PUERTO RICO - El Plebiscito, una oportunidad dorada

MOVIMIENTO INDEPENDENTISTA 

NACIONAL HOSTOSIANO

Escrito por Ángel Pérez Soler / MINH

Es ley, habemus plebiscito. Con la estampa de la firma del gobernador  Ricardo Rosselló al Proyecto del Senado #51 de la autoría de Rivera Schatz, habrá una consulta el 11 de junio. Nadie debe dudar que el proyecto presentado por el PNP guarda vicios para favorecer la estadidad. Pensar lo contrario sería un acto tonto de nuestra parte. Sin embargo, después de la lectura del Proyecto uno debe poder distinguir que no es del todo malo. Es probable que este ejercicio sea otro mero concurso de simpatía, esto por su carácter no vinculante y por la falta de poder soberano real del pueblo de Puerto Rico. Mas sin embargo, este censo puede ayudar a adelantar el tema inconcluso del estatus. Yendo a los méritos del proyecto, el mismo asigna culpa al colonialismo y a la relación con Estados Unidos por el desastre económico del país.  Con un vocabulario retador, el PNP le dice a EEUU que son sin duda los mayores culpables de la deuda, el recorte en servicios básicos y que la imposición de la Junta de Control Fiscal fue la gota que colmó el vaso de la desfachatez colonial. Ni tontos, ni perezosos el PNP utilizó los resultados del plebiscito del 2012 para asignarle sentencia de muerte al Estado Libre Asociado. En efecto el país hizo claro su disgusto con la relación colonial impuesta por EEUU. Como en si fuera poco, la rama legislativa y judicial de EEUU confirmó el carácter colonial con el caso de Sánchez Valles y la imposición de la Junta de Control Fiscal.  Es que los únicos que aún reafirman el ELA como opción son la familia Hernández Colón, quienes en realidad no deben estar defendiendo la fórmula de estatus, sino la tajada del bizcocho que se han comido gracias al ELA.  Lea el artículo completo aquí

VIRGIN ISLANDS AT OVERSEAS COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES SESSIONS

PRESS RELEASE

The BVI’s progress on climate change and financial services were presented at the 15th OCT-EU Forum and OCTA Ministerial Conference in Aruba last week.

Mr. Joseph Smith-Abbott presents at the 

climate change plenary on February 24, 2017.

The conference was held from February 20 to 24 and was represented by a delegation headed by BVI London Office Director, Mr. Benito Wheatley; Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, Mr. Joseph Smith-Abbott and BVI London Office Deputy Director, Dr. Sandra Besson.

During a plenary session on climate change on February 24, Mr. Smith-Abbott made a presentation on the BVI's participation in the OECS Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) project on climate change adaptation and sustainable land management.

"It was my pleasure to share the progress BVI is making on climate change as a part of the OECS GCCA project. I also offered recommendations on how the Overseas Countries and Territories can implement a wider climate change thematic programme for the Caribbean supported by the EU’, Mr. Abbott said.

The Deputy Secretary also participated in a workshop on implementing the EU's BEST programme on biodiversity in the margins of the 15th OCT-EU Forum.

BVI’s London Office Director and EU Representative, Mr. Benito Wheatley delivered a report at the OCTA Ministerial Conference on the Financial Services Partnership Working Party (PWP) meetings held in 2016, which the BVI co-chairs with the European Commission.

Mr. Wheatley said, "We had a highly successful year of engagement with the EU on financial services which I was happy to report on. We have plans to deepen our dialogue with the EU on tax and transparency in 2017. The BVI will continue to lead in this area."

The Premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands, the Honourable Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson was elected the Chair of OCTA for 2017, while European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Mr. Neven Mimica led the EU delegation at the Aruba meetings.

The BVI is a member of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA), and associated with the EU. BVI is represented at the annual OCT-EU Forum and OCTA Ministerial Conference each year.

The Government of the Virgin Islands is committed to strengthening international relationships, in positioning the Territory for the futurE.

U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL OPENS DECOLONISATION COMMITTEE

UNITED NATIONS PRESS RELEASE

Secretary-General Hails Efforts by Special Committee on Decolonization, while Recalling End of Portugal’s Colonial Policies in Africa, Asia

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the Special Committee on Decolonization organizational meeting, in New York:

____________________________________

It is an honour, in my capacity as President pro tempore, to open the 2017 session of the Special Committee. As this is the first time I address this body, let me express from the outset my sincere commitment to the decolonization agenda, one of the defining mandates of the United Nations.

Allow me a very emotional, personal comment. I am Portuguese. I was born and I lived my youth during the Salazar dictatorship. The Salazar dictatorship oppressed my country, and simultaneously oppressed the countries and the peoples — our sister peoples — in Africa and in Asia with a completely absurd colonial policy that Salazar intended to make last forever, forcing a bloody and terrible war to the peoples of Angola and Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau. That has created a strong bond between the Portuguese democrats and many of my friends and comrades at the time have been arrested, have been tortured or living in exile, and the liberation movements in Angola, in Mozambique, and in Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde.

It is clear to me that the Carnation Revolution that allowed democracy to be re-established in Portugal was possible thanks to the fact that the Portuguese army became tired of fighting a bloody war without a political solution and finally decided that it was time to reverse the dictatorship. Democracy became possible in Portugal, and decolonization finally — so late, but finally — came to bring freedom to the countries and to the peoples of Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe, Cabo Verde, and later, in the complexity of the situation, to Timor-Leste, and of course, with the very successful transition of administration of Macau to China.

So, I followed, when I was young, the work of this Committee, hopeful as all Portuguese democrats and all members of the liberation movement, and I also witnessed the propaganda of the Salazar regime against this Committee that was, I would say, common in the Portuguese media at that time. So, you can imagine how I feel to be here today as Secretary-General of the United Nations, and President pro tempore of this Committee that is so strongly linked to my dreams and to my struggles of my youth and to the fraternity that linked my generation of democratic-minded Portuguese to the liberation movements of several of the countries that have contributed so essentially for Portuguese democracy to be established.

When the Special Committee was established in 1962, the United Nations had 110 Member States. Today, there are 193 and most of the new States were former colonies. The Special Committee has played a vital role in that process, faithfully discharging its General Assembly mandate. Despite this significant progress, 17 Territories remain Non-Self-Governing Territories. We want to reaffirm the commitment of this Special Committee to assist each Territory in finding an appropriate format and timing for the completion of its decolonization process, taking into account the Territory’s particular circumstances. Achieving that goal requires proactive and sustained engagement by all parties involved — the administering Powers, the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, the United Nations and other stakeholders.

I commend the work of the Special Committee, and am encouraged by the resumption of informal consultations with the administering Powers and other stakeholders. I trust that the Special Committee will continue to advance the United Nations decolonization mandate. I can assure you that the Secretariat will continue to support your work in the year ahead. I wish you every success in the 2017 session as you continue striving to bring this important work to a conclusion.

COLONIAL ASPECTS OF TRANSFER FROM DENMARK TO U.S.

Reader Asks Elected Officials to Consider Colonial Aspects of Transfer

by Tarik McMillan

February 17, 2017

Dear Source: 

I’m writing to gain a better understanding of [government officials’] perspective on the Transfer Day Centennial Commemoration. The Centennial Commission’s position as mentioned by Executive Director Kevin Jackson is that the purpose of these events is to focus on the achievements during the last 100 years as a people. Though it is important to acknowledge great Virgin Islanders and their accomplishments, there has been an aspect of the relationship between the Virgin Islands and the United States of America that has been largely disregarded. 

As a citizen I am curious about our elected political leaders’ position on the matter of our classification as people of African descent at the time of transfer as well as the position of the United Nations in regards to colonization and fundamental human rights. 

At the time of the Transfer from Denmark to the United States, the international law (referred to as the “Law of Nations”), that the United States accepted as valid and legal, referred to Indigenous Peoples as well as people of African descent as “Uncivilized Heathens.” My first question to the leaders of this territory is:

Do you think that the Centennial Commemorative events should explore the effect that the United States’ agreement to the belief that people of African descent were “Uncivilized Heathens” may have had on the relationship between United States and the Virgin Islands?

Lastly, in November of 2016 the United States of America issued a pledge outlining their commitment to human rights around the world. One of these pledges include a commitment to “advancing the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the UN system, including the UN General Assembly and its Third Committee.” On December 14, 1960, the General Assembly, the body in which the United States made the commitment to, adopted the “Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and People.” The first three declarations are as follows:

- The subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights, is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and is an impediment to the promotion of world peace and cooperation. 

- All peoples have the right to self-determination, by virtue of that right; they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. 

- Inadequacy of political, economic, social or educational preparedness should never serve as a pretext for delaying independence. 

Along with these declarations, the United Nations “proclaims the necessity of bringing to a speedy and unconditional end, colonialism in all its forms and manifestations.” 

Currently, the Virgin Islands is a colony of the United States. The Transfer Day Centennial events commemorates our relationship with the United States with little acknowledgement of the United States’ commitment to the United Nations’ and their objections to the continuation of colonialism. My final question is this:

As our elected officials, do you think that it is in the best interest of the people of the Virgin Islands to commemorate an event so closely tied to colonialism when the United Nations have proclaimed its disapproval to continued acts of colonialism?

White House and Interior Senior Officials Host Territory Governors at Interagency Group on Insular Areas (IGIA)

(link) Governors tell White House dont treat territories like states

PRESS RELEASE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 24, 2017) – Deputy Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs, Justin R. Clark, Senior White House Advisor Douglas W. Domenech, and Acting Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas Nikolao I. Pula Jr. met today with Guam Governor Eddie Calvo, U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth Mapp and American Samoa Governor Lolo Moliga at the 2017 Senior Plenary Session of the Interagency Group on Insular Areas. Hosted at the Department of the Interior, the annual conference discussed health and financial concerns for the territories.

The Deputy Assistant to the President spoke about his growing interest in the U.S. territories and his serving as the principal point of contact for the Governors in the Trump Administration. The Senior White House Advisor reminded attendees that, having served as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas from January 2008 to January 2009, he was not a stranger to the territories and referred to the many briefings that the Office of Insular Affairs has already provided him on the various challenges and opportunities that the territories are encountering. 

In his remarks, Acting Assistant Secretary Pula asked all attendees to remember a major political leader of the Pacific who often participated at IGIA plenary sessions, Congressman Eni Hunkin Faleomavaega of American Samoa, who died on Wednesday, February 22. Congressman Eni served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 26 years, and the Acting Assistant Secretary declared that American Samoa, the Pacific in general and the peoples throughout the U.S. territories have lost a champion.

Governor Calvo focused his comments on the challenges that well-intentioned but misaligned federal policies and regulations impose on the territories’ ability to foster economic development and fiscal sustainability. He said immigration, environmental, and tax policies in the territories should be guided by the unique circumstances of the territories and not by the norms of the continental United States.

Governor Mapp addressed the great need for increased federal infrastructure investment in the territories. He noted that the population based formulas that determine the allocation of federal infrastructure investment severely handicap the territories’ abilities to develop sustainable economic development and achieve greater financial self-sufficiency. He also called for greater attention on the open borders of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, and the need for greater investment in securing the territories against potential threats.

Governor Lolo commented on his hope that the new national discussions on health care reform will lead to more relevant and impactful solutions for improving the access and availability of affordable and quality health care in the territories. He emphasized that the overall federal approach to health care continues to treat the territories as if they have the same conditions and capacities of states.

All governors saw great potential for the Interagency Group on Insular Areas to assist in addressing and resolving many of the issues discussed and they were looking forward for additional opportunities to collaborate with federal agencies and working towards solutions.

Officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provided an update on the Department’s extensive work in the U.S. territories, and U.S. Department of the Treasury officials gave a presentation on the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act and that legislation’s possible application under certain, specific circumstances to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands.

The Interagency Group on Insular Areas was established to ensure coordination and collaboration among federal agencies in addressing issues of concern to the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands. The group is organized through Executive Order 13537 (April 14, 2010) and is co-chaired by the White House Director for Intergovernmental Affairs and the Secretary of the Interior.

The Secretary of the Interior is responsible for coordinating federal policy with respect to the territories of the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and administering and overseeing U.S. federal assistance provided to the freely associated states of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau under the Compacts of Free Association. The Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas, through the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA), executes these responsibilities on behalf of the Secretary. The OIA mission is to foster economic opportunities, promote government efficiency, and improve the quality of life for the people of the insular areas.

Bougainville President Momis on referendum readiness

POST COURIER/PACNEWS

The people of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ABG) have a dream to create a new socio-economic political and moral order as they stand on the threshold of the Referendum.

ABG President Grand Chief Dr John Momis said that dream is within the reach of the people of Bougainville but they first have the responsibility to implement the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA). 

“We are looking to develop our education and health facilities and develop other infrastructure on Bougainville but we must not overlook our responsibility and that is the implementation of the BPA through credible means,” Momis said. 

“Undeniably, we have problems on Bougainville but we have also achieved a lot since the inception of the ABG; we now have the power to develop our own education policies, our health policies and others such as finance and mining,” he added. 

President Momis said the problem the ABG faces was a lack of technical capacity to develop these powers and policies to.

But Momis is also very optimistic that Bougainville will thrive as the autonomous region moves into the future. 

“Unity is the essence of our success and these problems are not impossible to overcome; our unity does not mean uniformity, it must be an all-inclusive engagement of all Bougainvilleans who must have a say on our political future come the referendum,” Momis said. 

Momis added that Bougainville determining its future must also include a future for development. 

Momis also cautioned that people must be realistic of their expectations of the outcome of the referendum. 

“Everything depends on how hard we work to achieve a favourable outcome of the referendum; we cannot dream of the impossible while we remain complacent and not work hard for it,” he said. 

“We must have faith and own the process of the referendum so that we can legitimately own the outcome that is credible and excepted by all Bougainvilleans and respected by the international community,” he said. 

“I must remind you all that in today’s globalized community we must refrain from alienating ourselves international community such as the United Nations who will play an important role at the time of the referendum,” he said. 

Momis further made a call to all Bougainvilleans not to deviate from the principles of the Bougainville Peace Agreement and to follow it as the guideline to achieving its ultimate political future. 

Meanwhile, many people in Bougainville are still in the dark about referendum in the autonomous region which would decide the island’s future. 

Acting Bougainville electoral commissioner George Manu said this at the weekend after launching an awareness campaign on the subject. 

Manu sympathised with the people and admitted that it was true that most people were still in the dark on issues associated with the referendum. 

He said it was up to responsible authorities to plan and implement these awareness activities, adding that office of Bougainville electoral commission and PNG Electoral Commission already have plans in place and would be visiting all constituency and community in Bougainville in the coming weeks to conduct awareness on the technical aspect of conducting the referendum. 

The PNG Electoral Commission and the office of the Bougainville electoral commission launched their referendum awareness programs in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville last Friday. 

The awareness programmes are based on the legal electoral aspects of conducting the referendum. It is being led and facilitated by Manu. 

Manu started the awareness drive at the Arawa Market in Central Bougainville, before travelling to Buin in South Bougainville where he conducted another awareness session on Saturday morning at the Buin town market. 

Manu and his team also delivered copies of the Bougainville referendum primer and flyers to those who attended these sessions. 

The flyers were about the electoral process of conducting the referendum. 

Members of the public were also invited to ask questions about the referendum however, Manu was only able to answer questions relating to the electoral process of the referendum. 

Manu said that from all questions raised, it was evident that one that was frequently asked was on the lack of awareness on referendum reaching the people in most areas in Bougainville.

Former American Samoa Delegate to U.S. House of Representatives joins the ancestors

Faleomavaega leaves behind a legacy of unsurpassed service and love to the Pacific community

Former Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin, American Samoa’s longest serving non-voting Delegate to the U.S House of Representatives, passed away at his home in Provo, Utah. He was 73 years old.

Faleomavaega “passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family and a few close friends,” said Theresa Hunkin, who is Faleomavaega’s sister-in-law, in a brief phone interview not long after Faleomavaega passed away. “It was peaceful and beautiful in terms of his passing.”

HIs widow, Hinanui Hunkin, said from Provo that the “snow is softly falling outside” and the family has gathered for prayer and song, and words of wisdom from the local bishop, before Faleomavaega’s remains were taken from their home to the waiting hearse.

“It is with pleasure that I say that life with Eni was far from dull. His spontaneous and generous heart was always evident, and bore fruit through which he was able to be an influence for good with all whom he came into contact,” Mrs. Hunkin said via email around 3p.m. yesterday (American Samoa local time) from Provo.

“His love for his people was unsurpassed and completely sincere, and he will, in his next life, continue to look after them,” she said.

“The children and I will miss him, but I know that he yet has work to do in his new life. I am so grateful for the trust that the people of American Samoa, for so many years, placed in him as their servant. I love and miss you, American Samoa,” she added.

Acting governor Lemanu Palepoi Peleti Mauga said the Governor’s Office was informed Thursday about Faleomavaega’s passing. He has contacted Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga, currently in Washington D.C. for meetings.

Faleomavaega “had served the people and government of American Samoa faithfully for many years,” Lemanu said in a brief telephone interview late yesterday afternoon. He recalled Faleomavaega visiting military installations while he was serving in the US Armed Forces and had a chance to talk with him.

In a statement, the Governor’s Office announced Faleomavaega’s passing and that he died “peacefully” at his Provo home “after a lengthy illness.”

“The Congressman lived a life of service to his people, to American Samoa, and to the community of the Pacific,” it says.

“Governor Lolo and Cynthia Moliga, along with Lieutenant Governor Lemanu express their sincere condolences to Hinanui and Faleomavaega’s family on the passing of this great public servant who gave his life to serve the people and territory of American Samoa,” it says.

Faleomavaega, a Democrat, was unseated in the 2014 congressional race by current Congresswoman Aumua Amata, a Republican, after having served for 13 consecutive 2-yers terms as the Territory’s congressman or delegate-at-large.

At the time, his health was a major concern to local residents after he was medivaced to Honolulu in October of 2013 from complications, which he said was due to exposure to ‘Agent Orange’ while serving in the Vietnam War. He served in the US Army for three years.

Faleomavaega served as a member of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Committee on Natural Resources. As a member of the Foreign Affairs committee, he traveled to foreign countries as a congressional representative resulting in local criticism for traveling abroad instead of focusing on issues impacting American Samoa.

However, his work in Washington, gained him a lot of respect from leaders throughout the Pacific and Asia. He would challenge the federal government over the years to do more to help the Pacific including neighboring Samoa, and his criticism of the U.S government surfaced in 2012 and 2013, when the Chinese government increased its financial support for Pacific countries.

In 1996, Faleomavaega participated in a boycott of an address before a joint session of Congress by French President Jacques Chirac. Just days before Chirac's speech, France conducted a series of nuclear tests at the Moruroa and Fangatauga atolls in the South Pacific, despite worldwide protests.

Based on his bio, available during election time, Faleomavaega started in Washington D.C. as an administrative assistant in 1973 to then A.U. Fuimaono, the territory’s first elected representative to the US House.

Then from 1975- 1981, he was staff counsel to the US House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs before returning to American Samoa where he was a deputy attorney general in the Attorney General’s Office.

During the 1984 general election, Faleomavaega was the running mate to then candidate for governor, A.P. Lutali and the gubernatorial team of Lutali and Faleomavaega won. Faleomavaega served as lieutenant governor until 1989 when he entered the US House.

Born in Vailoatai, Faleomavaega graduated in 1962 from Kahuku High School in Hawaii; graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Brigham Young University in Utah; received his law degree in 1972 from the University of Houston and a master of law degree a year later from the University of California at Berkeley.

Funeral services are pending and the family plans to issue an official statement at a later time.

Faleomavega is survived by his wife, Hinanui, five children and 10 grandchildren.

First Black General Becomes Bolivia’s National Police Chief

First Black General Becomes Bolivia’s National Police Chief

LA PAZ – Gen. Abel de la Barra, who became the first black commander of the Bolivian National Police on Monday, said he would establish a “national decolonization directorate” within the agency.

President Evo Morales administered the oath of office to De la Barra after signing an executive order promoting him to the rank of general.

De la Barra said he now felt he was “a visible Afro-Bolivian” and honored his ancestors, noting that they “were uprooted from their lands in Africa and brought to America in dismal conditions, marking the start of hundreds of years of slavery.”

The new National Police chief said he would strive to transform the agency in accordance with Morales administration guidelines.

Officials envision “decolonization” as a process to advance the Andean country’s national security doctrine.

De la Barra said he began his career “as a beat cop” in the streets.

“So, it will not be strange if I set an example by working the streets,” De la Barra said.

De la Barra’s appointment meets National Police institutional procedures on appointing the best officer as chief, Morales said.

The president said that before he took office, the US Embassy had a say on the selection of the National Police chief and deputy chief.

"AFRICA'S GREAT CIVILIZATIONS" SCREENING AT UNIV. OF VIRGIN ISLANDS - FEB. 24

Tensions rise in New Caledonia ahead of independence vote

NIKKEI ASIAN REVIEW

Bougainville and Guam also moving toward referendums on constitutional status

MICHAEL FIELD

 Contributing writer

Guam Governor Eddie Calvo, center, held village meetings in December as part of his push for a referendum on revising the island’s political relationship with the U.S. (Courtesy: Guam governor’s office)

AUCKLAND -- Due east of Australia, and far removed from Europe, the Pacific island territory of New Caledonia is mulling a final break from France, ending a relationship lasting more than 150 years. In a referendum that will take place next year, New Caledonia will vote on the issue of independence.

The question that will be asked has not been determined, and neither has the eligible electorate. But tensions have worsened ahead of the vote, prompting former French Prime Minister Manuel Valls to promise in November that more soldiers would be sent to the territory to deal with the violence.

On Jan. 30, police were fired at in the region around the capital, Noumea, the latest in a spate of such attacks since an unarmed prison escapee was shot dead by police in October.

New Caledonia, a self-governing island with a population 260,000, has been ruled by France since 1853, but communal relations have been repeatedly scarred by failed revolts and violence between the indigenous inhabitants, known as Kanaks, and French settlers.

A 1987 referendum asked whether the territory should remain part of France, but was boycotted by the pro-independence group Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste, after Paris refused to allow United Nations supervision of the vote. Only 1.7% voted for independence.

Tensions continued to rise, and a year later FLNKS activists killed four French police and took hostage 27 others, together with a prosecutor and seven soldiers. A government-ordered assault finally freed the hostages, but 19 FLNKS activists and two soldiers were killed.

Valls acknowledged the increasing tensions in November, promising better security on the island, and noting that: "Even if we do everything we can to avoid it, we anticipate that the future will involve ... hazards and risks." He added, "The situation in New Caledonia has deteriorated in the area of security."

The conservative Republican Party candidate Francois Fillon has said he favors continued French sovereignty in New Caledonia. © Reuters

The French prime minister resigned shortly afterward, as part of an unsuccessful campaign to win the French Socialist Party's nomination for president in elections due in April and May. In a sign that New Caledonia could figure in the two-stage election, conservative Republican Party candidate Francois Fillon has already said he favors continued French sovereignty.

Meanwhile, there is no agreement on the electorate for an independence vote. Kanaks, who have lived on New Caledonia for 3,500 years, make up 39% of the population, according to a 2014 census. Europeans comprise 27%, and "Caledonians," who are mostly ethnic Europeans, account for 9%. The remainder are from other French Pacific territories such as Tahiti and Wallis and Futuna, together with some Indonesians, Vietnamese, Chinese and others.

Union Caledonienne, the main backer of independence, contends that voter registration procedures disenfranchise many Kanaks, while allowing shorter-term migrant voters onto the electoral roll. Its demand for systematic and unconditional registration of all Kanaks has been rejected by France, but Valls said before his resignation that the registration issue would be resolved by a census and a voter education campaign.

Anti-independence activists, some of whom have accused Paris of trying to push the territory into independence, say that people should not be registered to vote against their wishes.

What's the question?

There is also disagreement about the question that voters should be asked to answer. Pierre Frogier, leader of the anti-independence Rassemblement movement, said he was opposed to a simple question on independence, arguing that it would "result in the fragmentation of New Caledonian society and the incitement of Caledonians to fight."

Frogier, a former president of the island's government who now sits in the French Senate, said a referendum on independence risked destroying 30 years of working together on the island.

Opponents of independence have mobilized thousands of demonstrators in rallies against the independence vote, and control 29 of 54 democratically elected seats in the territory's law-making assembly. The remaining 25 members are split between those who favor independence and a group advocating a looser relationship with France.

Paul Soyez, a researcher in French-Australian relations at the Sorbonne University in Paris and at the University of Melbourne, said the wording of the referendum question was a serious problem for the French authorities, while there was a "quite high" risk of violence.

"The whole issue is to know how to phrase a question that will not be black and white but that will enable voters to choose between several forms of autonomy," he said.

Soyez said the prospect of violent clashes was "a real concern here in Australia, since stakeholders in Canberra don't know who Australian public opinion would support, France or Kanaks, and then who they would have to defend."

David Chappell, a University of Hawaii professor who has studied the island, said there was little direct dialogue between French loyalists and independence supporters, and noted that divisions were emerging within both groups.

Chappell, author of "The Kanak Awakening," said the loyalists would win an independence referendum, but forecast that the territory would shift closer to sovereignty over the next generation. "In a sense, the process of nation building is not suffering fragmentation of the old ethno-political blocs ... as much as it is diversifying within a still vague concept of nationhood," he said.

New Caledonia is one of several Pacific states and territories where people are agitating for new political leadership, including some in areas of countries that have already become independent.

Papua New Guinea, administered by Australia until independence in 1975, agreed on Jan. 24 to allow a referendum on independence in June 2018 in Bougainville, an autonomous region where constitutional tensions led to extensive violence in the 1980s and 1990s. Bougainville's future could also feature as a key issue in a Papua New Guinea general election in May.

Guam, a U.S. territory 2,500km south of Tokyo that hosts one of the largest American military bases in the Pacific, is also ironing out legal and constitutional issues ahead of a vote on its status. The territory has 165,000 residents, but only the 37% who are indigenous Chamorro  have been offered a vote in a non-binding independence referendum. (It is actually, non-ethnic 'native inhabitants' identified in the Treaty of Paris who would be the eligible voters - OTR)

A court challenge to the voting rules has delayed the announcement of a date for the referendum. Votes in 1982 and 1987 saw around 70% in favor of self-government, but no action was taken, leaving the island in political limbo.

"It's time that we confronted the fact that for nearly 400 years the state of our island has been colonial," Republican Governor Eddie Calvo said in February 2016, as the latest voting process started. "It is the unchanged and unrepentant shadow cast upon our long and unshackled destiny."

There is also talk of local independence within the Federated States of Micronesia, a sovereign nation of small islands that lies north of Papua New Guinea and east of the southern Philippines. The small state of Chuuk considered a break-away referendum in 2016 before backing away from the idea. But local elections on March 7 could revive the campaign.

Forum on Hawaiian Patriots scheduled for Maui - Feb. 23

Independence for Anguilla re-enters the public dialogue

the anguillian

#IndependenceforAnguilla is the new hashtag that has been gaining popularity over the past few weeks following the passing of the Father of the Nation, the Honourable James Ronald Webster. Mr Webster’s death seems to have resurrected a consciousness in the Anguillian people that has caused us to reflect on who we are, where we have come from and where we want to go. 

Many have come to the realisation that Mr Webster’s vision for Anguilla was way ahead of his time and hence the reason why many may not have shared it. Yet, on the verge of the 50th Anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution, there is almost a feeling of disappointment that the dream has not been realised and this has created a sense of restlessness and increased urgency to realise that dream.

Mr Webster never gave up on his dream, and this is evident from an editorial I wrote about two and a half years ago on this very issue:

“The question of independence has been raised time and time again during the last few years. It is most often linked to discussions about constitutional change, which is long overdue in Anguilla. I am not sure that many of us take the time to seriously consider the issue. The proponents of independence usually point to the need for us to be in charge of our own destiny, and to chart our own course, free of interference from our “colonial masters”. The opponents on the other hand point out that we have not yet reached the stage of the development where we can feel comfortable venturing out on our own.

“However, I believe the discourse on independence can be taken to a whole new level if we were to take the time to analyse the letter from Mr Don Mitchell QC, former Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court to Mr James Ronald Webster, Father of the Nation. Mr Mitchell’s letter was written in response to a request from Mr Webster to advise him on the issue of independence for Anguilla. Even though far advanced in years, Mr Webster obviously still has dreams of an independent Anguilla and, in his wisdom, saw the benefit of obtaining the advice of a renowned legal luminary on the issue. It is obvious that his love for Anguilla is such that he is still actively engaged in considering our country’s strategic direction. 

The fact that Mr Mitchell commenced his response to Mr Webster on the same day that the request was made, suggests that he too had given the issue much thought and perhaps was longing for the opportunity to pen his opinion on the matter. The result of their exchange is, in my view, one of the more insightful looks at what Anguilla needs to do to prepare for independence.

“What strikes me most about the advice given is that it does not focus on issues related to economic, social or infrastructural development as the usual independence debates normally do. While I do not believe Mr Mitchell is of the view that these are unimportant, I do think the point he is making is that of even more importance, are the issues of good governance. According to him, unless there are checks and balances to ensure the principles of integrity, accountability and transparency are upheld, Anguilla may suffer the same fate as many of our Caribbean neighbours. 

I assume that his concern in this regard is that without those mechanisms in place, the fate of our people will be at the mercy of unconscionable, corrupt and uncontrollable leaders who seem to be able to engage in undemocratic and oppressive practices with impunity. In my view, he is absolutely right. One does not have to look far to see what is happening in countries around our region where leaders have been able to establish mini-dynasties where they wield disproportionate power without regard to the rule of law.

“In his letter, Mr Mitchell has taken the time to outline some of the steps that can be taken to promote good governance in Anguilla. He also alluded to the fact that indeed there may be other mechanisms that can be considered as well. I encourage everyone to read the contents of his letter. Whether you are a proponent or opponent of independence, what the letter has outlined seems to make good sense. In fact, whether we are minded to move towards independence or not, there are several suggestions that we can take into consideration even now, for implementation, that could assist in strengthening current governance systems. 

For example, those that may not require constitutional change include the establishment of a Code of Ethics for Ministers of Government, the passage of a Freedom of Information Act, the establishment of a Public Accounts Committee, the formation of an Electoral Boundaries Commission and the publication of annual reports from all Government Departments.

“I am in agreement with Mr Mitchell’s view that “We deserve our own constitutional checks and balances to guarantee good governance when independence comes, as inevitably it must”. Any Anguillian with the pride and dignity expected of an Anguillian would acknowledge that independence is the ultimate goal of our political development.”

If this is indeed our ultimate goal, even if long term, then we need to begin taking concrete steps to get us there. Mr Webster’s death may indeed be the catalyst we need to get us moving in that direction. In life and in death he has spurred us to action. Let us not rest on our laurels for another fifty years but rather put the wheels in motion and press forward with renewed purpose.

Congressman introduces Guam-inspired Agent Orange bill

Pacific Daily News

 by Jerick Sablan 

and Kyla P Mora 

(Photo: U.S. Congress)

A Florida congressman introduced a bill that would allow Vietnam War veterans who served in Guam and other areas easier access to federal benefits for Agent Orange exposure.

Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Florida, introduced the Fighting for Orange-Stricken Territories in Eastern Regions (FOSTER) Act, which would provide presumptive Agent Orange exposure status to Vietnam War-era veterans who served in specific areas, including Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa, and show symptoms of medical conditions currently associated with such exposure so they can receive U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.

The bill is named after a veteran, Leroy Foster, who served on Guam and who said he routinely sprayed Agent Orange here.

“Nearly every day, I speak to or hear about Vietnam veterans who say they were exposed to Agent Orange, but are unable to receive VA benefits for their diseases associated with this toxic herbicide because the Department of Defense does not acknowledge Agent Orange was used in the areas they claim to have been exposed. These brave men and women cannot be denied help any longer, which is why I introduced the FOSTER Act to help them qualify for VA benefits," Ross said in a release.

The DOD denies Agent Orange was ever used outside of Vietnam and Thailand during the Vietnam War, despite the influx of veterans coming forth with claims of exposure outside of these areas, including Guam, Ross said.

If veterans’ diseases or exposure locations fall outside of the current VA list, the veterans must show an actual connection between the disease and herbicide exposure during military service. There is no presumption in such cases, and many claims are denied.

The legislation would grant presumptive Agent Orange exposure status to U.S. service members who served in specific areas outside of Vietnam and Thailand during the Vietnam War and suffer from any of the diseases the U.S. government has linked to Agent Orange, Ross said.

The congressman has also asked the defense department for information on what specific chemicals were used during the Vietnam War.

The legislation was named after Master Sgt. Foster, of Lakeland, Florida, who said he sprayed Agent Orange in Guam while serving at Andersen Air Force Base during the Vietnam War. He said he has more than 30 diseases and multiple cancers due to his exposure to Agent Orange in Guam, but doesn't qualify for VA benefits under current law.

"I was shocked when I heard that they named it after me," Foster said Friday, in a phone interview. "I felt very honored for them to do that, but it's not about me," Foster said. "It’s about all the people who were affected who are living there on Guam, and all the veterans and their families. Every day I hear more and more stories coming out and it’s very very sad. I’m hoping help comes quickly to the people of Guam."

With this new bill and growing media attention, Foster said, he has "got hope back."

"My soul feels finally at peace that the truth is out and our government is accepting responsibility about what happened. All of the prayers have helped. Please ask the people of Guam to keep praying," Foster said. "This is not my doing, this is God’s doing. I know it’s all the prayers that have been said and are being said. It’s moving the hearts of the people in leadership."

Foster hopes that veterans and Guam families who were affected by Agent Orange will see financial and medical benefits as a result of the FOSTER Act.

"I will not let the DOD drag its feet on this or allow a ‘deny until they die’ attitude toward our courageous veterans. If there is a cover up, we are going to get to the bottom of it. I refuse to forget those who put our lives before their own, like Master Sgt. Leroy Foster of Lakeland who served in Guam during the Vietnam War," Ross said.

"It is downright heartbreaking and shocking to hear these veterans list off their myriad of ailments and life-threatening conditions, knowing our government isn't providing them any relief even after they selflessly put their lives on the line to serve and defend our nation. We must quickly provide them the help and services they deserve," Ross added.

UN lawyer and ex-Miss Jamaica says she was 'brutalized' by Dutch police after walking red light

RT   QUESTION MORE

Report

Laguerre – aka “Chaka Shakira” on Facebook – said that at 9:30am on Tuesday, she was cycling to work and went to a spot where she felt unsafe due to “cars making right turns.”

“Therefore, to move myself to safety, I quickly walked my bicycle across the street to get out of the way.”

Things could have ended there, but then a police car made a U-turn and parked in front of her, with two policemen starting to speak in Dutch, which the woman does not understand.

Officers asked for her ID and told her she was under arrest.

“I asked them why I was under arrest, and I told them that I did not travel with my US or UK passports but showed them my ICJ badge ID and explained that I am a lawyer working at the International Court of Justice. I also had my Dutch identity card that was issued to me from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that gives me a status in this country,” Laguerre wrote, according to media reports.

That did not satisfy the officers, however, who allegedly pushed the woman against the car and started “aggressively pulling on and bending” her arms. There was also a struggle in the car, and Laguerre cried as they went to the police station.

“I am sharing my experience because I want people of color to know that we must continue to fight, not merely for our right to live as dignified human beings and our right to bodily integrity, but so our children can live in a society where they no longer have to feel hopeless and afraid. This is why I became a lawyer,” former Miss Jamaica-US Laguerre said.

Following her Facebook post, the Dutch Police were quick to respond, issuing a statement expressing concern over Laguerre’s “dangerous traffic behavior.” She was eventually charged with not showing her identity documents when requested to do so, and not for the original offense. A complaint will be filed to the International Court of Justice against the woman.

The statement goes on to say that any accusations of “brutalization” and “racist and violent police action” are “completely unfounded.”

According to the police, Laguerre was fined for not a having her ID with her. Every person in the Netherlands is required to carry their ID with them starting from the age of 14. After failing to produce her ID, Laguerre reportedly “wanted to run away,” the statement added.

Afterwards, the woman “repeatedly tries to escape from the officers’ grip by tearing away. She also tries to tackle one of the officers with her legs whilst shouting at bystanders.”

Finally, the officers managed to put one handcuff on the woman, and that’s how she was taken to the police station.

Police say that they have CCTV footage of the entire incident and that Laguerre was held for an hour and twenty minutes.

Guam Governor Introduces Legislation to Legalize Marijuana

Guam Governor Eddie Calvo on Tuesday introduced legislation to legalize marijuana for those 21 and older.

According to Calvo the law is modeled after Colorado’s Amendment 64; however, it has been “heavily vetted and changed” to Guam. It would allow for the possession and use of up to an ounce of cannabis, and the personal cultivation of up to six plants.

It would also legalize a system of licensed cannabis retail outlets and cultivation centers, similar to Colorado’s system. Cannabis would be taxed at 15% at the point of sale.

Calvo says that he doesn’t personally support legalizing cannabis, but is proposing it as a solution to the regulatory burden put in place by a recent voter-approved initiative that legalized medical cannabis.

“I am introducing this bill, not because I personally support the recreational use of marijuana, but as a solution to the regulatory labyrinth that sprouted from the voter-mandated medical marijuana program,” says Calvo.

Although the bill is being introduced as a simplification of the system, Calvo assures patients that the new law won’t negatively impact the medical law.

“Patients with the proper credentials will be able to purchase cannabis products according to the rules and regulations of that program,” says Calvo. “The sin tax and age limit we propose for non-medicinal cannabis use will not apply to the medicinal program.”

The measure must be passed through Guam’s Legislature before being sent to Calvo to be signed into law.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA: A NEW REVENUE SOURCE FOR PUERTO RICO

Association: Puerto Rico to Make Millions from Medicinal Pot SAN JUAN – Puerto Rico’s public coffers will take in millions of dollars in taxes thanks to the medicinal marijuana industry on the island, where an estimated 100,000 patients will be treated with the substance over the next two years. Businesswoman Ingrid Schmidt announced on Monday at a press conference the creation of the Puerto Rico Medicinal Cannabis Association, which she said is being founded with the task of promoting the development of marijuana to treat disease and ensure that patients will receive the most appropriate care possible. The announcement of the start of PRMCA’s activities by Schmidt, who is the organization’s spokesperson, coincides with reports appearing in local media by members of the island’s Ricardo Rossello administration indicating that a bill is being discussed to deal with medicinal pot. The bill under study is designed to provide a response to a very key current issue in Puerto Rico, where since the close of 2015 the medicinal pot sector has been regulated by executive orders signed by the prior Alejandro Garcia Padilla administration, which sought in medicinal marijuana a way to contribute, via taxes, to the sputtering local economy. Schmidt emphasized that since late 2015 local businessmen have invested millions of dollars in a sector that, she said, could contribute toward alleviating the dire situation of the commonwealth’s public finances. Schmidt, a partner with the Puerto Rico MedCann.Biz firm, said that it is important for all industry participants to have a single voice to carry the message about the health contributions medicinal pot provides. The association encompasses businessmen in the sector specializing in growing, processing and selling marijuana for medicinal purposes. Erie Perez, one of the partners in XASS Farma, a business licensed to operate in growing, processing and selling medicinal pot, told EFE that he expects his company to start operations in May catering to a market that he estimates over the next two years will have 100,000 patients. Also participating in the press conference was Julian Londoño, a partner with Nextgen Pharma, licensed to engage in marijuana production, who said that medicinal pot is a treatment up to 10 times less effective than chemical medications for various diseases. The Puerto Rican press estimates that so far the taxes obtained by the island’s government from firms dealing in medicinal marijuana total about $2.7 million since its regulation in late 2015. Since then, more than 100 companies have applied for licenses to operate in the sector, investing hundreds of millions of dollars to launch their operations on the island. The island’s Department of Health has granted licenses to five companies to grow medicinal pot, and they operate plantations in seven municipalities that to date they have paid about $400,000 in taxes.