Published in the Fiji Times' "Off the Wall with Padre James Bhagwan," Wednesday 12th September, 2012
As we continue our national journey through the broken
reef and towards the calm lagoon in our search to find an island of hope where
we as a people can live together in freedom and with respect for all with a
sustainable form of democracy that empowers and makes secure every Fijian, it
is worthwhile to look around at some of the other islands in Oceania who
continue to struggle just for the opportunity to decide how they should be
governed.
As we look to a new constitution that will be a living,
sacred covenant among all Fijians and towards elections in 2014, perhaps we
should remember that while we are wrestling with the difficulties of being an
independent nation, there are other islands in Oceania that are still colonies,
struggling for self determination.
The term self-determination means: Determination of one's own fate or course of
action without compulsion; free will; or freedom of the people of a given area
to determine their own political status; in other words, independence.
Last week the Central Committee of the World Council of
Churches (WCC), meeting in
Kolympari, Crete, Greece, from 28 August to 5 September 2012, issued a
public statement calling for re-inscription of the French Polynesia (Maohi Nui)
on the list of countries to be decolonized.
In 1947 the French government had Maohi Nui removed from
such a list drawn up by the newly formed United Nations. A public statement
adopted by the Central Committee calls on French authorities “to fulfil their
obligations and provide all necessary means for the economic, social and
cultural development of the Maohi people” and “urges France to compensate all
those affected by nuclear testing and radioactivity” in the vicinity.
The public statement also invites Christians everywhere
to pray “for the people and the churches of Maohi Nui as they embark on their
peaceful and just struggle for self-determination.”
According to the statement, the present day French Polynesia (Maohi Nui) became a French protectorate
in 1842 and a French colony in 1880, although it was not until 1946 that the
indigenous Maohi people acquired French citizenship. By the end of the 19th century, France had annexed all the islands
that now constitute French Polynesia. The islands were governed by France under
a decree of 1885.
In 1945,
when the UN was founded, one of the first initiatives was to engage in a proper
decolonization process, hence establishing a list of territories yet to be
decolonized. Article 73 of UN Charter (non-self-governing territories) as well
as UN General Assembly Resolution 1514 (on the granting of independence to
colonial countries and peoples) describe the UN’s mission to decolonize the
remaining non self-governing territories. The French colonies of New Caledonia
and French Polynesia were on the list of countries to be decolonized. However,
in 1947 France succeeded in having French Polynesia withdrawn from the list,
with no prior consultation with the people of Maohi Nui.
Today,
French Polynesia is a semi-autonomous territory of France with its own
parliament, assembly, president and executive government. Nonetheless, France
continues to exert influence on domestic affairs. Leaders have limited power
over many essential domestic and international matters. For example, France
administers the justice and education system, defence, currency, health, emigration,
land rights, environment and international maritime borders without the
consent or participation of the Polynesian people.
In their
statement, the World Council of Churches believes that effective advocacy
efforts for the re-inscription of French Polynesia on the UN list of
territories to be decolonized is an essential first step towards self-determination.
The primary work should be done through the UN Committee of 24 (Special
Committee on Decolonization). In order to achieve this goal, the support of the
international community is vital.
In September
2011, the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) organized a consultation with
political, church and regional actors in the Pacific to discuss strategies on
advocating for re-inscription of French Polynesia on the UN list of countries
to be decolonized. The WCC member constituencies in the Pacific asked for WCC’s
support for their advocacy initiatives during the visit of the WCC general
secretary to the Pacific in September 2011.
The Council
of the Maohi Protestant Church in its 2012 synod, decided to call on “the
support of the Pacific Conference of Churches and the World Council of Churches
to support its efforts for re-inscription of French Polynesia (Maohi Nui) on
the UN list of territories to be decolonized”. The Maohi Protestant Church
Synod also stated that: “the Council considers the re-inscription of French
Polynesia on this list as means to protect the people from decisions and
initiatives taken by the French state contrary to its interests; the
re-inscription constitutes the recognition of the human rights of the people of
French Polynesia; the Council reiterates that it is their faith that will save
the Maohi people whose conscience has been manipulated and that it is the
people who will take the decision regarding the sovereignty of their nation”.
The World
Council of Churches statement:
A.
Recognizes the universal human rights of all people and
in particular the right to self-determination of all oppressed, colonised,
indigenous people in the world, in accordance with the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
B.
Calls on France, the United Nations, and the
international community to support the re-inscription of
French Polynesia on the UN list of countries to be decolonized, in
accordance with the example of New Caledonia;
C.
Encourages the French authorities to fulfil their
obligations and provide all necessary means for the economic, social and
cultural development of the Maohi people;
D.
Urges France to compensate all those affected by
nuclear testing and radioactivity;
E.
Invites its member churches and international
faith-based organisations to support through advocacy efforts for the
re-inscription of French Polynesia to the UN list of countries to be
decolonised and its eventual full decolonisation;
F.
Calls on
the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs to facilitate the
global advocacy initiative for the re-inscription of French Polynesia on the UN
list, especially the primary work through the UN Committee of 24;
G.
Prays for the people and the churches of Maohi Nui as
they embark on their peaceful and just struggle for self-determination.
Let us not forget to appreciate the fact that even though our national journey is difficult, whether we like those that journey with us or not, or the conditions under which we undertake this journey, at least we have the freedom to make this journey.
“Simplicity, Serenity, Spontaneity”
ENDS
Rev. James Bhagwan is an ordained minister of the
Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, currently a Masters of Theology student in
Seoul, South Korea. Visit the blog: http://thejournalofaspiritualwonderer.blogspot.com
or www.twitter.com/padrejb
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