Sitiveni Rabuka, sitting middle, flanked by Vanuatu PM Ishmael Kalsakau, left, and Solomon Islands PM Manasseh Sogavare, right, signs up to the Udaune Declaration on Climate Change and the Efate Declaration on Security at the 22nd Melanesian Spearhead Group Leader's Summit in Port Vila. 24 August 2023 Photo: RNZ Pacific / Kelvin Anthony
One of Fiji's deputy prime minister Viliame Gavoka has appealed to the country's prime minister to review his stance on Japan's disposal of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean.
Sitiveni Rabuka supports Japan's compliance with safety protocols outlined by the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency.
However, Rabuka also spoke about the need for an independent scientific assessment.
He has also signed off on the Melanesian Spearhead Group's Udaune Decralation on Climate Change, in which leaders of FLNKS of New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu "strongly urged Japan "not to discharge the treated water into the Pacific Ocean until and unless the treated water is incontrovertibly proven scientifically to be safe to do so and seriously consider other options like use in concrete".
Japan has, however, has already begun the release of the treated nuclear wastewater despite strong condmenation from the region and across the world.
Gavoka, who's also the leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA), further highlighted the concerns of his party's youth wing, who also implored Rabuka to reconsider his position.
The SODELPA leader acknowledged the diversity of opinions within the coalition government and the allowance for conscience votes, underlining the dynamics of political relationships.
SODELPA general secretary Viliame Takayawa is also concerned, particularly noting the view that Rabuka has taken on the role of a national leader.
He confirmed that the party intends to communicate directly with the prime minister on Tuesday to raise this pressing issue.