Minister for Justice and Social Welfare Ronald Warsal says Vanuatu’s independence celebrations should be a time to reflect on the hardships faced by “our brothers and sisters” who have not enjoyed the same freedom Vanuatu enjoys today.
In his opening speech to celebrate Vanuatu’s 36th anniversary of independence, Mr Warsal said we should reflect on our brothers and sisters from Tahiti, the Kanakys, South Moluccas and West Papua at this time.
He recalled Late Fr Lini’s remark that Vanuatu is never free until our fellow brothers and sisters are also free.
“We, the people are not really free when security forces of the colonised countries continue to murder our brothers and sisters”….
Hundreds of people who joined the march from Chantilly’s to the Independence Garden listened as Minister Warsal continued “We are not really free if we allow monetary politics to prevent us from speaking out on the rights of our brothers and sisters”….
“We are not really free if we continue to allow the fear of the barrel of guns and bombs to prevents us from speaking out in favour of the fundamental rights of our brothers and sisters…” he said.
The march, one of the biggest in numbers, was to remind people of the pre-independence freedom march that was led by the Makura Tokelau String Band with everyone singing “We are marching along…..”
Yesterday afternoon, Vanuatu flags waved high in support of the minister’s remarks that “We are not really free if the identity and land of our brothers and sisters are under the bondage of corruption”
“We are not really free if the sweat of the workers and the brain of the educated is used to steal, kill and destroy”.
Mr Warsal continued his poetry remark that Vanuatu people are not really free until we come to realise freedom in this sense - “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free."
We are not really free until we live according to Christian principles and in accordance with “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty."
The minister also challenged everyone to celebrate as Christians and as people of Vanuatu and as people of God and as sons and daughters of God.
