Fiji, Oct. 26 -- The Ma'ohi Protestant Church has warned that a United States proposal to abolish the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation would silence colonised peoples seeking self-determination.

In a statement, the church said it supported the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) in opposing the proposal raised by the United States before the UN Fourth Committee on 15 October.

The church said abolishing the Special Committee on Decolonization, also known as the C-24, would remove a key forum for colonised peoples to raise their concerns.

"To close the one forum where colonised peoples are heard would not end colonialism. It would end only the hearing," said church president Reverend Francois Pihataae, who signed the s...