Rabuka's Pacific Ocean of Peace Plan Under Fire

The Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) is concerned about the narratives around Christian Zionism that are being pushed to gain political traction around the Pacific for the support of Israel.   

PCC General secretary Reverend James Bhagwan raised the concern when questioned by the Pacific media on how supporting Israel in the ongoing conflict in Gaza would weigh against the principles of the Ocean of Peace concept.  

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka coined the Ocean of Peace concept, introducing it at the 53rd Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) in Cook Islands in 2023. After several dialogues, leaders are expected to endorse its first Ocean of Peace declaration at this week’s 54th PIFLM in Honiara, Solomon Islands.  

But Mr Rabuka’s support for Israel and his announcement that Fiji will open its embassy in Jerusalem, Israel, have been heavily criticised by those who view this move as a twisted theology for political purposes, while neglecting domestic priorities.  

“It's the same as when theology gets twisted for ethnonationalism, for racism, as an excuse to address or to neglect or even harm the marginalised communities in our region,” Rev Bhagwan said.  

“So, we must be very clear. If we are going to be gathering at a time talking about an ocean of peace, we cannot talk about peace in our region and then engage and support those who do war, who do murder, and do harm on others.” 

Responding to a statement from a member of the Fijian community, who had acknowledged Fiji's Christian ties with Israel and the setting up of Fiji's embassy in Jerusalem, Mr Rabuka said: "The decision to open the Fijian embassy in Jerusalem is not a Christian decision. If it's a Christian decision we would have received a lot of backlash."

He clarified that the decision to open the embassy was a Government of Fiji decision.

Mr Rabuka said Fiji took part in peacekeeping for years, and the Pacific needed the same peace, and he hoped the Pacific leaders would endorse the Ocean of Peace.

“We have gone to keep the peace in other parts of the world. What about our part of the world in the Pacific. Peace is not just about wars. Peace is when a mother can put her child to bed at night and know that nothing can happen to them in the night, no wave can wash away their home at night, peace of mind when they live every day.” 

Concerns

Civil society organisations (CSOs) have also raised questions on how the Ocean of Peace extends to legacy issues surrounding ethnic and political tensions in the region, particularly West Papua and New Caledonia.  

Pacific Regional Non-Governmental Organisations Alliance (PRNGOs) chairperson, Joey Tau, said leaders must elaborate on the Oceans of Peace principles.  

“It would be interesting to hear what the leaders from the Northern Pacific would say in the context of the nuclear legacies, and the arising trends like the Fukushima,” he said.  

“What does the Ocean of Peace mean in the context of deep-sea mining, in the context of Fukushima, in the context of conflict in our region.”  

Pacific Women Mediators Network coordinator, Sharon Bhagwan Rolls emphasised Ocean of Peace declaration must align with a demilitarised, denuclearised, and decolonised Pacific.  

“You can't have an ocean of peace where you still have militarisation, where you still have the flow of nuclear waste, or we have not resolved the humanitarian impact of nuclear fallout and decolonised in terms of the issue of self-determination,” she said.  

“But even going beyond just political independence, the kind of self-determination where we are talking about our peace and development in a way as Pacific Islander people. 

Prime Minister Rabuka said to this newspaper that the Ocean of Peace declaration was not only going to address regional security issues, but also considered climate change, ethnic and political tensions and other existing regional issues.  

He said the Ocean of Peace declaration would extend beyond the region’s borders, reaching war-torn areas, such as the Israel-Palestine war in Gaza.  

Mr Rabuka had also clarified that Fiji’s support for Israel is based on its membership in the United Nations General Assembly.