PACIFIC nations have been urged to unite in demanding justice, compensation and support for communities affected by decades of nuclear weapons testing.
Fiji’s Minister for Defence and Veterans Affairs, Pio Tikoduadua, made the call while opening the three-day Pacific Regional Dialogue on the Implementation of Articles 6 and 7 of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in Lami.
The dialogue, held at the Vuvale Maritime Essential Services Centre, brought together government representatives, nuclear test survivors, veterans, families and civil society organisations.
Tikoduadua said the consequences of nuclear testing continued to affect Pacific communities across generations.
He highlighted the experiences of Fijian servicemen deployed to Christmas Island between 1957 and 1962, many of whom were exposed to nuclear testing risks without adequate information.
He said Article 6 addressed victim assistance and environmental remediation, while Article 7 focused on international cooperation and assistance.
The Minister called for stronger regional cooperation, improved healthcare, environmental restoration and sustainable financing for affected communities.
He also demanded accountability from countries responsible for nuclear testing.
“Those that did it must pay,” Tikoduadua said.
President of the Returned Soldiers and Ex-Servicemen’s Association of Fiji (RSESA), Peni Volavola, said recognition alone was insufficient without healthcare, compensation and meaningful assistance.
He urged participants to establish a community-driven trust fund, ensure veterans and descendants were included in treaty implementation, and create a Pacific TPNW steering committee.
Volavola said the dialogue represented an opportunity to move from historical recognition towards practical solutions for survivors.
The discussions were expected to strengthen the Pacific’s collective position ahead of the treaty’s first review conference later this year.
Tikoduadua reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to a nuclear-free Pacific, urging regional leaders to speak with one voice against further nuclear testing and ensure affected families received justice.
