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RNZ News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Cook Islands' Christian nation proposal rejected
By Rashneel Kumar , Cook Islands News The proposed amendment sought to have the Cook Islands recognised as a Christian nation and to prohibit the introduction of non-Christian religions. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Eleisha Foon The proposed constitutional amendment to declare the Cook Islands a Christian nation has been rejected by a parliamentary committee, which deemed it discriminatory and a violation of fundamental human rights, and further recommended the repeal of the Religious Organisations Restrictions Act. Foreign Minister Tingika Elikana, chair of the Special Select Committee on Religious Organisations - established last year to address the ongoing debate on religious organisations - presented its report to Parliament yesterday. The proposed amendment sought to have the Cook Islands recognised as a Christian nation and to prohibit the introduction of non-Christian religions. According to the report, the Committee, after considering the arguments on both sides and the current legal framework, believes that the proposed amendment to recognise the Cook Islands as a Christian nation infringes upon fundamental human rights, including freedom of religion and speech, set out in Article 64 of the Constitution. Furthermore, it could lead to discrimination against non-Christian faiths, the report stated. Foreign Minister Tingika Elikana and chair of the Special Select Committee on Religious Organisations. (file image) Photo: Johnny Blades / VNP The Committee believes that the Preamble of the Constitution sufficiently captures, among other important matters, the significance of Christian principles in the Cook Islands. The Preamble to the Constitution reads: "In the Holy Name of God, The Almighty, The Everloving, And The Everlasting. We, the people of the Cook Islands, recognising the heritage of Christian principles, Cook Islands Custom, and the rule of law, remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day, being the that day of the week which, according to a person's belief and conscience, is the Sabbath of the Lord." In its report, the Committee agreed with the Cook Islands Law Society that the rule of law requires that laws are applied fairly, equally and without discrimination to all individuals within a jurisdiction. "The Committee is compelled to adopt measures that uphold inclusivity, equality, and fundamental freedoms, ensuring alignment with both domestic and international standards," the report said. "The Committee therefore rejects the proposed amendments to the Constitution: i. It infringes Article 64 of the Constitution; ii. The Preamble of the Constitution sufficiently captures the importance of Christian principles in the Cook Islands." The Committee also concluded that the Religious Organisations Restrictions Act (RORA), which restricts the establishment of religious organisations in the Cook Islands, is "unconstitutional and should be repealed". The Committee agreed with the submissions of the Law Society, which is summarised below. The RORA: The above restrictions do not apply to the Cook Islands Christian Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and any organisation or association approved by the Minister of Justice. According to the Committee, the four Churches listed in the RORA are all of Christian denomination, adding "RORA effectively prohibits the practice of any non-Christian religion or faith in the Cook Islands". The Committee stated prima facie, the RORA offends against fundamental human rights by: The Committee said the RORA contradicts Article 64 of the Constitution by effectively creating a legislative prohibition on all non-Christian faiths, and even Christian faiths other than the four named in the Act, and treats unequally persons of different faiths, discriminating against and marginalising people of non-Christian faith. It also offends against the freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of speech and expression and the freedom of peaceful assembly and association. "For the above reasons, the restrictions imposed by the RORA are overtly unconstitutional. The RORA's provisions explicitly discriminate against unapproved religions, violating principles of non-discrimination. "Restricting religious practices must be proportional to legitimate public interests. The RORA's blanket restrictions exceed what is necessary to protect public safety or order." The Committee also said Article 64(2) of the Constitution permits limitations to Constitutional rights in the interest of protecting the rights and freedoms of others or in the interests of public safety, order, or morals, the general welfare, or the security of the Cook Islands. Any such limitation must meet the proportionality test under Article 65(2). "The Committee agrees that the RORA fails the proportionality test. As such, there are no grounds on which the RORA could be deemed consistent with the Constitution on the basis of morality. As such, the RORA is unconstitutional and should be repealed." According to the Committee, the Religious Advisory Council (RAC), which not only made written submissions to the Committee but also appeared before the Committee, has been "mistakenly" accepted as having an advisory role in several matters, such as church, immigration, seabed mining, etc. "However, the problem is that RAC is not a legally incorporated body and therefore, has no formal or legal status." The Committee recommends that the Minister responsible for the RORA take the necessary steps to: Members of the Special Select Committee also included MP Rakahanga and Opposition Leader Tina Pupuke-Browne, MP Matavera Vaitoti Tupa, MP Ruaau Timi Tunui Varu, Deputy Prime Minister and Ruatonga-Avatiu-Palmerston-Panama-Atupa MP Albert Nicholas, MP Amuri-Ureia Toanui Isamaela, and MP Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara Tereapii Maki-Kavana. -This article was first published by Cook Islands News .
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
China Pauses Sanctions on US Companies in Trade War Climbdown
China has walked back nontariff measures imposed in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff hikes. The suspension, announced Wednesday by the country's Commerce Ministry, covers both trade and investment bans on 17 U.S. companies and a pause on export restrictions involving dual-use civilian-military goods. Newsweek contacted the White House for comment via email. The moves are part of a broader effort to de-escalate the tit-for-tat trade war launched during Trump's first term, which sharply intensified after his April tariff hikes and led to an effective trade embargo on U.S.-China trade. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng reached a temporary deal over the weekend to cut tariffs by 115 percent on both sides. Trump, who hailed the deal as a "total reset," seeks to revive U.S. manufacturing and close the almost $300 billion trade deficit with China-an outcome critics call unlikely given that China exports more than three times as much to the U.S. as Washington exports to Beijing. In the joint statement that emerged from U.S.-China talks in Geneva, Switzerland, China pledged to suspend or cancel nontariff countermeasures it had imposed on the U.S. since April 2. This includes a pause on the investment and trade bans placed on 17 U.S. companies, which were added to the commerce ministry's Unreliable Entity List on April 4 and 9. In a separate statement, the ministry said it would also suspend-again for 90 days-export controls on 28 U.S. entities involving dual-use items, or products with both military and civilian applications, announced on the same two dates. The ministry did not specify which commodities would now be allowed for export. However, it had a separate April 4 notice that banned the export of seven types of rare earths-metallic elements critical to a range of defense and civilian technologies. China dominates the global rare earth supply chain, accounting for 60 percent of production and 90 percent of processing-a stranglehold the U.S. considers a national security risk. China's Commerce Ministry said in a statement: "To implement the consensus reached during the China-U.S. Geneva trade talks, effective May 14, 2025, the measures announced on April 4 … and April 9 … will be suspended for 90 days. "According to the regulations, during the suspension period, domestic enterprises may apply to resume transactions with these entities, and the Unreliable Entity List mechanism will approve applications that meet the conditions." It remains to be seen how trade negotiations will unfold over the next three months. A 10 percent blanket tariff on U.S. goods remains in effect. The U.S., for its part, maintains 30 percent duties on Chinese imports-comprising a 10 percent base tariff applied to most trade partners last month, plus an additional 20 percent penalty over China's role as a major source of chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl. Related Articles Upholding Religious Freedom Abroad Advances America's Vital National Interests | OpinionUS Ally Receives F-35 Boost for Future China FightChina Builds New Structure in Disputed Waters Claimed by US AllyUS Ally Confronts Armed Chinese Ships in Disputed Waters 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
