Churches in Fiji and the region are throwing their voices behind self determination for West Papua.
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.”
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News category: Asia Pacific.
