Pacific Regional CSO Forum

Pasifika Foundation Hawaii (PFH) received an invitation from the Board of Directors of the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (PIANGO) to participate in the October 11, 2007 Civil Societies Organization (CSO) Caucus on Self-determination, and the October 12 through 15, 2007 Pacific Regional CSO Forum in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. PFH was invited to participate as observers.

The PIANGO Board includes members who have visited Hawaii in the recent past and are aware of the on-going self-determination efforts of Kanaka Maoli (indigenous people of Hawaii). PFH Board members Clarence “Ku” Ching and Isaac Harp, along with PFH Executive Director, Ana Currie, and volunteer support staff Mike Reitz attended the CSO Caucus and Pacific Regional CSO Forum meetings with the intent of learning more about PIANGO and the CSO, and, if the opportunity presented itself, to promote the interests of Hawaii’s indigenous people’s and Hawaii’s self-determination efforts.

PFH board members also attended the CSO Forum in August of 2008, held in Aotearoa, and invited other interested Maoli organizations to contact us about future representation for Hawaii at this important grassroots regional gathering.

However, early in 2009 NZAID, the major funder of PIANGO, decided to pull funding from the organization over concerns of alleged financial mismanagement, and as a result no CSO Forum was scheduled in 2009. PFH remains committed to supporting Hawaii’s involvement in this important regional gathering and will post updates on the situation as it develops.

Following are our reports on the 2007 and 2008 events.

Report on the Pacific Regional CSO Forum, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 11-15 October 2007

The primary topic for the CSO Caucus, held on October 11, 2007 at Valoloa, Tonga’s National Council of Churches Hall was self-determination. The object of the Caucus was to discuss self-determination and other political issues related to Pasifika, and to incorporate the outcome language from the Caucus into the final communiqué to be submitted to the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders attending the 38th Pacific Islands Forum, which began on October 16, 2007 in Nuku’alofa, Tonga.

The self-determination caucus program included a discussion about political reform in Tonga, presentations from West Papua and Kanaky (New Caledonia) and a special guest talk by a representative from West Sahara. A discussion about “French” Polynesia had been planned, but the representative who was scheduled to make that presentation was unable to attend the session.

Hawaii was given a slot on the program, and Isaac and Ku gave a presentation that included the significant historical facts and a summary of Maoli self-determination efforts to date. Their presentation was met with a high degree of interest, and a lively question-and-answer session followed.

At the end of the day, a consensus communiqué was drafted by the participants of the self-determination caucus, which included wording relative to Hawaii’s self-determination. This communiqué was incorporated into the “Nuku’alofa Communique” encompassing the findings of all of the CSO gatherings from October 11-16.

The Pacific Regional CSO Forum was held from October 12 through 15, 2007 at the Loupaukamea II. The Forum was opened with a warm welcome by the Kingdom of Tonga’s Prime Minister (PM), the Honourable Dr. Feleti Vaka’uta Sevele. PM Sevele noted during his welcoming speech that, “There is a lot that we can do and there is a lot that we can do without.”

Plenary panel presentations followed the welcoming ceremony. The presentations touched on many subjects, including Pacific Peoples Values, Women’s Rights, Pacific Trade Partnerships, Preserving Pacific Culture in a Global World, Pacific Energy Issues and Challenges for the Future, Sustainable Economic Growth, etc. Presentations filled most of the first day with workshops on topics discussed finishing out day one.

The Forum reconvened in plenary on day two with panel presentations including Climate Change and the Future of Our Seas, and HIV/AIDs and Gender Violence, which were followed by workshops on those specific subjects. Plenary session reconvened with a panel presentation on Weaving Accountable Leadership and Democratic Governance into Pacific Communities. Plenary continued in the afternoon with a panel presentation on Supporting a Human Security Framework in the Pacific. Two workshops followed the two afternoon presentations. During the day one and two workshops, after discussing the topics of interest the participants crafted language to be included in the communiqué to the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders.

During the several days of the CSO Forum, there were several issues that were points of divisiveness, and a few of these deserve a special mention.

The CSO organizers were roundly chastised by one presenter for not including Women’s Issues and Self-Determination on the main CSO Forum agenda.

In one stimulating panel presentation, regarding the EU’s desire to enter into free trade agreements with Pacific nations, the EU representatives painted themselves as a collection of benevolent European countries who want to create an advanced “relationship” with Pacific nations – with many advantages and with no strings attached. Their wish is to obtain a similar trading position with Pacific nations to that of Australia and New Zealand (not that Australia and New Zealand are working purely out of benevolence regarding these agreements).

The EU representatives’ points were shredded by Roshi Sami of Fiji, who created a dynamic Powerpoint presentation in which she cautioned Pacific islanders to “watch out for sharks.” Some of the points she made were that, if the proposed EU agreements were made:
1) These “free trade agreements” will apply to all foods and goods.
2) Products from all countries must be treated the same.
3) The Pacific cannot discriminate against European goods (assuming that Europe will be on the same “level playing field” relative to Australia and New Zealand).

However, the Pacific cannot produce goods as efficiently as Europe can – and would be trading at a disadvantage. In other words, for similar items – with buys and sells at Europe’s prices – but the Pacific’s cost of goods will be significantly higher, among other things because of economies of scale and/or technological advantages, than Europe’s that would be very disadvantageous to Pacific countries.

The “Energy: Issues and Challenges in the Pacific” presentation was actually quite shocking in its pro-petroleum based perspective. In a region that seems ideal for the exploration of, for example, solar and wind-generated power, it was disconcerting to hear the principal presenter say that it is “premature” for Pacific island nations to investigate alternative energy sources. Even more disquieting was the fact that there were no opposing points of view voiced, either from other presenters or from the audience.

Day three fell on a Sunday, a day of religious practices by the large majority of the population of Tonga. A CSO language Drafting team convened at 4:00 pm at the National Council of Churches Hall to continue working on the language for the communiqué.

October 15th included an elective activity, which was a meeting of Civil Society Watch, which shared their views on Civil Societies being under threat and how they are fighting back. Some of the CSO participants reconvened at the National Council of Churches Hall to continue working on the language for the communiqué, and to evaluate the current CSO Forum and discuss strategies for a more effective effort in the future.

On behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders, Mr. Greg Urwin, Secretary General, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, personally appeared at the final day of the CSO Forum meeting, which was held at the National Council of Churches Hall, to receive the final CSO communiqué from CSO Forum Chair, Mr. Drew Havea. The final Nuku’alofa Communiqué is available for viewing and downloading at: http://www.piango.org/CSOForum/CSO2007_Forum_Communique.pdf

Of particular interest to Hawaii is the language that can be found on page 8, numeral 8 of the communiqué, which is a result of the opportunity presented to PFH during the CSO Caucus on Self-determination. The communiqué language regarding Hawaii reads as follows:

“We urge the Leaders to:
8. Oppose any attempt by the U.S. government to influence or control in any way the self-determination efforts of the citizens of “Ko Hawaii Pae Aina” (Hawaiian Kingdom), and acknowledge the U.S. commitments adopted under US Public Law 103-150 of 1993;”

The significance of the CSO Forum is that it is comprised of people representing the organizations that are working at the grassroots level – in the villages, on the ground. The concept behind the creation of the CSO Forum and its schedule (immediately prior to the Pacific Forum gathering) was that the CSO members felt that very often, the political leaders who attend the Pacific Forum gathering have become out of touch with the real needs and desires of the people they are supposed to the representing. As well, the CSO Forum members have become aware of and alarmed by the increasing dominance of Australia and (palagi) New Zealand in the Pacific Forum, and in the creation of the “Pacific Plan.”

In the early years of the CSO Forum efforts, the Pacific Forum leaders gave scant attention to the CSO input; but now the presentation of the communiqué from the CSO Forum to the Pacific Forum has become more formalized and significant. Discussions are ongoing in the CSO group about how to make their work even more relevant and effective.

This was the first time that an organization from Hawaii had been formally invited to participate in the CSO Forum, although individual Maoli, including Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell, have attended and observed the meetings in the past. Considering the results of the 2007 CSO Forum relative to Hawaii’s self-determination efforts, it would seem appropriate and advantageous to continue Hawaii’s participation in this annual event, with the goal of creating strong connections and alliances with other Pasifik nations in order to establish a “holding environment” in which a nation of Hawaii could flourish.

submitted by Isaac Harp, November 2007

More about the Pacific Islands Forum
Pacific Islands Forum Members include:
Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa.
“Serious challenges facing the countries of the Pacific to be met through sharing scarce resources and aligning policies to strengthen national capacities to support their people.” They have called for a “Pacific Plan” to strengthen regional cooperation and integration as the main instrument for realising their Pacific Vision. The original Pacific Plan was endorsed by the Forum Leaders at their Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea in October 2005. The “living plan” will be updated as priorities and issues evolve. The Pacific Plan will “form the basis of ongoing strengthening of regional cooperation and integration for the benefit of the people of the Pacific.”

2005 and 2006 Pacific Plans, as well as Pacific Plan background documents:
Pacific_Plan

2007 Pacific Plan Annual Progress Report: Progress_Report

Report on the Pacific Regional CSO Forum, Auckland, Aotearoa, 12-14 August 2008

In association with the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Government Organizations (PIANGO), the Niue Organizing Committee hosted the 2008 Civil Societies Organizations (CSO) Forum on behalf of the Niue Island Association of NGOs and Niue.

As in years past, the 2008 CSO Forum preceded the Pacific Islands Forum by a few days. This approach was adopted by the early CSO Forum organizers in order to prepare and provide the CSO Communiqué to the Pacific Forum documenting concerns, requests, and comments on issues significant to the peoples of Pasifika.

The 39th meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum was held in Auckland, Aotearoa 19-21 August 2008, but a CSO Forum Communiqué was NOT submitted to the Pacific Islands Forum for their consideration. This is most unfortunate because the CSO Forum is one of, if not the largest and most influential political lobby in Pasifika specifically coming together each year to address significant Pasifika civil issues.

Despite the apparent back-door decision (no vote by the participant organizations was ever taken) not to submit an official communiqué, a coalition on organizations did submit a statement to the Pacific Forum based on the findings of the Human Rights and Self-Determination working group at the CSO Forum. The final statement that resulted from the findings of that working group includes these concerns:

1) We congratulate the Federated States of Micronesia and Special Observer Timor Leste for supporting the United Nations (UN) Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIP) in the vote in the General Assembly last December, and Australia for subsequently announcing their support. We request that the Pacific Islands Forum participants that either voted against, abstained, or were absent from the UNGA vote on the DRIP join these states in formally supporting the Declaration.

Further, we recommend that the Pacific Islands Forum initiate a process to establish a mechanism to implement the DRIP in the Pacific region. We suggest this process include Pasifik civil society organizations. Additionally, we invite the Pacific Islands Forum to collaborate with Pasifik civil society organizations to develop a Declaration on the Rights of Pasifik Peoples to compliment the DRIP.

2) Immoral and illicit human rights abuses were applied in removing many nations from the UN list of decolonization; such abuses of justice MUST NOT be allowed to continue. We urge the Pacific Islands Forum to take immediate steps to support the re-inscription of nations that were removed from the UN list of decolonization. These nations include, but are not limited to Hawaii, West Papua, Rapa Nui, Tahiti, and Wallis & Futuna.

3) We implore the Pacific Islands Forum to support the right of Pasifik peoples to travel throughout the Pasifik region and beyond free of undue harassment through the application of higher levels of security scrutiny by occupying governments such as the French state, the USA, and others. Although our appearance may not conform to European standards, the uniqueness of our appearance is not just cause to hold Pasifik peoples to a higher level of security scrutiny than others.

4) We call on the Pacific Islands Forum to establish a mandatory consultation process for foreigners proposing financial investments in the Pasifik. The consultation process must include local and indigenous communities and civil society organizations. The intent of this request is to provide Pasifik peoples with an opportunity to provide our prior free and informed consent or denial to proposed foreign investments. In addition, we strongly urge the Pacific Islands Forum include a mechanism to insure that our public trust natural resources such as water are never privatized for-profit.

5) We ask that Pacific Islands Forum participants whose nations may engage in military training cease participation in RIMPAC and other military exercises conducted in occupied countries such as, but not limited to Hawaii, West Papua, Rapa Nui, Tahiti, Wallis & Futuna. We further request that the Pacific Islands Forum submit a letter to all occupying governments of Pasifik Island nations stating that the Pacific Islands Forum joins with its associate civil society organizations to denounce human rights violations and the on-going suppression of the right to self-determination through on-going belligerent occupations.

Human Rights and Self Determination Working Group Participants:
Rex Rumaikiek, West Papua
Claire Cronin, Fiji,
Vaasiliifiti Moelagi Jackson, Samoa,
Mele Halapua, Aotearoa
Joy Ramsay, Aotearoa
Isaac Harp, Hawaii
Ana Currie, Hawaii
Gabriel Tetiarahi, Tahiti
Marie M. Ayawa
Ahohiva Levi, Niue
Nainasa Whippy, Fiji
Edwina Hughes, Aotearoa
Jereana Lokanasiga, Fiji
Riona F. Vavatau, Samoa
Popu A. Fakamua, Tuvalu
Joan Macdonald, Aotearoa
Moses Havini, Papua New Guinea

submitted by Isaac Harp, October 2008