Regional leaders will meet for the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga from the 26th to the 30th of August 2024.
This follows their recent visit to Japan in July for the Pacific Alliance Leaders Meeting [PALM 10]; Japan’s pillar of foreign policy with Pacific Island leaders.
High on the agenda in Japan was the dumping of nuclear waste water into the Pacific ocean; that agenda will again be a priority discussion among regional leaders in Tonga.
![PIF Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark Brown (left) with PIF Secretary General, Baron Waqa at 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10)in Japan. [[Photo://Sincha Dimara-InsidePNG]]](https://insidepng.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Copy-of-Facebook-Post-Template-41.png)
PIF Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark Brown (left) with PIF Secretary General, Baron Waqa at 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10)in Japan. [[Photo://Sincha Dimara-InsidePNG]]
The view taken by leaders headed by Pacific Islands Forum chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark Brown is that Japan’s treatment of the radioactive waste meets the standard set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
When asked by the media if allowing Japan to dump nuclear waste or treated water in the Pacific Ocean was against the Rarotonga Treaty, Mr Brown said quote, “No, the water has been treated to remove harmful isotopes, so it’s well within the standard guidelines as outlined by the global authority on nuclear matters, the IAEA.“
This view is seen as Mr Brown backtracking on PIFs previous stand in 2023 where he said quote, “Our people do not have anything to gain from Japan’s plan but have much at risk for generations to come.”
The Rarotonga Treaty, a Cold War-era agreement prohibits nuclear weapons testing and deployment in the region, but it does not specifically address the discharge of the treated nuclear waste water.
Another long-standing issue is the legacy of nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands by the US between 1946 and 1958. The United States Institute of Peace has reported that the impact of nuclear testing from cancer to displacement to environmental contamination still plague the Marshall Islands today.
Meanwhile, Pacific Civil Society organizations continue to condemn Japan’s action. Of the 1.3 million tonnes of ALPS treated nuclear waste water, the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has conducted seven sets of dumping into the Pacific Ocean and the eighth is due to commence soon.
Japan itself is defending its action saying it will continue to follow international safety standards and ongoing monitoring by IAEA. It will continue to have dialogue with Pacific leaders and support initiatives that mobilizes Japan technology and financial resources.
The annual Pacific Island Forum leaders meeting in Tonga will convene and engage in discussions and agree on policies that benefit the people in the region.
ABC Pacific Beat recently reported that Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka gave strong backing to a plan to overhaul Pacific policing. Mr Rabuka also said he will make an apology to Melanesian leaders at the meeting in Tonga for failing to secure an agreement to visit Indonesia’s West Papua province.
At last year’s PIF Leaders meeting in Cook Islands, the Melanesian Spearhead Group appointed Mr Rabuka and PNG Prime Minister James Marape as the “Special Envoys” on West Papua.
Fiji’s Prime Minister said he is still committed to a visit and would like to make the trip after incoming Indonesian President Prabowo Subinato takes office.
Prime Minister Marape meanwhile is ready to welcome Indonesia’s President- today (Wednesday 21st August 2024). Both leaders’ bilateral agenda will include discussions on West Papua.
Source: PANG Communications
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