Anti-nuclear marches planned in Tahiti

RNZ

A French Polynesian anti-nuclear group says it will hold two peaceful marches on the Tahiti peninsula on Friday and Saturday in the lead-up to the weekend commemorations of France's first nuclear weapons test in the Pacific.

Photo: Facebook Association 193

The Association 193 said the marches would be from Tautira to Taravao and from Taravao to Teahupoo to try to hold to account those responsible for the damage caused by the 193 atomic tests.

The group's vice president Auguste Uebe-Carlson said efforts to submit files for compensation were being frustrated by red tape, cost and above all fear to encounter repercussions on a personal level.

Father Auguste said there was no progress in getting the authorities to organise a local referendum on the impact of the tests despite tens of thousands of people having signed a petition to that effect.

He said the Association had also failed to get a response to its grievances from the new head of the local body looking at the aftermath of France's nuclear weapons tests.

Father Auguste said there appeared to be a denial that the fall-out affected all of French Polynesia.

In the lead-up to the French presidential election, Emmanuel Macron promised that Paris would pay in full the medical costs incurred by those suffering from radiation-induced illnesses.

GUAM WAR REPARATIONS SUBJECT OF PANEL DISCUSSION JUNE 30

"FRENCH POLYNESIA REMAINS A NON SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORY ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER" - U.N. COMMITTEE

"...General Assembly resolution 67/265 of 17 May 2013, which provided for the reinscription of French Polynesia on the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, was reaffirmed by the conclusion of a Self-Governance Assessment of the Territory, presented to the Fourth Committee on 4 October 2016, that the Territory did not meet the full measure of self-government;" - U.N. Decolonization Committee Resolution adopted on 22nd June 2017.

RESOLUTION

Question of French Polynesia

          The General Assembly,

          Having considered the question of French Polynesia,

          Having examined the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples for 2017 relating to French Polynesia,[1]

          Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on French Polynesia[2] and other relevant information,

          Reaffirming the right of peoples to self-determination, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and in accordance with all relevant resolutions, including General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960,

          Recalling its resolution 67/265 of 17 May 2013, entitled “Self-determination of French Polynesia”, in which it affirmed the inalienable right of the people of French Polynesia to self-determination and independence in accordance with Chapter XI of the Charter and its resolution 1514 (XV), recognized that French Polynesia remains a Non-Self-Governing Territory within the meaning of the Charter, and declared that an obligation exists under Article 73 e of the Charter on the part of the Government of France, as the administering Power of the Territory, to transmit information on French Polynesia,

          Taking note of the section related to French Polynesia of the Final Document of the Seventeenth Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Algiers from 26 to 29 May 2014,[3]

          Expressing concern that 57 years after the adoption of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,[4] there still remain 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories, including French Polynesia,

          Recognizing that all available options for self-determination of the Territories are valid as long as they are in accordance with the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned, on a case-by-case basis and in conformity with the clearly defined principles contained in General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV), 1541 (XV) and other relevant resolutions of the Assembly,

          Recognizing also that the specific characteristics and the aspirations of the people of French Polynesia require flexible, practical and innovative approaches to the options for self-determination, without any prejudice to territorial size, geographical location, size of population or natural resources,

          Reaffirming the inalienable rights of the people of French Polynesia to the ownership, control and disposal of their natural resources, including marine resources and undersea minerals,

          Conscious of the responsibility of the administering Power to ensure the full and speedy implementation of the Declaration in respect of French Polynesia,

          Mindful that, in order for the Special Committee to enhance its understanding of the political status of the peoples of the Territories and to fulfil its mandate effectively, on a case-by-case basis, it is important for it to be apprised by the administering Powers and to receive information from other appropriate sources, including the representatives of the Territories, concerning the wishes and aspirations of the people of the Territories,

          Recognizing the significant health and environmental impacts of nuclear testing conducted by the administering Power in the Territory over a 30 year period, and recognizing also the concerns in the Territory related to the consequences of those activities for the lives and health of the people, especially children and vulnerable groups, as well as the environment of the region, and bearing in mind General Assembly resolution 71/89 of 6 December 2016, entitled “Effects of atomic radiation”,

          Recalling the report of the Secretary-General on the environmental, ecological, health and other impacts of the 30-year period of nuclear testing in French Polynesia,[5] prepared pursuant to paragraph 5 of General Assembly resolution 68/93 of 11 December 2013,

          Noting that, in February 2017, the administering Power amended the Act concerning the recognition and compensating of victims of nuclear tests[6] in order to allow for the compensation of a larger number of victims,

          Recognizing the need for the Special Committee to ensure that the appropriate bodies of the United Nations actively pursue a public awareness campaign aimed at assisting the peoples of the Territories in gaining a better understanding of the options for self-determination,

          Recalling the admission of French Polynesia as a full member of the Pacific Islands Forum at the forty-seventh Pacific Islands Forum, convened in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, from 8 to 10 September 2016,

          1.       Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of French Polynesia to self-determination, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples;

          2.       Also reaffirms that it is ultimately for the people of French Polynesia to determine freely their future political status in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter, the Declaration and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, and in that connection calls upon the administering Power, in cooperation with the territorial Government and appropriate bodies of the United Nations system, to develop political education programmes for the Territory in order to foster an awareness among the people of French Polynesia of their right to self-determination in conformity with the legitimate political status options, based on the principles clearly defined in Assembly resolution 1541 (XV) and other relevant resolutions and decisions;

          3.       Takes note of the statement made by the President of French Polynesia, speaking for the first time in the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee), at the seventy-first session of the General Assembly in October 2016;

          4.       Also takes note of the first participation of a representative of the Government of the Territory in the regional seminar, which in 2017 was held in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 16 to 18 May;

          5.       Notes the request by a representative of the Government of the Territory at the 2017 Caribbean regional seminar to remove French Polynesia from the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, and takes note of resolution No. 2013-3, adopted by the Assembly of French Polynesia on 30 May 2013, which repealed the resolution of the Assembly adopted in 2011, requesting the reinscription of French Polynesia on that list;

          6.       Stresses, in this regard, that General Assembly resolution 67/265 of 17 May 2013, which provided for the reinscription of French Polynesia on the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, was reaffirmed by the conclusion of a Self-Governance Assessment of the Territory, presented to the Fourth Committee on 4 October 2016, that the Territory did not meet the full measure of self-government;

          7.       Calls upon the administering Power to participate in and cooperate fully with the work of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples in order to implement the provisions of Article 73 e of the Charter and the Declaration and in order to advise the Special Committee on the implementation of the provisions under Article 73 b of the Charter on efforts to promote self-government in French Polynesia, and encourages the administering Power to facilitate visiting and special missions to the Territory;

          8.       Regrets that the administering Power has not responded to the request to submit information on French Polynesia under Article 73 e of the Charter since the reinscription of the Territory by the General Assembly in 2013;

          9.       Reaffirms that an obligation exists on the part of the administering Power to transmit information under Chapter XI of the Charter, and requests the administering Power to transmit to the Secretary-General such information on French Polynesia as called for under the Charter;

          10.     Urges the administering Power to ensure the permanent sovereignty of the people of French Polynesia over their natural resources, including marine resources and undersea minerals, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly;

          11.     Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the environmental, ecological, health and other impacts of the 30-year period of nuclear testing in French Polynesia,[7] prepared pursuant to paragraph 7 of General Assembly resolution 71/120 of 6 December 2016, and reiterates its request to the Secretary-General to provide continuous updates in this regard;

          12.     Calls upon the administering Power to intensify its dialogue with French Polynesia in order to facilitate rapid progress towards a fair and effective self-determination process, under which the terms and timelines for an act of self-determination would be agreed;

          13.     Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine the question of the Non Self-Governing Territory of French Polynesia and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its seventy-third session.

---

         [1] Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-second Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/72/23), chap. ___.

         [2] A/AC.109/2017/7.

         [3] See A/68/966-S/2014/573, annex I.

         [4] Resolution 1514 (XV).

         [5] A/69/189.

         [6] Act No. 2010-2 of 5 January 2010 concerning the recognition and compensating of victims of nuclear tests.

         [7] A/72/74.

________________________________________

Résolution

Question de la Polynésie française

L’Assemblée générale,

Ayant examiné la question de la Polynésie française,

Ayant également examiné le chapitre du rapport du Comité spécial chargé d’étudier la situation en ce qui concerne l’application de la Déclaration sur l’octroi de l’indépendance aux pays et aux peuples coloniaux sur ses travaux de 2017, qui porte sur la Polynésie française[1],

Prenant note du document de travail établi par le Secrétariat sur la Polynésie française[2] et des autres informations pertinentes,

Réaffirmant le droit des peuples à disposer d’eux-mêmes, tel qu’il est consacré par la Charte des Nations Unies et conformément à toutes ses résolutions pertinentes, notamment ses résolutions 1514 (XV) du 14 décembre 1960 et 1541 (XV) du 15 décembre 1960,

Rappelant sa résolution 67/265 du 17 mai 2013, intitulée « L’autodétermination de la Polynésie française », dans laquelle elle a affirmé le droit inaliénable du peuple de la Polynésie française à l’autodétermination et à l’indépendance, tel qu’il est consacré au Chapitre XI de la Charte et par sa résolution 1514 (XV), considéré que la Polynésie française restait un territoire non autonome au sens de la Charte, et déclaré que l’alinéa e de l’Article 73 de la Charte faisait obligation au Gouvernement français, en sa qualité de Puissance administrante, de communiquer des renseignements sur la Polynésie française,

Prenant note de la section relative à la Polynésie française figurant dans le Document final de la dix-septième Conférence ministérielle du Mouvement des pays non alignés, tenue à Alger du 26 au 29 mai 2014[3],

Constatant avec préoccupation que, 57 ans après l’adoption de la Déclaration sur l’octroi de l’indépendance aux pays et aux peuples coloniaux[4], 17 territoires, dont la Polynésie française, ne sont toujours pas autonomes,

Considérant que toutes les formules possibles d’autodétermination des territoires sont valables dès lors qu’elles correspondent aux vœux librement exprimés des peuples concernés, qu’elles sont déterminées au cas par cas et qu’elles sont conformes aux principes clairement définis dans ses résolutions 1514 (XV) et 1541 (XV) et ses autres résolutions pertinentes,

Considérant également qu’une démarche souple, pragmatique et novatrice des formules d’autodétermination s’impose, au vu des spécificités et des aspirations du peuple de la Polynésie française, indépendamment de la superficie du territoire, de sa situation géographique, de la taille de sa population ou de ses ressources naturelles,

Réaffirmant les droits inaliénables du peuple de la Polynésie française à la propriété, au contrôle et à l’utilisation de ses ressources naturelles, y compris les ressources marines et les minéraux sous-marins,

Consciente qu’il incombe à la Puissance administrante d’assurer l’application intégrale et rapide de la Déclaration en ce qui concerne la Polynésie française,

Sachant qu’il importe, pour que le Comité spécial comprenne mieux la situation politique des peuples des territoires et puisse s’acquitter efficacement de son mandat, au cas par cas, que cet organe soit tenu informé par les puissances administrantes et reçoive des renseignements d’autres sources appropriées, y compris des représentants des territoires, en ce qui concerne les vœux et aspirations des peuples des territoires,

Consciente des importantes retombées sanitaires et environnementales des essais nucléaires pratiqués dans le territoire par la Puissance administrante pendant 30 ans et des inquiétudes que suscitent dans le territoire les conséquences de ces activités sur la vie et la santé des populations, en particulier des enfants et des groupes vulnérables, et sur l’environnement de la région, et gardant à l’esprit sa résolution 71/89 du 6 décembre 2016 intitulée « Effets des rayonnements ionisants »,

Rappelant le rapport du Secrétaire général sur les retombées environnementales, écologiques, sanitaires et autres des essais nucléaires pratiqués pendant 30 ans en Polynésie française[5], établi conformément au paragraphe 5 de sa résolution 68/93 du 11 décembre 2013,

Notant qu’en février 2017, la Puissance administrante a modifié la loi relative à la reconnaissance et à l’indemnisation des victimes des essais nucléaires[6] pour qu’un plus grand nombre de victimes puissent être indemnisées,

Considérant qu’il importe que le Comité spécial veille à ce que les organes compétents de l’Organisation des Nations Unies mènent activement une campagne de sensibilisation afin d’aider les peuples des territoires à mieux comprendre les différentes options en matière d’autodétermination,

Rappelant l’admission de la Polynésie française comme membre à part entière du Forum des îles du Pacifique à sa quarante-septième session, qui s’est tenue à Pohnpei (États fédérés de Micronésie) du 8 au 10 septembre 2016,

1. Réaffirme le droit inaliénable du peuple de la Polynésie française à l’autodétermination, conformément à la Charte des Nations Unies et à sa résolution 1514 (XV) contenant la Déclaration sur l’octroi de l’indépendance aux pays et aux peuples coloniaux;

2. Réaffirme également qu’en fin de compte c’est au peuple de la Polynésie française lui-même qu’il appartient de déterminer librement son futur statut politique, conformément aux dispositions applicables de la Charte, de la Déclaration et de ses résolutions pertinentes, et, à cet égard, demande à la Puissance administrante d’agir en coopération avec le gouvernement du territoire et les organes compétents du système des Nations Unies pour mettre au point des programmes d’éducation politique dans le territoire afin de faire prendre conscience au peuple de la Polynésie française de son droit à l’autodétermination, compte tenu des différents statuts politiques légitimes envisageables sur la base des principes clairement définis dans sa résolution 1541 (XV) et les autres résolutions et décisions pertinentes;

3. Prend note de la déclaration faite par le Président de la Polynésie française, qui s’exprimait pour la première fois devant la Commission des questions politiques spéciales et de la décolonisation (Quatrième Commission) à la soixante et onzième session de l’Assemblée générale, en octobre 2016;

4. Prend note également de la participation d’un représentant du gouvernement du territoire, pour la première fois, au séminaire régional tenu en 2017 à Kingstown (Saint-Vincent-et-les Grenadines), du 16 au 18 mai;

5. Note qu’un représentant du gouvernement du territoire a demandé, au séminaire régional des Caraïbes de 2017, que la Polynésie française soit retirée de la liste des territoires non autonomes, et prend note de la résolution no 2013-3 adoptée par l’Assemblée de la Polynésie française le 30 mai 2013, par laquelle cette dernière a retiré sa résolution de 2011 appelant à la réinscription de la Polynésie française sur la liste;

6. Souligne à cet égard que l’adoption de sa résolution 67/265 du 17 mai 2013 portant réinscription de la Polynésie française sur la liste des territoires non autonomes a été réaffirmée dans les conclusions d’une évaluation du niveau d’autonomie du territoire présentées à la Quatrième Commission le 4 octobre 2016, selon lesquelles le territoire ne remplit pas l’ensemble des critères d’autonomie;

7. Demande à la Puissance administrante de prendre pleinement part et de coopérer sans réserve aux travaux du Comité spécial chargé d’étudier la situation en ce qui concerne l’application de la Déclaration sur l’octroi de l’indépendance aux pays et aux peuples coloniaux afin d’assurer l’application des dispositions de l’alinéa e de l’Article 73 de la Charte ainsi que de la Déclaration et afin de donner au Comité spécial des avis au sujet de l’application des dispositions de l’alinéa b de l’Article 73 de la Charte relatives au développement de la capacité de la Polynésie française à s’administrer elle-même, et encourage la Puissance administrante à faciliter l’envoi de missions de visite et de missions spéciales dans le territoire;

8. Déplore que la Puissance administrante n’ait pas donné suite à la demande qui lui avait été faite de soumettre au sujet de la Polynésie française les renseignements visés à l’alinéa e de l’Article 73 de la Charte depuis que le territoire a été réinscrit sur la liste des territoires non autonomes par l’Assemblée générale en 2013;

9. Réaffirme que le Chapitre XI de la Charte fait obligation à la Puissance administrante de communiquer des renseignements sur la Polynésie française et la prie de les communiquer au Secrétaire général, comme le prescrit la Charte;

10. Exhorte la Puissance administrante à garantir la souveraineté permanente du peuple de la Polynésie française sur ses ressources naturelles, y compris les ressources marines et les minéraux sous-marins, conformément à ses résolutions sur la question;

11. Prend note du rapport du Secrétaire général sur les retombées environnementales, écologiques, sanitaires et autres des essais nucléaires pratiqués pendant 30 ans en Polynésie française[7], établi en application du paragraphe 7 de sa résolution 71/120 du 6 décembre 2016, et le prie à nouveau de continuer de lui faire part de tout fait nouveau survenu sur la question;

12. Prie la Puissance administrante d’intensifier son dialogue avec la Polynésie française afin de favoriser la mise en place rapide d’un processus d’autodétermination équitable et effectif, dans le cadre duquel seront arrêtés le calendrier et les modalités de l’adoption d’un acte d’autodétermination;

13. Prie le Comité spécial de poursuivre l’examen de la question du territoire non autonome de la Polynésie française et de lui présenter un rapport à ce sujet à sa soixante-treizième session.

_____________________________________

[1] Documents officiels de l’Assemblée générale, soixante-douzième session, Supplément no 23 (A/72/23), chap._.
[2] A/AC.109/2017/7.
[3] Voir A/68/966-S/2014/573, annexe I.
[4] Résolution 1514 (XV).
[5] A/69/189.
[6] Loi no°2010-2 du 5 janvier 2010 relative à la reconnaissance et à l’indemnisation des victimes des essais nucléaires.
[7] A/72/74.

Massive profits from France's economic exploitation of French Polynesia revealed at United Nations commitee hearings

"A wide range of current and potential sources of income derived from our territory represents revenue that should be used in the development of our new economic and social model of an independent economy. Instead, such current revenue is transferred to France" - Richard Arihau Tuheiava, MP

__________________________________________

STATEMENT

H.E. Richard Ariihau TUHEIAVA

Elected Member

Assembly of French Polynesia

to the Special Committee on Decolonization

United Nations

22 June 2017

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Members of the Special Committee,

I have the honour to address you in my capacity as elected member of the House of Assembly of French Polynesia. It has been over four years since French Polynesia has been re-inscribed on its list of Non Self-Governing Territories by consensus General Assembly resolution of 17 May 2013. We reiterate our appreciation for the global support in this effort. We remain, however, disappointed that the administering Power continues to deny its obligations under Article 73(e) of the U.N. Charter to transmit information on our territory.

Mr. Chairman,

Various investigations made since Ma'ohi Nui was relisted on the C-24 list have revealed that the relationship between the administering Power and the territory of French Polynesia is financially abusive since decades, and does not ensure "the paramount interest of the inhabitants of the territory" as reflected in Article 73(a) of the UN Charter. Indeed, the administering Power has kept full control and sovereignty over the natural resources of French Polynesia. Permit several illustrations:

1) Exclusive economic zone (EEZ)

French Polynesia’s EEZ is covering 5 millions square kilometers of ocean. Although the current French organic law allows for the administrative 'competencies' of management and exploration of the natural resources to be monitored by our local elected Government, Provision 2 § 2 of the UN Convention of the Law Of Sea (UNCLOS) appears to acknowledge that full right of sovereignty over our EEZ remains with France as the State Party. The result is France is listed as the 2nd largest maritime power in the world. This rank generates sources of income in terms of international maritime trade, and a significant geopolitical influence.

2) Aerial Surface

Provision 2 § 2 of UNCLOS also extends the right of sovereignty of the administering Power over the undersea & seabed resources as well as the aerial zone above our EEZ. In this regard, France has created two taxes applicable to all its Overseas Collectivities, including in French Polynesia:

   a) The 'Redevance Océanique" fee charged to each airline company whose planes cross our aerial zone, and land at the international airport of Tahiti-Faaa, amount to several hundred millions US dollars per year, collected by the French government.

   b) An "Airport Tax' is being collected by the administering Power on every airline ticket purchased to enter in French Polynesia or to travel out of it.

3) Spatial occupation

Since the 70’s, the French spatial program conducted from its Spatial Base in Kourou, French Guyana has been a tremendous source of income for France. More than 300 artificial satellites cross the spatial zone above the 5 million sq. km2 of French Polynesia’s EEZ every hour. Such spatial activity is a significant business for the administering Power.

4) Seabed Resources

   A significant quantity of world class-quality Cobalt, Platinum and Manganese, as well as Rare Earths, has been be located within the EEZ of French Polynesia. On the matter of ownership and control of these resources, the French Organic Law governing French Polynesia  (Article 14) gives to the administering Power the unilateral authority of controlling the market of 'strategic raw materials".

Mr. Chairman,

   These are but a few examples indicating that the colonial legislation governing French Polynesia ensures the full unilateral authority of France over the natural resources of our territory. A wide range of current and potential sources of income derived from our territory represents revenue that should be used in the development of our new economic and social model of an independent economy. Instead, such current revenue is transferred to France.

Mr. Chairman,

   The second issue I wish to raise is the question of nuclear testing. We note that references to much of the information that we have provided to this Committee and the Fourth Committee in previous years on issues related to the impacts of nuclear testing has been omitted from all relevant U.N. documents. I provide two examples to this effect:

   Firstly, we have provided to this Committee the resolution of the Assembly of French Polynesia adopted on 27 November 2014 that called upon the administering Power to recognize the colonial nature of its nuclear testings in our territory.

Secondly, during the Fourth Committee hearings last year, one of the 18 petitioners Mr. Yves CONROY publicly stated that his deceased spouse has been officially recognized by the French Committee of Compensation of the Nuclear Victims as having been contaminated by one the 46 atmospheric nuclear tests conducted on Moruroa atoll - even as she had never been to the nuclear site. This revelation is scientific evidence that the French nuclear testing could have contaminated the whole population of our country! 

No reference of these documented facts was made in the U.N. documentation.

Mr. Chairman,

The omission of reference to these and other important developments surrounding the effects of nuclear testing on our people is cause for major concern that the selectivity of information continues to be influenced by the same administering Power that refuses to comply with its U.N. obligations regarding our territory.

We are hopeful that the continuous updates on this item to be included in future reports of the UN Secretary General will be more comprehensive, and consistent with the commitment to decolonization expressed by the new Secretary General in his address to the organizational session of your Special Committee last February.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chagos to be subject of International Court Advisory Opinion

MEETINGS COVERAGE

GA/11924

22 JUNE 2017

• GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 
• PLENARY

SEVENTY-FIRST SESSION, 88TH MEETING (AM)

General Assembly Adopts Resolution Seeking International Court’s Advisory Opinion on Pre-independence Separation of Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius

Minister Cites Need to Complete Decolonization Process as United Kingdom Says It Will Cede Territory When No Longer Needed for Defence

The General Assembly requested today that the International Court of Justice render an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from the separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius before that Indian Ocean island nation’s independence in the 1960s.

By a recorded vote of 94 in favour to 15 against, with 65 abstentions, the Assembly adopted the text contained in document A/71/L.73, recalling its 1965 resolution in which it asked the United Kingdom not to dismember the territory of Mauritius ahead of its independence in 1968.  It asked the Court whether the decolonization of Mauritius had been carried out in a lawful manner, given the Archipelago’s subsequent separation.

Also by the text, the Assembly asked the Court to advise on the consequences arising from the United Kingdom’s continuing administration of the Chagos Archipelago under international law, including the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.  It pointed, in particular, to Mauritius’ inability to resettle its nationals, including those of Chagossian origin, on the islands.

Speaking before the action, Anerood Jugnauth, Mauritius’ Minister Mentor and Minister for Defence and Rodrigues – also a former Prime Minister and President – said “a vote for the draft resolution […] is a vote in support of completing the process of decolonization, respect for international law and the rule of law”.  Recalling that that he had been accompanied by Chagossians forcibly evicted from their islands following the separation, he emphasized that his country had never accepted the situation, and had not been in a position to consent before gaining statehood, even if the United Kingdom claimed that compensation had been given for its consent.

Describing the Chagos Archipelago as part of his country since at least the eighteenth century, when France had governed it, he said the entire territory had been ceded to the United Kingdom in 1810, and kept intact until the unlawful excision of the Chagos Archipelago on 8 November 1965.  He added that information had come to light about British efforts to manipulate the international community at the time, and to present the United Nations with a fait accompli regarding the separation.  Those facts alone should warrant a fresh look at the situation, he emphasized.

The United Kingdom’s representative called for withdrawal of the draft resolution in order to keep a more constructive path open.  Emphasizing that his country would not consent to having a bilateral dispute submitted for judicial settlement, he recalled that, in recent talks, the United Kingdom’s offers had clearly signalled acknowledgement of Mauritius’ long-term interest in the Archipelago, offering a framework for joint management of all its islands except Diego Garcia, the site of a military base.

He went on to state that United Kingdom had decided against resettling the Chagossians on the grounds of feasibility, cost, defence and security interests.  However, it was implementing a $50 million support package designed to improve their livelihoods.  The focus of Mauritius throughout recent talks had not been on the Chagossians, but rather on transferring sovereignty, he said.  However, since the territory had been created for defence purposes in a joint agreement with the United States, sovereignty would revert to Mauritius when the territory was no longer required for that purpose.

Other speakers voiced respect for the principles of self-determination of peoples, the sovereignty of States and international law.  Those opposing the resolution underlined the need for a consensual bilateral approach to resolving disputes between States, pointing out that the Court did not have mandatory jurisdiction in such issues.  The representative of the United States said the Assembly’s action represented the circumvention of normal procedure, describing it as a “back-door” way to get the issue on the Court’s docket.

Many of those supporting the text prioritized the need to complete the decolonization process.  India’s representative, while conceding his country’s security concerns relating to the Indian Ocean, said that, on balance, it was a matter of principle for India to uphold the decolonization process, as well as respect for the sovereignty of nations.

El Salvador’s representative called for broadening the Court’s jurisdiction, pointing out that his small country lacked large armies and nuclear weapons.  “It is international law that protects us,” he pointed out.

On the budgetary implications of the resolution, a Secretariat official reported that it was not possible to determine an exact figure, but based on recent precedents, the cost of an advisory opinion concerning the Chagos Archipelago could range from $450,000 to $600,000.

Also speaking today were representatives of Congo, Venezuela (for the Non‑Aligned Movement), Angola (for the Southern African Development Community), Egypt, Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania, Chile, Croatia, France, Trinidad and Tobago, Australia, Uruguay, Germany, China, Mexico, New Zealand, Sweden, Canada, Portugal, Israel, Brazil, Myanmar and Indonesia.

Before the action on the resolution, the Assembly paid tribute to the late President Baldwin Lonsdale of Vanuatu.  Following a minute of silence and a statement by the Assembly President, the following delegates delivered statements:  Congo (on behalf of the Group of African States), Mongolia (on behalf of the Group of Asia-Pacific States), Romania (on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States), Honduras (on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States), Australia (on behalf of the Western European and other States), United States (the host country) and Vanuatu.

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE

Dutch-appointed Governor in Statia cannot block legislation

Acting Island Governor ordered to sign decisions Executive Council agreed upon by majority of votes

Daily Herald

 

- PRESS RELEASE --

Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) - On June 15th the Court of First Instance for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba has rendered the verdict concerning the dispute between the two Island Commissioners as Plaintiffs and the Acting Island Governor of Statia as Defendant. The decision of the Court is that the Acting Island Governor is ordered to sign the decisions the Executive Council has agreed upon by majority of votes. These decisions concern the suspension of the Harbour Master, the signing of the Waste Management Agreement, the co-signing of a letter to the Minister BZK and the approval of an official mission by one of Commissioners to The Hague. The Court has rejected the claim concerning the contract with NuStar.

The Court has reached this decision on the following grounds:

The Court has found that it has jurisdiction in this case. The claims of the plaintiffs, in their capacity as Island Commissioners, are admissible. There is also a pressing interest that allows the Court to give decisions in this injunction case.

On the merits of the case the Court has ruled as follows. There is no basis in the Wet Openbare Lichamen Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba for the Acting Governor to refuse to sign the decisions that were taken by the Executive Council with a majority of the votes cast. The Acting Governor is, together with the Commissioners, responsible for a thorough preparation of the decisions. If the Acting Governor is of the opinion that the decisions are not in conformity with the law he (or the Kingdom’s Representative) has the possibility to request nullification of the decision by the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. There is no basis in the law for the Acting Governor to refuse his signature.

The Court has not imposed penalty payments on its order to the Acting Governor to sign the decisions. It is of the opinion that it should be a matter of course for the Acting Governor to adhere to court decisions.

The Court has awarded court fees to the Commissioners in the amount of USD 5.000,00.

UN FRACASO EL PLEBISCITO EN PUERTO RICO

Lea también "Un fiasco que estaba anunciado"

CLARIDAD

Por Cándida Cotto

El boicot ganó el plebiscito y la estadidad va perdiendo adeptos. Eso es lo que evidencian los resultados del llamado “plebiscito para la inmediata descolonización de Puerto Rico”, celebrado este domingo. Según los números de la Comisión Estatal de Elecciones (CEE) sólo el 23% del electorado acudió a votar en el plebiscito de un total de 2.3 millones. En un recorrido durante la mañana por varios centros de votación en el área metropolitana, pudimos ver la poca asistencia y apreciar que la mayor parte de los que se movilizaron eran personas de avanzada edad. 

Los datos hablan por sí solos: la estadidad obtuvo 502,616 votos: 7,779 la libre asociación o independencia: y el estatus terriorial actual, 983, para un total de 518,199 votos. Tanto las organizaciones independentistas y las que promueven la libre asociación, mediante el llamado Junte Soberanista (JS) habían promovido el boicot ante la decisión del Partido Nuevo Progresista (PNP) de incluir la alternativa de la colonia, el estatus político actual en la consulta. Por su parte el Partido Popular Democrático (PPD) que favorece la colonia impulsó a sus seguidores a depositar papeletas en blanco o el no acudir a votar e “irse pa’ la playa”.

Aun cuando el gobernador Ricardo Rosselló y los otros líderes de su partido reclamaron este domingo un trinunfo de la estadidad – de las cinco consultas de estatus que se han celebrado en Puerto Rico desde el 1967 al presente- en la presente es cuando menos votos ha obtenido la estadidad. En el plebiscito del 2012 la estadidad obtuvo 44.61 de los votos, lo que representó una reducción a su respaldo de los plebiscitos de 1993, cuando obtuvo un 46.3% y del 1998, cuando obtuvo el 46.5% de los votos. Es decir que los votos de 500 mil de este plebiscito, son menos que los 788 mil votos del 1993, que los 728 mil del 1998 y los 805 mil de 2012. En el 1967 la estadidad obtuvo el 39% de los votos, el ELA el 60.4%.

El analista político Carlos Gallisá, analizó para CLARIDAD que si se compara con las elecciones del 2016, Rosselló obtuvo más votos, 660, 145 mil, más que la estadidad en la presente consulta. Llama la atención además que en las primarias del 2016 entre Rosselló y Pedro Pierluisi votaron 467 mil penepés, unos 33 mil menos que los votos obtenidos en este plebiscito. En las elecciones del 2012 votaron 1.8 millones, ese número bajó en el 2016 a 1.5 millones.

Un fracaso el plebiscito

Por su parte el liderato del Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP) una de las organizaciones que participó del Junte Soberanista, señaló que el plebiscito constituía un “fracaso para aquellos que se dejaron imponer la inclusión de la opción colonial con tal de impulsar un proceso con un aval federal imaginario, y solo servirá para dramatizar el desinterés y el rechazo a cualquier proyecto de anexión en el Congreso.

La inclusión de la colonia ya rechazada por nuestro pueblo desmovilizó a la mayoría del electorado que respondió al llamado al boicot como repudio a la humillación de proponer la colonia como solución al problema colonial”.

En conferencia de prensa en horas de la tarde del domingo conocidos los resultados el PIP dio a conocer lo que dijo serían sus próximas iniciativas para impulsar la descolonización a través de lo que dijo podría llamarse el “Proyecto por la Soberanía Nacional”.

El primer paso de este proyecto se dijo será reunirse con representantes de diversas organizaciones e individuos independentistas y de la libre asociación para realizar esfuerzos conjuntos en EE UU. La actual comisionada electoral del PIP María de Lourdes Santiago, a pregunta de CLARIDAD sobre este esfuerzo, expuso, que el evento del plebiscito en este caso demostró “ser un instrumento inútil, inservible, la pregunta ahora para los que creemos en la descolonización es, qué vamos hacer en los próximos años y de hecho cuando se comenzó a hablar del proyecto original, aquí se hizo un adelanto importante estableciendo unos espacios, ese esfuerzo hay que retomarlo, solidificarlo”. 

En esa dirección dijo que el PIP se propone promover como un posible mecanismo el proyecto del congresista Luís Gutiérrez, HR 900 (ya radicado) el cual reclama al Congreso que enfrente el tema colonial de Puerto Rico y propone una votación sobre las alternativas soberanas de independencia y libre asciación. Santiago hizo la salvedad de que el proyecto no estaba “escrito en piedra” pero que uno de los fallos del plebiscito actual es que no confronta a los noretamericanos con el problema del estatus. Otro asunto fundamental que señaló es el reconocmiento de que hay más puertorriqueños fuera que en la isla por lo que había que fortalecer los lazos con la diáspora para crear opinión en los medios en EE UU y crear presión política.

En el plano internacional el PIP anunció que denunciará ante los organinismos internacionales a los cuales pertenece -COPPAL y la Internacional Socialista- la farsa de este plebiscito y, por supuesto, su comparesencia a las vistas del Comité de Descolonización de la ONU, el próximo lunes 19 de junio. Sobre este particular a pregunta de CLARIDAD de si consideraba que ante las actuales circunstancias de la celebración del plebisicto, la presencia de la Junta de Control Fiscal, del hecho de que ya no hay prisioneros políticos por la lucha independentista, qué expectativas se puedan tener de la vista ante el Comité: Santiago, apuntó que, el escenario en EE UU es complicado en la medida en que no tiene un gobierno ...busca una palabra con la cual poder describir al presidente Donald Trump, “una caricatura retrógrada, es un escenario difícil”. Aun así atribuyó que el hecho de que haya una JCF lo que constituye un colonialismo crudo en la historia moderna de la humanidad es un elemento distinto para estas vistas.

Por último se destacó que “aquí en Puerto Rico redoblaremos esfuerzos para continuar concertando esfuerzos e iniciativas conjuntas con los sectores que están comprometidos con el logro de nuestra soberanía nacional”.

En tanto otra de las organizaciones que participó del JS, Vamos también calificó de fracaso el plebiscito y destacó que que éste tuvo la participación electoral más baja en la historia de las consultas de estatus, y una clara disminución en el apoyo a la estadidad. “No creemos que esa votación refleje el sentir de los puertorriqueños en torno a las opciones de estatus sino que, realmente nuestra gente no tomó en serio la propuesta de ‘descolonización inmediata’ ni la propaganda fantasiosa que le acompañó”, señaló Justo Méndez Arámburu, coordinador general de Vamos.

La estadidad en los plebiscitos: 

2017: 502,616
2012: 834,191
1998: 728,157
1993: 788,296
1967: 274,312

Plebiscitos

1967
23 de julio. Gobernador: Roberto Sánchez Vilella (PPD).

Resultados:

Estado Libre Asociado: 60.4%
Estadidad: 39%
Independencia: 0.06%

1993
14 de noviembre. Gobernador: Pedro Rosselló (PNP)

Resultados:

Estado Libre Asociado: 48.3%
Estadidad: 46.3%
Independencia: 4.4%

1998

13 de diciembre. Gobernador: Pedro Rosselló (PNP)

Resultados:

Estado Libre Asociado: 0.1%
Libre Asociación: 0.3%
Estadidad: 46.5%
Independencia: 2.5%
Ninguna de las anteriores: 50.3%


2012

6 de noviembre. Gobernador: Luis Fortuño (PNP)

Resultados:

¿Está de acuerdo con mantener la condición actual?
Si 46.03% No 53.97%

¿Qué opciones de estatus favorece?

Estadidad: 61.16%
ELA Soberano: 33.34%
Independencia: 5.49%

El reclamo de 61.13% que hace el PNP no cuenta las 470 mil papeletas en blanco que depositaron en las urnas los seguidores del PPD siguiendo instrucciones del partido como protesta al plebiscito. De contarse esas papeletas como voto de protesta emitidas, el ELA Soberano tendría 24.32% y el voto en blanco, ambos seguidores del PPD, tendría un 26.04% para un total de 50.36% de 1,804,734 emitidos. La estadidad tendría entonces 44.61% en vez de 61.13%.

Lo anterior significa que la estadidad, en el plebiscito del 2012 al alcanzar 44.61% redujo su respaldo de los plebiscitos de 1993 (46.3%) y del 1998 (46.5%).

Los votos aproximados de 500 mil en 2017 es menos que los 788 mil votos del 1993, los 728 mil del 1998 y los 805 mil del 2012.

Los votos de Ricardo Rosselló en las elecciones de 2016 sumaron 660 mil, 145 mil menos que los obtenidos por la estadidad en el plebiscito de 2012.

El total de electores inscritos para votar asciende a 2.8 millones. En las elecciones de 2012 votaron 1.8 millones, en las de 2016 solo 1.5 millones.

Los 500 mil votos de este plebiscito del 2017 es una tercera parte o 33% de los votantes de las elecciones del 2016. Del total de inscritos (2.8 millones) los 500 mil que participaron en el plebiscito 2017 representa un 22%.

En las primarias del 2016 entre Rosselló y Pierluisi votaron 467 mil, unos 33 mil menos que los votos del plebiscito del 2017.