Banabans

actove at Forum

The Banaban people of Rabi Island took advantage of the South Pacific Forum’s inter est in self-determination for New Caledonia to press its own case for independence for Ocean Island.

David Christopher, sec retary to the Rabi Council of Leaders, lobbied delegates and presented most of the forum leaders with a docu ment outlining Rabi’s objec

tives. The Rabi situation was not, however, discussed by

orum ‘

Rabi’s views were supported by a covering letter signed by the chairman of the Rabi Council of Leaders, the Rev Kaitangare Kaburoro.

Rabi is part of Fiji, and the Banabans of Rabi are Fiji citizens, but their ancestral home is Ocean Island, or Banaba, which they still possess, although the phosphate has now been exhausted.

Banaba is part of Kiribati.

Mr Kaburoro’s letter says that the Rabi Islanders are pressing their right to selfgovernment for Banaba, and continues: ‘We are distressed

at the selfish, irresponsible and unco-operative attitude of the Kiribati Government in this matter. Perhaps they have been taught this mode of behaviour by Britain, which has a shocking record of exploitation of the Banabans. ‘We pray that you will give our cause sympathetic con sideration. We feel that our approach to you is timely in view of the Forum’s proposed intention of requesting France to grant freedom to its Pacific colonies. We humbly state that we too are deserving of political free dom.’ • See also Political Cur rents.