Non-Aligned Movement Summit supports right to self-determination for Puerto Rico, Turks & Caicos, Ma'ohi Nui and other dependencies

Final Communique

16th Summit of Heads of State or Government

of the Non-Aligned Movement

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Right to Self-Determination and Decolonization

60. The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed and underscored the validity and relevance of the Movement's principled positions concerning the right to self-determination of peoples under foreign occupation and colonial or alien domination, as follows:

60.1 The Movement stressed the fundamental and inalienable right of all peoples, including all non-self governing territories, as well as those territories under foreign occupation and colonial or alien domination to self determination, the exercise of which, in the case of peoples under foreign occupation and colonial or alien domination, remains valid and essential to ensure the eradication of all these situations and to guarantee universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;

60.2 The Movement reaffirmed the right of the people of Puerto Rico to self-determination and independence on the basis of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), and expressed its unwavering support to the resolutions on Puerto Rico adopted by the UN Special Committee on Decolonization; and called for their immediate implementation. Likewise, the Movement called for the release of the Puerto Rican political prisoners, including Oscar Lopez Rivera who has served more than thirty years in prison; and welcomed the release of Carlos Albert Torres in 2010; and

60.3 The Movement remained concerned at the loss, destruction, removal, theft, pillage, illicit movement or misappropriation of and any acts of vandalism or damage, directed against cultural property in areas of armed conflict and territories that are occupied.

Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
Member countries   Observer countries
Coordinating Bureau		New York, New York, United States
Membership		120 members 17 observer countries[1]

61. Recalling the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, the Heads of State or Government welcomed the General Assembly resolution A/RES/65/119 declaring the period 2011-2020 as the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism and called to speed up the process of decolonization towards the complete elimination of colonialism in this decade.

62. Consistent with and guided by the afore-mentioned principled positions and affirming the need to preserve, defend and promote these positions, the Heads of State

or Government agreed to undertake the following measures, among others:

62.1 Strongly support the work and activities of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization, underlining the necessity of reinforcing the importance of its decisions and again urge the Administering Powers to grant their full support to the activities of the Committee and fully cooperate with this UN body;

62.2 Request the colonialist countries to pay full compensation for the economic, social and cultural consequences of their occupation, bearing in mind the right of all people who were or are still subjected to colonial rule or occupation to receive fair compensation for the human and material losses they suffered as a result of colonial rule or occupation;

62.3 Strongly condemn the ongoing brutal suppression of the legitimate aspirations to self-determination of peoples under colonial or alien domination and foreign occupation in various regions of the world;

62.4 Urge UN Member States to fully implement the decisions and resolutions of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) concerning the return of cultural properties to the peoples who were or still under colonial rule or occupation, and in this regard, further urge UNESCO to identify the stolen or illegally exported cultural properties in accordance with the relevant conventions on the subject, and also urge the process of returning these properties to their countries of origin, in compliance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, be expedited, bearing in mind the right of the Non-Aligned Countries to maintain and conserve their national heritage as it constitutes the foundation of their cultural identity;

62.5 Renew its call to UN Member States to speed up the process of decolonisation towards the complete elimination of colonialism, and including by supporting the effective implementation of the Plan of Action of the Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (2011-2020);

62.6 The Heads of State or Government, while noting the suspension of the Constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands, the democratically elected House of Assembly and the Cabinet, and the postponement of elections in 2011, renewed the call for the restoration of the constitutional government in the Turks and Caicos Islands and for the elections to be held as soon as possible, and stress the importance of having in place a Constitution that reflects the aspirations and wishes of the people of the Territory, based on the mechanisms for popular consultation.

62.7 Work towards the full implementation of the principle of self-determination with respect to the remaining territories within the framework of the Programme of Action of the Special Committee on Decolonisation, in accordance with the wishes of the people consistent with the UN Charter and the relevant UN resolutions;

62.8 Oppose any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and the territorial integrity of a State, which is incompatible with the UN Charter;

62.9 Call on the Government of the United States to assume its responsibility to expedite a process that will allow the Puerto Rican people to fully exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence, and urges the Government of the United States to return the occupied land and installations on Vieques Island and at the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station to the Puerto Rican people, who constitute a Latin American and Caribbean nation; and

62.10 Work actively to have the U.N. General Assembly to consider the question of Puerto Rico in all its aspects.

62.11 The Heads of State or Government affirmed the inalienable right of the people of French Polynesia- Ma' ohi Nui to self- determination in accordance with Chapter XI of the Charter of the United Nations and the UN General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV).

62.12 The Heads of State or Government welcomed and supported the Pacific Regional Seminar on Decolonization held in Quito- Ecuador from 30 May to 1 June 2012 convened in Ecuador in its capacity as chair 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. The Heads of State or Government appreciated the commitment and efforts of the chair of the Committee to implement its decisions during the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.

62.13 The Heads of State or Government appreciated the commitment and efforts of the Chair of the Committee to implement its decisions during the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.

University of Puerto Rico: The Caribbean Moment in History - Lecture on September 18, 2012 at Rio Piedras Campus

 

World Council of Churches supports re-inscription of French Polynesia on United Nations list of dependent territories

 A worldwide fellowship of 349 churches seeking unity,  a common witness and Christian service

Document date:  4.09.2012

WCC Central Committee meeting, 28 August - 5 September 2012

Statement on the re-inscription of French Polynesia (Maohi Nui) on the United Nations List of Countries to be Decolonized

(Read French version here)

1.      The present day French Polynesia (Maohi Nui) became a French protectorate in 1842 and a French colony in 1880, although it was not until 1946 that the indigenous Maohi people acquired French citizenship. By the end of the 19^th century, France had annexed all the islands that now constitute French Polynesia. The islands were governed by France under a decree of 1885.

2.      In 1945, when the UN was founded, one of the first initiatives was to engage in a proper decolonization process, hence establishing a list of territories yet to be decolonized. Article 73 of UN Charter (non-self-governing territories) as well as UN General Assembly Resolution 1514 (on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples) describe the UN’s mission to decolonize the remaining non self-governing territories. The French colonies of New Caledonia and French Polynesia were on the list of countries to be decolonized. However, in 1947 France succeeded in having French Polynesia withdrawn from the list, with no prior consultation with the people of Maohi Nui.

3.      In 1958, France held a referendum among its colonies in the Pacific islands, but the opposition to French colonization was suppressed. Subsequently, Maohi Nui remained as a French colony. Moves towards increased local autonomy began in 1977, and new statutes creating a fully elected local executive were approved in Paris in 1977. In 2003, French Polynesia's status was changed to that of an ‘overseas collectivity’ and in 2004 it was declared an ‘overseas country’.

4.      Today, French Polynesia is a semi-autonomous territory of France with its own parliament, assembly, president and executive government. Nonetheless, France continues to exert influence on domestic affairs. Leaders have limited power over many essential domestic and international matters. For example, France administers the justice and education system, defence, currency, health, emigration, land rights, environment and international maritime borders without the consent or participation of the Polynesian people.

5.      The political and church leaders in French Polynesia believe that their struggle for freedom, autonomy and right to self-determination should be addressed by the UN. In August 2011 the French Polynesian Assembly voted for the re-inscription of French Polynesia on the United Nations decolonization list. France does not recognize this resolution which was adopted by the majority in the Territorial Assembly.

6.      Effective advocacy efforts for the re-inscription of French Polynesia on the UN list of territories to be decolonized is an essential first step towards self-determination. The primary work should be done through the UN Committee of 24 (Special Committee on Decolonization). In order to achieve this goal, the support of the international community is vital.

7.      In September 2011, the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) organized a consultation with political, church and regional actors in the Pacific to discuss strategies on advocating for re-inscription of French Polynesia on the UN list of countries to be decolonized. The WCC member constituencies in the Pacific asked for WCC’s support for their advocacy initiatives during the visit of the WCC general secretary to the Pacific in September 2011.

8.      The Council of the Maohi Protestant Church in its 2012 synod, decided to call on “the support of the Pacific Conference of Churches and the World Council of Churches to support its efforts for re-inscription of French Polynesia (Maohi Nui) on the UN list of territories to be decolonized”. The Maohi Protestant Church Synod also stated that: “the Council considers the re-inscription of French Polynesia on this list as means to protect the people from decisions and initiatives taken by the French state contrary to its interests; the re-inscription constitutes the recognition of the human rights of the people of French Polynesia; the Council reiterates that it is their faith that will save the Maohi people whose conscience has been manipulated and that it is the people who will take the decision regarding the sovereignty of their nation”.

It is in this context that the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches, meeting in Kolympari, Crete, Greece, from 28 August to 5 September 2012:

A.     Recognizes the universal human rights of all people and in particular the right to self-determination of all oppressed, colonised, indigenous people in the world, in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;

B.     Calls on France, the United Nations, and the international community to support the re-inscription of French Polynesia on the UN list of countries to be decolonized, in accordance with the example of New Caledonia;

C.     Encourages the French authorities to fulfil their obligations and provide all necessary means for the economic, social and cultural development of the Maohi people;

D.    Urges France to compensate all those affected by nuclear testing and radioactivity;

E.     Invites its member churches and international faith-based organisations to support through advocacy efforts for the re-inscription of French Polynesia to the UN list of countries to be decolonised and its eventual full decolonisation;

F.     Calls on the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs to facilitate the global advocacy initiative for the re-inscription of French Polynesia on the UN list, especially the primary work through the UN Committee of 24;

G.    Prays for the people and the churches of Maohi Nui as they embark on their peaceful and just struggle for self-determination.

D

Guam, Northern Marianas in plans for Pacific military build-up

U.S. Report Favors Stronger Presence In Guam, CNMI

Assessment calls for prioritizing improvements in Marianas

By Alexie Villegas Zotomayor

Marianas Variety 

An independent assessment of U.S. defense posture commissioned by Pentagon revealed the need to beef up military presence in the Marianas.

The report, "U.S. Force Posture Strategy in the Asia Pacific Region: An Independent Assessment" was presented by Center for Strategic and International Studies senior vice president and director of international security program David J. Berteau and CSIS senior adviser Michael J. Green before the U.S. House Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Readiness during the Aug. 1 hearing.

In their statement before the House subcommittee, Berteau and Green said the report highlighted five recommendations resulting from assessments made by CSIS on various options for U.S. force posture consideration in the Asia Pacific Region.

Of the five recommendations, under option two, the report called for implementation of U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee agreement to distribute four Marine Air Ground Task Forces across the Pacific.

Under this option, the report stated that "in the near-term, prioritize improvements in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands that would be mission essential (particularly training, pipeline protection, and some infrastructure improvements), even if fewer Marines move to Guam from Okinawa."

In line with the plan to relocate Marine forces out of Okinawa, the report sees Guam as a strategic hub as essential to the U.S. strategy in the Asia Pacific region.

It also called for the development of joint training facilities in the CNMI.

This, the report said, requires new funding arrangement with the Japanese government that would involve direct cash contributions, cost-sharing for new training facilities in the CNMI and a departure from its reliance on low-interest, long-term loans from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation for housing and public-private ventures on Guam.

The report also recognized that the realignment of troops would remove about 9,000 Marines from Okinawa and redistribute them to Guam, Hawaii and Australia.

With nearly half of the Marines stationed in Okinawa would be stationed outside, the CSIS assessment pointed to the potential rotation unit deployments into Guam and Australia.

The report also underscored the development of the training facilities in the Northern Marianas as integral to the Marine relocation to Guam.

The CSIS report specifically mentioned the addition of training areas on Tinian and Pagan.

Assessing further the viability of this option, CSIS used four criteria: (1) geostrategic/security/political-military; (2) operational/force structure and management; (3) affordability; and (4) executability.

Under the first criteria, CSIS stated that all allies and partners in the region would support U.S. training facilities being established on Tinian and the CNMI.

The report also said that the N. Marianas training sites would increase the capacity for joint and combined training events.

Under the second criteria, CSIS stated in its report that training ranges support shaping operations, maintain readiness levels and help meet operational requirements for U.S. forces.

For CSIS, training ranges would afford partners the opportunity to participate in multilateral exercises.

Under affordability, the report acknowledged that it dealt with lack of detailed cost data to ascertain affordability.

"Construction of the training ranges in Guam and CNMI holds the most unknowns, even in a relative cost comparison," said the report.

The downside to this option, however, is the increased costs.

Despite the issue on costs, the report, however, rated this option better in executability.

"Executability evaluations with respect to the training ranges score as positive," the CSIS assessment said.

It noted that exercises are currently taking place on Tinian and the rest of the CNMI.

"This action is consistent with U.S. environmental procedures and expands U.S. and partner’ nations’ abilities to train in the area," said the report.

Even under the third option, Guam remains an integral part of the U.S. posture alternatives that would increase U.S. capabilities in the Pacific.

The report stated that with an increased seapower posture, it highlighted the addition of a second squadron of three nuclear-powered attack submarines to Naval Base Guam in Apra Harbor.

This option, the report said, would not require construction as the existing infrastructure in Apra Harbor could accommodate an additional three submarines.

However, the report also stated that the additional submarines would create a larger footprint at the base and add congestion to the harbor.

Moreover, this would also mean increased demand for housing, schoolhouse training loads, among others that could require military construction and costs.

The CSIS report also highlighted that the Department of Defense is reasonably positioned to align and focus U.S. force posture in the Asia Pacific region.

It, however, said there is a need for an expanded, integrated PACOM focus on engagement, supported by the approval of incremental funding for key enabling actions.

It also called for DoD to work collaboratively with Congress in determining military construction and force structure requirements.

The report also recognized the U.S. strengths in undersea warfare, amphibious forces, command and control, missile defense and its allies in the region.

Meanwhile, Deputy Assistant Sec. of Defense for Plans Robert M. Scher and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia David F. Helvey, in their joint statement to the House subcommittee, said, "The Department continues to pursue a defense posture in the Asia Pacific region that is geographically distributed, operationally resilient, and politically sustainable throughout the region."

They said that the U.S. strategy calls for rebalancing defense, diplomatic and economic resources toward Asia-Pacific region and enhancing of defense posture is just one aspect of the broader U.S. efforts at demonstrating commitment to the region.

They agree with the CSIS report that Guam will be a strategic hub in the western Pacific and they also see the "necessary near-term investments" to establish fully capable Marine Air-Ground Task Forces in Japan, Guam, Australia and Hawaii.

"The Department agrees with the CSIS assessment that there are opportunities to move forward with Guam and send an important signal to the region," the two officials said.

They also added that "investments in training ranges in Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and other locations, will enhance U.S. joint training opportunities, as well as combined training opportunities within our allies and partners."

Meanwhile, in his July 24 letter to Sen. Carl Levin, Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, DoD Secretary Leon Panetta said as the CSIS assessment states, the plan advances DoD’s long-term goal to realign Marine forces in the Pacific.

He said that the assessment acknowledges other significant posture changes underway.

He also said that the report provided recommendations consistent with actions currently under consideration by the DoD.

He, however, expressed his concern with relocating less than 5,000 Marines to Guam.

"Moving fewer that this number would undermine our plan to establish multiple, fully capable Marine Air-Ground Task Forces across the Asia-Pacific region," he said.

Panetta also recognized that option 3 offers potential posture investments beyond the DoD’s current plan.

He assures Senator Levin that the department will continue to examine strategic and operational value as well as the plan’s feasibility and affordability.

He also urged the support of the Congress in implementing the vision for the future of the U.S. Armed Forces and their growing role in the Asia Pacific region.

Under Section 346 of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, the DoD was directed to commission an independent assessment of U.S. force posture in Asia.

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U.S., Japan Allegedly Plan For Military Facilities In Pacific
 

Guam, CNMI reportedly slated for facilities, drone exercises

By Alexie Villegas Zotomayor

Mariaias Variety

In what is perhaps a validation of the assessment made by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported the Japanese and American governments are considering military facilities on Tinian and Guam and planning increased deployment of Global Hawk surveillance planes from Guam.

As part of enhancing deterrent to crises, the Yomiuri Shimbun further reported that "also being considered is the preparation of military facilities in Guam and Tinian, part of the Northern Mariana Islands, to be shared by the SDF (Self Defense Forces) and U.S. forces, and conducting landing drills and other exercises. We believe such activities will be useful in boosting the defense of remote islands in and around the Nansei Islands, an area of increasing importance."

"Nansei," aka Ryukyu, is the chain of islands between Japan and Taiwan which has for years been the bone of contentions between Japan, China and Taiwan.

This decision to tap training facilities on Guam and Tinian and the use of drones was reached last week after Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto and U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta met at the Pentagon on how they would jointly "study and discuss" guidelines for U.S.-Japan defense cooperation, which outlines the methods of cooperation between the two governments’ military during contingencies.

At the meeting, the two defense ministers arrived at a decision to deploy the drones over the said disputed islands and Okinawa.

"The two countries are planning to base their surveillance activities in Guam and utilize the U.S. military's Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance planes. These steps are expected to help the two countries share information before the outbreak of various incidents, and consider and discuss how to jointly deal with such events as situations develop," the Yomiuri Shimbun noted.

Variety learned that at least three of these drones, or Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawks, have been based on Guam since September 2010.

The move to conduct surveillance missions was part of the concrete measures being taken by Tokyo and Washington to bolster defense cooperation.

"The two countries will consider conducting surveillance activities in waters around Japan by using the U.S. military’s unmanned reconnaissance planes, and boost the two countries’ joint drills around Guam," the editorial said.

Joint intelligence

The Japanese newspaper also reported that as they embark on enhancing deterrent to crises, Tokyo and Washington are exploring a deterrent against emergencies through repeated joint information-gathering and reconnaissance activities as well as drills and sharing of facilities.

Moreover, the Japanese newspaper also said defense cooperation guidelines between Japan and the U.S. was last revised in 1987 and owing to dramatic changes in the security environment in Northeast Asia, these guidelines require modification.

"It is time for Japan and the United States to seriously consider revising the guidelines again to deepen their alliance," the newspaper said.

"Dynamic defense cooperation is meant to be a joint undertaking by SDF and U.S. military units."

The editorial also stressed that to maintain peace and stability in the region, "it is essential to steadily strengthen and expand defense cooperation between the Self-Defense Forces and U.S. forces."

While at the Pentagon, Morimoto was reported to have ridden the MV-22 Osprey troop transport, a hybrid tilt-rotor aircraft that takes off like a helicopter and flies like a plane.

The Pentagon is eyeing to deploy the Osprey to Okinawa as early as next month.

Twelve of the Osprey had been shipped to the Marine Corps station at Iwakuni in Japan.

'

"The Karabao in the room" by Minagahet Chamorro

I HAVE always found the phrase “the elephant in the room” a bit strange, and so I would like to propose a local version of it. Let’s say “the karabao in the room.” When you think about the size of a karabao, the smells it might have, it’s large stature, it can still be an imposing presence in a room.

 

If there was a random karabao in your room, how would you respond? Would it be with surprise, shock, frustration, anger, fear? Or would it be something else? After all, when a large animal is just suddenly there, what are you supposed to do? How can you get rid of it? How did it get here? 

When all of these issues and questions cascade down upon you, it can feel overwhelming, and so the notion of there being “a karabao in the room” conveys how there is something very important and pressing that people

have to deal with, but since no one might know where to start or what to do, everyone would rather just ignore it and pretend it doesn’t exist.

 

Guam’s colonial status is a very large karabao in the room of this small island. The inevitable purpose of the large animal in the room metaphor is that you recognize the futility of not recognizing it. If there were a large karabao in your room, you might choose to buy a hundred bottles of Fabreze in order to mask its smell, but that does not solve the problem of the karabao being in your room. 

You can hang several copies of The Last Supper on the karabao and pretend it’s a wall, but that doesn’t solve the problem of there being a karabao in your room. You can cover the karabao with the American flag and a quilt stitched together with U.S. passports and applications for federal assistance and it still does not solve the problem of there being a karabao in the room. 

If your friend who is an admiral in the U.S. Navy comes over and tells you there is no karabao in your room, you may nod

politely and say he’s absolutely right, there is no karabao in this room; but even this doesn’t solve the problem of the karabao being in your room.

You can spend your days pretending there is no karabao in your room. You can buy nose plugs to block the stench, you can even wear a blindfold to simply ensure you see nothing at all including the creature, but all of this activity to deny the existence of the karabao only makes it harder for you to ever actually get rid of the karabao in the room. Even if you can convince yourself that everything is fine and you are far better off doing nothing, that large beast of burden is always there, waiting in the corner of your eye to remind you of its existence.

 

Such is true with regards to Guam and political status. It is something that sits right in the middle of this island. It takes up so much space, affects so much, but the majority of people would rather just not deal with it or talk about it. Instead they would rather do as I’ve described above, create elaborate means of not thinking about it, not seeing it, pretending everything is all right.

You can argue very effectively that Guam is not the worst colony in the world; that it doesn’t “suffer” as a colony, but what kind of argument is that? That doesn’t go very far in terms of legitimizing the relationship, or arguing that colonialism is good for Guam. If you were to ask anyone if they wanted to have a fundamentally unequal relationship with another power, very few would enthusiastically shout “yes!” even if the United States was the potential colonizer.

 

Former Guam Delegate to Washington D.C. Robert Underwood sometimes tells stories about how other voting representatives,from states, would joke that everyone in their districts would eagerly line up to become a territory since it would mean paying no federal taxes while still getting access to all sorts of federal programs. Underwood, notorious for his rhetorical reversals, would counter that a trade in status should take place where those eager first-class U.S. citizens would finally get their long-cherished

change to become second-class citizens! At this prospect of living in a territory, every thinking congressperson would quickly back away, their rejection revealing the obvious truth – that no one should actually want to be owned by another, to be territory to another, even if it means you get some benefits.

 

Every place will always have their own elephants or karabao in their room. The funny thing is that here on Guam, we have a karabao in our room that no one else would want.

Virgin Islands secondary school students visit CARICOM headquarters; European Community Overseas Territories meet

The Virgin Islands is an associate member of The Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

Students of Elmore Stoutt High School, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, pay keen attention to presentation by Mr Kenneth Williams, Programme Officer, on Admin Services including procurement, during a recent visit to the headquarters, Georgetown, Guyana.    Ambassador Colin Granderson (second, left), Officer-in-Charge of the CARICOM Secretariat interacts with students of Elmore Stoutt High School, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, during a recent visit to the headquarters, Georgetown, Guyana. At left is tour facilitator Ms Gloria Whitney, Public Information, CARICOM Secretariat.  More photos here at CARICOM website.  ***** Press release 237/2012 (31 August 2012) EUROPEAN COMMUNITY OVERSEAS CARIBBEAN TERRITORIES (ECOCT) HOLDS PROJECT COMMITTEE MEETING    (CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The sustainability of project activities beyond the scheduled project end date in 2013, Health Information Systems and Integrated Models of Care are among the matters which will be discussed when the European Community Overseas Caribbean Territories (ECOCT) Project Steering Committee meets in Aruba next week. The Meeting, scheduled for 6-7 September, 2012, is being coordinated by the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) with financial support from the European Community (EC). Participants will include Focal Points and Steering Committee members from the British and Dutch Overseas Caribbean Territories, Community Advocates from the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica and Venezuela. Some PANCAP regional partners including the UNAIDS, OECS HAPU and CRN+ will attend as observers. Participants will also review progress of the Project’s Year 3 work plan and present updates, achievements and challenges. The European Community Overseas Caribbean Territories (ECOCT) Project, designed to ‘strengthen the integration of the British and Dutch OCTs into the Regional Response to HIV/AIDS through the PANCAP’, was signed by PAHO/WHO and the European Community in 2008. PANCAP is a regional partnership established by CARICOM Heads of Government in 2001 to respond to the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the Caribbean. CONTACT: Valerie Beach Horne, Strategic Information and Communication Officer Website: www.pancap.org

Polynesia Leaders Group endorses Tahiti Nui self-determination

PLG supports Tahiti Nui freedom

By Tupuola Terry Tavita

SAVALINEWS.COM

 The Polynesian Leaders Group has endorsed the people of French Polynesia’s right to self determination.

Responding to a plea for support from former president Oscar Temaru (pictured), Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailelele Malielegaoi said “that if that is the will of the people of Tahiti Nui, then the PLG will support it” at the Forum level.

It was unanimously supported by PLG leaders.

Speaking to reporters outside the meeting, Tuilaepa said that big countries with colonial territories need to rethink their policies, reflect on the future.

“We live in a very globalised world now where you need all the allies you can garner,” he said.

“Colonialism is a thing of the past. Big countries need all the friends they can get at the international level. So granting their territories independence and letting them become independent countries is one way to create allies.”

Tuilaepa pointed to Samoa’s relationship with its former administrator New Zealand.

“We’ve had our difference but that is water long under the bridge. There are many issues today that we see eye to eye on.  Our relationship now is of mutual benefit to both our countries, our people. We have had a very successful relationship for many years. 

This can be replicated with other countries and their former territories, in fact, it is being successfully done elsewhere in the world.

Addressing the Forum leaders this morning, Mr Temaru asked the leaders to push for Tahiti Nui to be reinscribed on the United Nations Decolonisation List.

“We are asking for the very right to a consistent, relevant, respectful self-determination process that will bring dignity to all parties involved.”

U.K. military exercises in Malvinas Islands unacceptable provocation

United Nations                                                                                                   A/66/884
                                                                                                       Distr.: General
                                                                                                       17 August 2012
General Assembly                                                              English
                                                                                                       Original: Spanish
                                                                                                       Original: General


Sixty-sixth session
Agenda item 45
Question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas)



Letter dated 13 August 2012 from the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Argentina to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

On instructions from my Government, I have the honour to transmit herewith a letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship condemning the unilateral military activities carried out by the United Kingdom in July, including the launching of missiles from the Malvinas Islands (see annex).

I should be grateful if you would have this letter and its annex circulated as a document of the General Assembly under agenda item 45, concerning the question of the Malvinas Islands.

(Signed) Mateo Estreme

Minister and Chargé d’affaires a.i.

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Annex to the letter dated 13 August 2012 from the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Argentina to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

                                                                                                                                                       7 August 2012

I have the honour to write to you regarding a matter of great sensitivity not only for my country, but for the entire region: the question of the Malvinas Islands.

Once again I take advantage of your firm commitment to international peace and security to condemn the United Kingdom’s unilateral military activities in the South Atlantic, which can only be understood as a further hostile act and a provocation directed by a military power against a peaceful region.

Argentina has no doubt about its sovereignty rights over the Malvinas Islands, South Georgia Islands and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas, which have now been occupied by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for almost 180 years and are the subject of a sovereignty dispute.

The United Nations has recognized this dispute through many resolutions, in which the parties were urged to solve it by resuming negotiations. The United Kingdom, however, refuses to discuss this issue with the Argentine Republic.

The situation in the South Atlantic has deteriorated as a result of the United Kingdom’s constant unilateral actions; in July, it again conducted military exercises, including the launching of missiles from the Malvinas Islands, in the disputed area.

In October 2010, the Argentine Government strongly protested to the United Kingdom and the competent maritime safety bodies and rejected the conduct of military exercises in the disputed area as an unacceptable provocation.

In addition to the actions described above, the United Kingdom periodically sends warships, some of them with nuclear capabilities, to “patrol” the South Atlantic (at this very moment, the destroyer HMS Dauntless is on its way to the Malvinas Islands); large numbers of military personnel are deployed on the Malvinas Islands; and, in early 2012, a media event surrounded the deployment to the Malvinas Islands of the second person in the line of succession to the British throne, in his capacity as a senior officer of the British Army, to perform air and sea

exercises.

In this connection, Argentina wishes to remind you of the report that was hand delivered to you on 10 February 2012, in which you were alerted to the United Kingdom’s increasing militarization of the South Atlantic, which is creating unnecessary tension and constitutes an affront to the entire region as reflected in the

many statements issued by the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), the Rio Group, the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and others.

Once again, the Argentine Government reiterates its strong support for your continued good offices and gratefully acknowledges your valuable contribution in that regard. In this context, it wishes to state that the United Kingdom’s latest military actions in the South Atlantic demonstrate even more clearly the urgent need for the United Kingdom to heed the exhortations deriving from your mandate and to fulfil its obligation, as a Member State of the United Nations, to resolve disputes peacefully in accordance with the principles set out in the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant resolutions.

Assembly of Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States inaugurated

Non-Independent Caribbean Countries (NICCs)

 form part of the regional body

The people of the OECS now have the opportunity for their issues to be discussed and debated publicly through the OECS Assembly. The historic Inauguration of the OECS Assembly took place on Friday August 10th 2012 in Antigua and Barbuda, the headquarters of the OECS Assembly, with attendees including students from various communities in Antigua and Barbuda.

 
During Friday’s Inauguration ceremony, the Honourable Rene Baptiste of St Vincent and the Grenadines was elected the Speaker of the OECS Assembly. Ms Baptiste, a former public servant in St Vincent and the Grenadines including a Minister for Culture and Tourism, pledged to be the servant of the Assembly and called for the cooperation and support of all honourable members:

 "We have serious work to do. Time is of the essence. This is our occasion to write our own history with our own hands in our own words.”
 
The Assembly also elected His Excellency the Honourable Walford Gumbs of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis as Deputy Speaker.
 
At the Inaugural Session of the OECS Assembly in Antigua and Barbuda, Host Prime Minister the Honourable Baldwin Spencer encouraged his colleague members to ensure that the OECS Assembly benefited OECS People: “Let us so conduct ourselves that those who sent us here will take pride in the work that we do, knowing that we have set firmly in place the building blocks of a more perfect Union for all our people.”
 
The Chairman of the OECS Authority, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves welcomed what he called the absence of political partisanship in the crafting of and support for Treaty arrangements designed to deepen integration in this region:

“Across each of the OECS Member States, the governing and opposition parties are at one on this issue despite occasional dissonance on this or that detail.” 

The OECS Chairman reemphasized that the people of the OECS must now own their integration movement, as well as love and care for it in their own interest.
 
Speaking on behalf of the Non-Independent Member Countries of the OECS, Premier of Montserrat The Honourable Reuben Meade, focused on the purpose of the OECS and its relevance to the lives of the people of the region: 

"The OECS was developed as a conscious decision among the leaders of the OECS and driven by the people of the OECS to be an organisation which we wanted, which we have worked hard to develop and which we will continue to develop for the people of the OECS . . . and we pray that the youngsters here who will take over from us will continue to love and cherish the OECS so that we, continuing to work with and for our people can make the OECS great.”
 
The Honourble Mark Brantley, Leader of the Opposition of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis spoke for the leaders of the parliamentary opposition in the OECS Assembly and quoted part of a message from Leader of the Opposition in St. Lucia which encouraged the membership of the assembly to collaborate as a region for the improved well being of its people:

“The global environment is unfavourable to small island states like ours, and those who once sympathized with us and were generous are now fighting for their own survival. We are now left to swim against the tides of social and economic challenge and adversity. Let us come together in the true spirit of regional integration.” 

Mr. Brantley indicated that the united approach of the OECS Assembly would change the mindset of those who tend to doubt the effectiveness of the regional institution and further demonstrate willingness by OECS parliamentarians to address the needs of Caribbean people as they continuously pursue excellence. Mr. Brantley also reiterated the full support of OECS opposition parties for OECS integration, referring to his colleague leaders of the parliamentary opposition as champions of regionalism.
 
The OECS Assembly was established by the Revised Treaty of Basseterre. It is to comprise 5 members of the Parliament of each independent Member State and 3 members from the Legislature of each non-independent Member State, with representation from both government and the parliamentary opposition, including the Head of Government and the Leader of the Opposition. 

The primary function of the OECS Assembly is to support the legislative work of the OECS by acting as a ‘legislative filter’ to discuss and report to the OECS Authority and the OECS Council of Ministers on legislation developed by the OECS.
 
—OECS Secretariat

Birthday celebration for late Queen Lili'uokalani of Hawai'i

Also see: 

Hawaiian Kingdom files protest and demand at United Nations

New Caledonia Decolonization Discussed At MSG Meeting In Fiji

Discussions over independence to be reported to U.N.

By Repeka Nasiko
Fiji Times

 The issue of the decolonization process of the Kanak community in New Caledonia was a major topic of discussion at the two-day Special Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) meeting in Nadi.

The meeting chaired by Foreign Affairs permanent secretary Saipora Mataikabara was the second in a series of meetings between the MSG members, to discuss the FLNKS (Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste) independence from the French government.

"I am optimistic that at the end of our meeting, our deliberations on decolonization issues will gain more prominence on the international arena as we all endeavor to assist our FLNKS colleagues and their people in their struggle for self emancipation," Ms Mataikabara said at the start of the talks.

"Our efforts in monitoring the progress on the Noumea Accord extend to a wider audience in sharing our findings with the United Nations."

Ms. Mataikabara also referred to a recent trip to New Caledonia of MSG heads including Fiji's Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, saying the meetings were conducted in a very transparent, open and frank manner.

The visit was undertaken to monitor and assess the implementation of the 1998 Noumea Accord in accordance with the decolonization processes approved by the people of New Caledonia through a referendum.

The Noumea Accord of 1998 promises to grant political power to New Caledonia and its original population, the Kanaks, until the territory decides whether to remain within the French Republic or become an independent State in a referendum to be held between 2014 and 2019. France will continue to control military and foreign affairs, immigration, police and currency until that time, and after, if the population chooses to remain French.