Page 15 - IB JAN 2017

Tribute
Pacific loses anti-nuclear advocate

Death

of a

warrior

FOR decades John Taaroa Nui Doom
stood against the French Republic in a
defiant bid to end nuclear testing in his
home – Maohi.
Often a lone voice at regional and The loss of John Taaroa Nui Doom, right, is felt far beyond the shores of French Polynesia. Photo: File
international events – including the he continued to fight for Tahitian nation- World Council of Churches Pacific Of-
World Council of Churches – he called alisation of the islands. fice in Geneva which was to become the
forcefully for the recognition of the rights His removal from the local political rallying point of the international fight
of indigenous people in France’s Pacific scene cleared the way for nuclear testing. against the French nuclear tests within
territories. In 1964, Doom denounced Oopa’s the framework of the organization “Eu-
The end of French nuclear testing in exile and demanded a public inquiry rope Pacific Solidarity”.
the Pacific in 1996 was due in a large prior to the installation of the nuclear Doom was known globally not only for
part to the actions and passion of this test center at Mururoa. his work on behalf of victims of nuclear
humble yet forceful man. On July 2, 1966 when the first French tests, but also in the Protestant churches
More recently he stood in solidar- bomb was detonated at Mururoa, Doom of the Pacific, Africa, Asia, Europe and
ity with the people of Kanaky (New was on Mangareva, 427 kilometres America he met Since the 1960s as a
Caledonia) and West Papua even as his away, as interpreter of the French Over- representative of the Maohi Protestant
own people in French Polynesia (Maohi) seas Minister, Pierre Billotte. Church, and then as one of the co-chairs
called for greater autonomy. But fallout from the blast was so bad of the World Council of Churches.
On Christmas Day, Doom – commonly that the French delegation was forced to He was honoured in 2000 as an “im-
known throughout the regional ecumen- flee the site, leaving a local population mortal” by the Tahitian Academy.
ical movement as Papa (father) or Papy in complete ignorance. One tribute to this former Pacific Con-
(grandfather) died peacefully at home in From that point there was no turning ference of Churches executive committee
Papeete, aged 80, succumbing to cancer. back for the young Doom who went on member said: “Having crossed the his-
Born on Tubuai in the Austral Islands to lead the Mururoa e Tatou (Mururoa is tory of Polynesia from the time of the
in 1936, Doom became a deacon of the Ours) movement and fight for the rights French Establishments of Oceania to that
Protestant Church, later to be renamed of victims of French nuclear testing. of the Pacific Experimental Center - from
the Etaretia Porotetani Maohi (Maohi He was, as a founding member of the the time of the mother-of-pearl diver to
Protestant Church). Tahitian academy Te fare Vana’a, a great the Internet age - John is considered a
Eventually he would became its gen- protector of the Tahitian language. metua (elder) unanimously heard and
eral secretary after serving in several In 1981 Doom – in his role as gen- respected. He has left us and we are
parishes throughout the islands. eral secretary of the local church newly deeply moved.”
Doom represented his church to the freed from its strings to the Protestant The Trade Union Central No Te Aru
Pacific Conference and World Council of Missions of Paris – built relationships Tai Mareva described Doom who was its
Churches, urging those organisations with his counterparts and the Christian honorary president as metua, our grand-
and their associates to condemn French Churches of the Pacific. father, our father and respected friend.
nuclear testing. These groups were concerned about “The office of No Te Aru Tai Mareva
His great passion against nuclear tests the consequences of US nuclear experi- consulted him and waited for his advice
began when, as a young man in the ments in the Marshall Islands and Brit- before acting on all subjects that touched
islands in the 1950s, Doom watched as ish testing in Australia and Christmas our fenua (land and people) from near
pro-democracy fighter Pouvanaa a Oopa Island. or far,” a statement from the union said.
called for the first referendum to remove Eventually the churches would stand “His departure up is not the end of the
France from French Polynesia. together and the local church would actions of No Te Aru Tai Mareva, but the
Oopa – of Danish and Maohi descent speak out against French tests. beginning.”
– was exiled to France because of where In 1989 John Doom established the n Invictus News and Features Service

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