Their support comes as the PIDF hosted Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at its second summit in Nadi last week.

Indonesia has maintained rule in West Papua since 1969 and has in the past been accused of widespread human rights abuses.

Pacific Conference of Churches General Secretary, Reverend Francois Pihaatae acknowledged Mr Yudhoyono's visit was a sign of PIDF's growing profile.

But he said regional governments must not let Yudhoyono's presence at the PIDF cloud their judgment on the issue of self-determination in West Papua.

He also questioned whether the Indonesian president had made the visit out of necessity because support for West Papuan independence had reached such a critical level within Fiji, the Melanesian Spearhead Group and the wider region.

Methodist church leaders in Fiji donned special ribbons as they made known their stance of solidarity for West Papua.
The red and black ribbons were distributed by the Pacific Conference of Churches and the Pacific Network for Globalisation.

"The Methodist Church in Fiji is a committed member of both the Pacific Conference of Churches and the Fiji Council of Churches," church spokesman Reverend James Bhagwan said.

Anglican Archbishop of Polynesia Winston Halapua said the time for complacency on West Papua was over.

"We cannot in this part of the world say that is out there — no they are part of us — the leadership has to come from inside and their part is to be clear what they ask of us."

Source

• Fiji Times
• Radio New Zealand International
• Fiji Times
• Fiji Times
• Methodistfiji
  
• Image: Methodistfiji

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/2013/08/09/council-of-churches-gives-cautious-welcome-to-pidf/ Thu, 08 Aug 2013 19:30:07 +0000 http://cathnews.co.nz/?p=48255

Pacific Conference of Churches(PCC) has welcomed the formation of the Pacific Islands Development Forum ( PIDF ) as as a move towards inclusivity but has warned against paying mere lip service to development in the Pacific. "From the perspective of the church and faith-based organisations, we have a huge constituency and network which can be used Read more

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

Delivering a pointed keynote address, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi restated the PCC's role in the region and its people.

"The focus of the Christian churches around the world and in our region is to strengthen and invigorate the religious and spiritual lives of our people."

With the commemoration of its 50 years in existence, the Prime Minister challenged, "it is obviously also the time to reflect on the achievements of the PCC around the Pacific."

The Prime Minister also added that the Conference "should also play a vocal role in the political turmoil in Fiji.

"The military regime still rule by decree and the Public Emergency Regulations which continue to restrict human rights may have also impacted on representation from Fiji to your own gathering here today."

Full story: Savali News