Indigenous People in Colonised Countries of the Pacific Peace Statement

Forum For Pacific Peace and Human Security, Peace Boat,

September 2000.

We, Indigenous people from the lands known as Aotearoa, Japan and Australia, all bound by the Pacific, met at the Forum For Pacific Peace and Human Security, held on the Peace Boat from 21 - 26 September 2000. We identified and considered issues that we believe require urgent attention and action to attain lasting Peace in the Pacific.

As a result:

• We call for an agreement of lasting peace between all nations;

• We recognise the introduction of foreign political systems have sought to remove our sovereignty;

• We reassert our right to self determination and reconfirm that colonial powers cannot interfere with our sovereignty;

• We agree that in exercising our sovereign rights, land, the control of resources including all flora and fauna, the seas and fresh water, remain the property of Indigenous Peoples;

• We affirm our right to implement and utilise our own Indigenous forms of education;

• We reject the process of globalisation as it attacks our sovereignty;

• We condemn any militarisation in the Pacific whatsoever, and reject the use of force as a means to achieve Peace, disputes must be resolved by mediation and negotiation;

• We declare that there must be an immediate prohibition on all uranium mining and that no transportation of uranium based products be through the Pacific whatsoever. The prohibition must also be extended to include the transportation of any other toxic or like substance that could affect us and the environment in an adverse way;

• We reject open entry migration into our nations, however, we do not reject migration outright, but must be included in the decision making processes;

• We recognise that the introduction of oppressive Criminal Justice Systems has resulted in high levels of Indigenous incarceration, and for many, subsequent death. These matters can only be addressed effectively by Indigenous dispute resolution methods;

• We reaffirm that Indigenous intellectual property rights remain within the sovereignty of Indigenous People.

• the Peace Vision from the Forum for Pacific Peace and Human Security 2000;

• the Manifesto 2000 for a culture of Peace and Non-violence;

• the Kareoka Document signed in Rio de Janeiro 1992;

• and, initiatives such as those taken by the Peace Boat and NFIP as a means of forging networks and partnerships for Peace in the Pacific and the rest of the world.

Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific, further articles

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