Call for decolonisation

Pacific islanders across the region are being urged to renew support for the decolonisation of Pacific communities still under colonial rule.

The Pacific Regional Non Governmental Organisations Alliance (PRNGO) made the call this week to free indigenous people in Guam, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Tokelau and West Papua so they could chart their own future.

PRNGO spokesperson Peter Emberson urged Pacific islanders in all walks of life to stand up and speak out and actively engage in the struggle.

“The right of people in non self-governing territories, whose countries are ruled by colonial administrations, to determine their own political future – we call on our Pacific peoples in all walks of life to stand up, speak out and be actively engaged in their struggle,” he said.

Emberson said it is also the duty of colonisers or administering powers to prepare the indigenous people in these territories to exercise their right to self-determination which is also mandated by international law.

“The peoples of our non self-governing territories have not given up.

“They have been repressed, their rights taken away, they have been tortured and killed, imprisoned, and pushed to the margins of political and economic life but they are not backing down,” Emberson said.

PRNGO’s fresh calls for self-autonomy coincides with the United Nation’s special committee on decolonisation Pacific Regional seminar hosted by Fiji that opened at Nadi this week.

Rapa Nui is seeking admission to the UN list of Non Self Governing Territories whilst West Papua is seeking re-enlistment to the Non Self Governing Territories list.