Pacific civil society leaders call for change to Pacific Plan [1]
Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 10:13. Updated on Wednesday, October 1, 2014 - 14:51.
The Pacific Civil Society Forum Meeting yesterday evening (October 24) called on Forum Leaders to redraft the controversial Pacific Plan.
The chair person of the Civil Society Forum Meeting, the High Chief of Samoa, Mrs Jackson presented the Secretary General of the Forum, Greg Urwin with what she called, "the Voice of the People of the Pacific", a statement, outlining demands for amendment to the Pacific Plan.
Mrs Jackson said that the Civil Society has come a long way over the years, and those who were involved in Civil Society activities were no longer regarded as "radicals and trouble makers" but representatives of the people.
In accepting a copy of the Civil Society statement Greg Urwin thanked the Civil Society for their participation and stressed the importance for a closer working relationship between the Civil Society and the Pacific Forum. He said that he would present the statement to the Forum Leaders before opening of the Forum Meeting on October 25.
The first complete draft of the Pacific Plan is to be presented to the Forum leaders meeting this week.
Representatives from Civil Society national groups from throughout the Pacific have been meeting in Port Moresby during the past four days to formulate a civil society reaction to the Pacific Plan.
Calling for freeze on free trade negotiations
The Voice of the People of the Pacific Statement called on Forum Leaders to action a number of amendments.
With regards to free trade agreement it called on the Forum to freeze all free trade negotiations, reject the PACER from the plan, and cease further accession by Forum member countries from the WTO.
It also called on Forum countries to establish mechanisms for the monitoring of all human rights instruments including labour rights and to promote the ratification of those that have not been considered, working in liaison with civil society organisations and governments.
On Security matters it called for a definite timeframe for the withdrawal of RAMSI from the Solomons.
The Civil Society also called on Forum Leaders to recognize the right of West Papua, Rapa Nui, Tahiti Nui and Hawaii for self-determination, and for West Papua to be granted an observer status in the Forum.
The Civil Society Forum also demanded for civil society organisations to be involved more in the implementation, monitoring and the evaluation of the Pacific Plan and for fundings to be made available to these Civil Society Organisations.