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 new Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) challenges the Pacific Island Forum (PIF), a 16-member inter-governmental organisation which includes 14 Pacific Island countries plus Australia and New Zealand. The PIF is headquartered in Fijian capital Suva. Fiji itself was suspended from the PIF in 2009 after naval commander Frank Bainimarama grabbed power in a coup in 2006 and refused to hold elections. Read more

"From the perspective of the church and faith-based organisations, we have a huge constituency and network which can be used for development, advocacy, education and attitudinal change," PCC General Secretary, Rev François Pihaatae said.

"The PIDF move to engage with faith leaders, the media and other institutions which can influence change is positive and we would like to see other regional organisations take similar approaches."

"Leaders must not gather, talk about important issues and then walk away without putting these points into actions which make positive changes to the region and the people," Pihaatae said.

"Matters such as climate change, extractive industries, fisheries, gender-based violence, poverty and self-determination must be addressed and the voices of our people must be heard."

He said if institutions - including churches and governments - wished to remain relevant, they must address the needs of the people with real, sustainable initiatives which protected lifestyles and the environment.

The PIDF is an initiative of Fiji's interim Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama and wound up it's inaugural three day meeting on Wednesday.

Outlining how the Secretariat would work, Commodore Bainimarama said it would be very different from the Secretariat of the Pacific Islands Forum.

He said the Pacific didn't need expensive facilities or an army of overpaid officials, but results from committed publically-minded individuals ultilising scarce resources to maximum effect.

Source

• Island Business
• Radio Australia
• Image: Pacific Scoop