Oro Governor Garry Juffa has described the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) as a tool used by Australia to win economic agenda in the recolonisation of the Pacific.
Juffa said since its creation, the PIF which is primarily funded by Australia, has been nothing more than an entity that pushes Australian economic and political agenda.
However, Juffa said the appointment of Dame Meg Taylor as the General Secretary for PIF has somewhat changed everything.
He said Dame Taylor has actually given true relevance to the organization and has encouraged greater participation by peoples of the pacific and their governments’ and has refused to be a mere puppet entity pushing neocolonial visions and fantasies.
“Her staunch advocacy for pacific islands concerns are remarkable and admirable and a breath of fresh air.
“Her fight to have West Papuans..a Pacific people imprisoned unlawfully by Indonesia with the blessing of the West...recognised and their horrific mistreatment which includes rape, murder and torture brought under the spotlight are but testaments to true solidarity.”
Juffa added that under the leadership of Dame Taylor, “we in the Pacific can see that the PIF can do more than just be a pool of Aussie and NZ academics and Pacific Uncle Tom type ex-senior public servants who appear to do so much but are merely promoting neo-colonisation.”