Churches call for support of West Papua decolonisation

 WEST Papua must be included in the list of countries considered for decolonisation, the PNG Council of Churches says.

The United Nations Special Committee for Decolonisation made the call during its 2014 regional seminar in Suva, Fiji. 

PNG Council of Churches president Father Denny Guka said the committee hoped the Pacific Conference of Churches Secretariat, with blessing from its member churches, would push for West Papua’s inclusion in the list.

He said the theme of the seminar was to accelerate action on the implementation of the third “International decade for the eradication of colonialism”.

“What better time is there to push for the issue, and with such a theme, I don’t see any reason why we should fail,” he said.

Guka said even though PNG was a member of the committee, it had never pushed for its fellow Melanesians’ liberation.

“The Government continues to receive reports of torture, violence and atrocities against the people of West Papua by Indonesians but we have always turned a blind eye.

“We recognise that this might be a difficult situation for the Government, but as Melanesians, and of course Pacific Islanders, we must push for justice.”

Guka said the council stood for peace and justice so it would continue to liaise with the secretariat to see what more could be done for the liberation of the people of West Papua.

“The council has a moral, Christian, cultural and social obligation to make sure that the voice of our fellow Melanesian brothers are heard.

“It is our aim to see that they govern themselves politically, economically and socially.”