It is the final step in the region's lengthy Peace Agreement.

Miriori said there is no turning back because the people cannot forget about all the injustices and unfair treatment and the injuries caused to them during the crisis.

He said that Bougainvillean's have already paid a huge price with a loss of more than 20, 000 lives during the 10 years of conflict, mostly as a result of the Papua New Guinea economic blockade imposed in 1990.

The blockade continued until the signing of the ceasefire agreement in April 1998 under the leadership of the late Bill Skate.

The three former prime ministers who make up the delegation are Sir Rabbie Namaliu, Sir Julius Chan and Paias Wingti.

Miriori pointed out that Sir Rabbie Namaliu was responsible for escalating the Bougainville crisis by sending in the PNG Defence Force, while Sir Julius Chan tried to send the mercenary group, Sandline, into Bougainville.

Miriori said that geographically, ethically, culturally and historically, Bougainville was never meant to be part of Papua New Guinea.

He said they are by nature and have from time immemorial always be part of the Solomon Islands Archipelago but cannot be part of the Independent State of Solomon Islands.

"Bougainville has all the wealth and natural resources, a big enough population and the natural sea Boundary to become an independent and sovereign state on its own."

Source

• postcourier.com.pg
• radionz.co.nz
• Image: lfongroka.blogspot.co.nz

The call comes a week before Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono attends the Pacific Islands Development Forum Summit in Denarau, Fiji.

"We in the Solomon Islands have heard the cries of the people of West Papua and we commit to advocating for their inherent right to gainful political self-determination and true freedom," said Father Peter Houhou, Vicar-General of the Anglican Archdiocese of Honiara.

The re-articulation of this commitment to West Papua's political self-determination by the church meeting is aligned with the mandate adopted by the Pacific Conference of Churches General Assembly last year.

The workshop on Rethinking the Household of God in the Solomon Islands took place June 2-3 and was jointly organised by the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) and the Pacific Conference of Churches.

Source

• Solomon Star
• Image: Wikimedia.org

Churches supports freedom for West Papua people]]> 59224 https://cathnews.co.nz/2013/12/20/christian-concil-fears-vanuatu-lost-sight-vision/ Thu, 19 Dec 2013 18:30:32 +0000 http://cathnews.co.nz/?p=53523

The Chairman of the Vanuatu Christian Council, Reverend James Ligo, says the government has lost sight of the nation's original vision for independence by attracting more foreign investors and approving dual citizenship. He says it is "important to recall our vision for independence because I believe the foundation of Vanuatu as an independent nation was Read more

PCC acting general secretary and Tahiti native, Reverend Francois Pihaate, told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program that it was time Pacific Island Forum Leaders showed their support for the move.

When the UN was founded in 1945, one of its first initiatives was to engage in a proper decolonisation process, establishing a list of territories yet to be decolonised.

French Polynesia, of which Tahiti is the economic and political centre, was included on the list.

France succeeded in having French Polynesia withdrawn from the list two years later.

Source

• Radio Australia
• Image Flagsflagsflags.net

The book describes the hopes and fears of early Pacific political leaders in the period from 1960 to 1990 as islands across the Pacific gained independence or self-government.

Ian Johnstone and Michael Powles interviewed the Pacific people in key leadership positions in the lead-up to and achievement on independence, many of whom became well-known in the Pacific and more widely.

The book presents a nation-by-nation history of this change from being colonial subjects to citizens of Pacific nations from the point of view of the leaders involved. Accompanied by maps, photographs and background information about the Pacific nations, the book explores the leaders' views on independence and the process of gaining it.

Ian Johnstone is a journalist and broadcaster with a long-time interest in Pacific Island affairs. Michael Powles is a diplomat and the son of Sir Guy Powles who was the New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa in the formative years of the country's independence.

Source

• Talamua
• Image: Radio New Zealand International

President Oscar Temaru, of Tahiti, in a special address to the PCC church leaders, appealed to the churches of the Pacific to help in his country's fight for independence, by listening to and aiding the people of Maohi Nui in their plight.

"My country used to be free, and my people used to be in charge of their destiny. That changed in the 19th century after the European discoverers reached our shores," he said.

The church leaders in attendance were unanimous in their support of this call. Mr Temaru noted, however, that: "Without the UN as a referee between France and us, this is once again an unfair and uphill battle. We seek a balanced evolution of our relations with France, under the observation of the UN."

Also present at the meeting, Reverend Dr. Olav Tveit, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), pledged to find a proper way to address the issue and offered the assistance of the WCC in raising awareness of the issues facing the people of Maohi Nui.

Source

• Samoa Observer
• Image: Tahiti Presse