For the freedom of our brothers and sisters in Guam, Kanaky/New Caledonia, Maohi Nui/French Polynesia, Tokelau, West Papua

For the freedom of our brothers and sisters

Padre James Bhagwan

A day before the United Nations Committee of 24 met in Nadi, to discuss — among other issues — the reinscription of Maohi Nui (French Polynesia) on the list of territories for decolonisation, the Pacific Conference of Churches again called on regional governments to support the decolonisation of West Papua, Guam and Rapa Nui.

The theme of this regional seminar of the Committee of 24 is to accelerate action on the implementation of the 3rd International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.

The Pacific is represented on the C24 by Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

"We recognise that this might be a difficult position for some governments to take but the Pacific people must be treated with justice," said PCC Desk Officer Peter Emberson.

The PCC statement read, "For the freedom of our brothers and sisters in Guam, Kanaky/New Caledonia, Maohi Nui/French Polynesia, Tokelau, West Papua to chart their own political future, we call on our Pacific peoples in all walks of life to stand up, speak out and be actively be engaged in their struggle."

"The right of peoples in non-self-governing-territories, whose countries are ruled by colonial administrations, to determine their own political future is enshrined in international law.

"Similarly, the duty of the colonisers or administering powers to prepare the indigenous peoples in these territories to exercise their right to self-determination is also mandated by international law … underpinning the legal instruments and administrative protocols established to ensure and safeguard freedom is a grave moral responsibility.

"Lest we forget, many of us who now live and have our being in independent Pacific countries were once, not too long ago, also governed under colonial rule.

"Our freedom was purchased by the commitment, very often the sacrifice, of entire generations of our forebears and at great cost."

The support of the struggle for the self-determination of Maohi-Nui, Kanaky, Guam, Tokelau and Tanah Papua is on the PCC member churches' radar, following the 2013 PCC General Assembly in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

In Fiji the Executive Committee of the Fiji Council of Churches last year resolved to support the churches and people of West Papua in their struggle for self-determination.

"We continue to receive reports of torture, violence and atrocities against the people of West Papua and these actions by Indonesia must stop," said Mr Emberson at a media conference where the statement from PCC was issued.

I have shared the story of West or Tanah Papua before — its colonisation by the Dutch, a brief moment of independence in 1961, the invasion by Indonesia and the United Nations two grave sins — allowing the transfer of control of West Papua to Indonesia in 1962, albeit with an agreement of future self-determination; and endorsing the manipulated plebiscite "Act of Free Choice" in 1969, where, "instead of overseeing a free and fair election, the UN stood by while Indonesia rigged the vote.

Declaring that the Papuans were too "primitive" to cope with democracy, the Indonesian military hand-picked just 1026 "epresentative" Papuans, out of a population of one million, who were then bribed and threatened to kill them and their families if they voted the wrong way.

So strong was the intimidation that despite widespread opposition to Indonesian rule, all 1026 voted to remain a part of Indonesia.

With the advent of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) and the International Lawyers for West Papua (ILWP) politicians and lawyers are beginning to engage with the issue.

Through the PCC, churches in the Pacific and by extension their members will also begin to learn and engage with the case of West/Tanah Papua and other self-determination struggles.

The issue of Tanah or West Papua weighed heavily on my soul in my recent visit to Indonesia.

I was profoundly affected by the stories, which I had heard from West Papuans, and videos and pictures of human rights abuses by Indonesian forces based in Tanah Papua, which I had seen online.

The response I received from a member of one particular Indonesian NGO when asked about Papua was that it was very large and rural, so working there was difficult.

I was concerned by inferences that the challenge was because the people of Tanah Papua and indeed much of eastern Indonesia, including Sulawesi, West Kalimantan and Maluku are "primitive".

Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, those are the Old Javanese words written on the foot of the Garuda Pancasila, Republic of Indonesia's national symbol, which mean "Unity in Diversity." However, this is not necessarily the case. I was to learn that there is a level of prejudice towards eastern Indonesia as it is also the least developed part of the country, thus people native to that area are viewed as primitive.

Ironically it is eastern Indonesia which provides much of the natural resources for Indonesia's economic growth, while the western part receives the profits and development.

A 2001 report by Minority Rights Group International, states that the extreme development gap between the island of Java and most of the outer regions, the effect of the government's policy of transmigrasi or forced migration, and its political manipulation of religion have been strategies by the powerful to their commercial interests in these areas, even if it has meant prolonging conflicts.

Self-determination for West/Tanah Papua in this wider context is therefore not just political empowerment but also socio-economic empowerment.

As I spoke with other Indonesian NGOs, community workers and activists who were more aware of this context and great divide between west and east, I became more aware of the preconditions for self-determination in West/Tanah Papua.

The lack of access to quality education — most children only attend school until they are 10 years old, according to one source, health-care and infrastructure adds to the already documented human rights abuses by the Indonesian military.

It is a stark illustration of the MRGI report, quoted above. By keeping the people of West/Tanah Papua poor and disempowered, unable to become a cohesive movement for self-determination due to poor communications technology and vast distances, the status quo remains and the people of West/Tanah Papua will always be at a disadvantage should any negotiations eventuate.

So how can the playing field be leveled?

Donor agencies need to channel funds to education, healthcare and infrastructure development.

Churches need to not only resound the call for self-determination but get involved through education, health-care and communications mission work. These were an important part of our growth towards our own self-determination.

We must also challenge our leaders, as constituents on a national level, or within our faith communities and social groups to step up to the challenge of advocating for self-determination in its fullest sense to be embraced.

After-all, if we were in the same situation, would we want any less?

"Simplicity, serenity, spontaneity."

* Reverend James Bhagwan is an ordained minister of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma. The views expressed are his and not of this newspaper.

Decolonization Of Rapa Nui Advocated At UN Church Center

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center

With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Analysis

Decolonization Of Rapa Nui Advocated At UN Church Center

By Dr. Forrest Wade Young

NEW YORK CITY, New York (May 23, 2014) – On May 13th and 14th 2014, Santi Hitorangi, special advisor to the President of Rapa Nui Parliament—Leviante Araki—advocated for the political decolonization of the Rapa Nui Nation from the state of Chile during the "Decolonization Dialogues" at the United Nations Church Center in New York City. The dialogues were addressed to an audience of over a hundred participants of the 2014 13th annual UN Permanent Forum on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and sponsored by the General Board of Church & Society of the United Methodist Church, the World Council of Churches, and members of the Decolonization Alliance organization housed at UN Plaza.

Emphasizing that decolonization must engage cultural minds, social bodies, and state governments both political and theological decolonization were discussed during the dialogues. Hitorangi, a panel speaker, was joined by fellow Decolonization Alliance members of the Pacific Islands: Menase W. Kaisiepo and Rosa Moiwend advocating for the political decolonization of West Papua, and Leon K. Siu who advocated for the political decolonization of Hawai`i. Theological dimensions of decolonization were emphasized by Sarah Augustine of the World Council of Churches, Rev. Dr. Heather Elkins of Drew University, Rev. Dr. Thomas Fassett of the Seneca Nation and the United Methodist Church General Board, and Jerry Freefa of West Papua and the Indigenous Peoples Reference Group to the World Council of Churches. Moderators of the dialogues included Kai Landow of the Decolonization Alliance and United Methodist Church representative to the United Nations and International Affairs Rev. Liberato Bautista.

READ THE FULL ANALYSIS IN PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT 

“Gobiernu di Hulanda ta enfatisa ku islanan BES mester disidi nan mes futuro”

James Finies

 Presidente 

I kordinado Fundashon Nos Kier Boneiru Bek

Plasterk den reunion di 2de kamer di 15 mei ultimo riba preguntanan di kamerleden ta bolbe enfatisa ku e jamada di e poblashon pa un referendum na St Eustatius I Boneiru riba e struktura estatal ta legitimo I ku e islanan tin e derecho di autodeterminashon I ku nan por tene un referendum ora nan ta desea I tambe ku Hulanda no tin mag di disidi riba nan futuro.

Awor ta bira mas kla ku nos problema no ta sinta solamente na Den Haag Hulanda pero e ta aki den nos konseho insular, kaminda Sr Booi I su grupo I ku koperashon di Sr Santana na un manera dictatorial ta kita e derecho aki for di e pueblo di Boneiru votando pa para e proseso di referendum ku tabata kanando den bon direkshon I tabata dunando senjal ku porfin Boneiru den den proseso di union I rekonsiliashon.

Nos ta bolbe mira ku ta parse tin algu ku no ta logiko o ineksplikabel ta tumando luga den seno di koalishon ku ta bai kontra asta di Hulanda su posishon ku ta nos mes komo pueblo mester disidi den un referendum riba nos futuro I e grupo di koalishon ta sigui disidi ku ta n n lo tin ku disidi I no kier laga pueblo ku ta pueblo su derecho ekspresa su deseo pa medio di un referendum. Esaki ta bolbe kambia e rumbu di union I rekonsialiashon I ta bolbe hiba nos na divishon ku no ta sirbi nos pueblo na e momentunan aki den nos historia.

Un biaha mas nos ta hala atenshon di e grupo di koalishon ku no por sigui riska futuro di Boneiru di e manera aki, pasobra un bes aki ta bini elekshon di eilandsraad na mart 2015 I e ora ey segun estadistika I nos tur por eksperiensa ku nos mes ku Hulandes Europeonan ku a bini Boneiru despues di 2004 bini te awo na un margen 400% kompara ku Bonerianonan ku ta 25% I a bira mask u nos mes, I mas ku lo sigui drenta te ku dia 18 maart 2015 tur lo por vota. I esaki lo por nifika ku despues di elekshon nos futuro lo no por ta den nos mes man nunka mas, pasobra demokratikamente skohe pa nan mes hendenan nan lo por ta den konseho insular I den koalishon huntu ku otronan ku no kier duna e pueblo su derecho di ekspresa su deseo I hamas lo por bini un referendum pasobra nunka nan no tabata ke esey.

Ta bolbe bai un jamada dramatiko na koalishon pa rekonsidera I sostene oposishon ku a keda ku mesun puntu di kier union, I den union ku e meta na bienestar di Boneiru I huntu ku e pueblo ban pone tur e puntunan ku nos kier kambia I drecha , I mas importante trese nos gobernashon I desishonan I tur kos ku nos a perde I tin dercho riba dje bek.Pues ja nos tin sufisiente informashon I eksperiensa I asta raportnan, den un modelo I ban huntu komo Boneiru, tur partido politico I gruponan ku stima I kier Boneiru I su habitantenan bon i ku tin e derecho di autodeterminashon komo eskoho pa status nobo den Reino, ja ku Hulanda a deklara si e pueblo skohe un otro status den Reino nan lo tin ku respete I lo kopera I juda nos ku esaki pasobra ta nan responsabilidat.

Kiko nos ta warda anto ta pa elekshon jega I despues, ku ta otronan lo por ta bai disidi riba nos futuro, i nos a perde e oportunidat uniko aki pa uni komo pueblo Boneriano I logra un futuro ku nos tur ta desea pa Boneiru?

Puerto Rico intensifies efforts to secure exemption from U.S. shipping law

PRFAA Director and Resident Commissioner meet to start designing strategies for Jones Act exemption

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the State of the Commonwealth Address on April 29, 2014, Governor Alejandro García Padilla stated: “The Jones Act makes our maritime commerce with other countries more difficult. The valuable report by the Action Panel that I convened a few weeks ago stresses, once again, the need to deal with this issue. We must take on the challenge as a people, without divisions. As in every issue that touches every one of us as a people, to achieve this goal we must work together, in a united front. I am asking our office in Washington, and the Resident Commissioner, to design a joint strategy to implement the changes that this task requires, so that we may be successful in achieving our goal.”

In response to the Governor’s call for unity and collaboration, Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) Director Juan E. Hernández met today with the Resident Commissioner in his congressional office in Washington D.C. During the meeting, Director Hernández expressed Governor García Padilla’s support for H.R. 2838, which is a bill that would partially exempt Puerto Rico from the Jones Act. In addition, Director Hernández suggested several strategies, one of them being to send a joint letter to every Member of Congress asking them to support the bill, to which the Resident Commissioner agreed. Another idea that was mutually agreed upon was that both offices organize a congressional briefing to obtain additional support for the bill.

Director Hernández said: “I am pleased to inform the country that this was a positive and productive meeting where I presented several ideas to advance our mutual goal of alleviating the Jones Act’s impact, which to this day restricts our economy from growing. It is imperative that we achieve a significant reduction in the transportation costs of products and natural gas to our Island in order to reduce energy costs, and stimulate our economic development. This was the first meeting we have had on the issue and I am glad that it coincided with the International Worker’s Day, proving the importance of this issue to all Puerto Rican workers.”

The Plight of African descendants in Ukraine

Ukraine Unrest And Attacks On Black People

Black people in Ukraine protesting against racism

AFRICANGLOBE – The People of African Descent in Ukraine are passing through difficult times.

The ongoing political unrest has brought about unexpected economic and other crises among most people living in the country. However, the People of African Descent bear the most brunt for obvious reasons. Most Ukrainians know little about the People of African Descent except the negative and unpleasant news about their continent and countries that make the headlines, which are not necessarily their general life pattern nor the countries concerned. This contributes to making the struggles for basic human rights of the People of African Descent an uneasy task.

When the demonstrations started late last year, demanding the then President Victor Yarnukovych not to backtrack on its promise to sign the proposed closer cooperation agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, not many people thought that it could turn into a full-blown, protracted unrest of such a magnitude, affecting the political, cultural and even social fabrics of the society. But even before the situation would reach this level, most People of African Descent here had already started feeling the heat. The already hard-to-find jobs have dwindled and students are no more getting the scanty financial supplements they make from part-time jobs. On their part, the petty traders who survive with their families on daily sales from the markets complain that the markets are dry, virtually no sales. Adding to this is the security factor.

Behind the scenes, at a time that all attention is focused on the ongoing political unrest, some extremists and anti-Blacks see the situation as an opportunity to realize their attacks against the People of African Descent, the visible minorities. Groups of Ukrainian young adults, at times with masks in their faces, have on a number of occasions, ambushed and attacked the People of African Descent in and near the market places where they sell, and other places where they normally pass. (Following is a link to one of such attacks caught on security camera).

READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON AFRICAN GLOBE.

PrepCom for 2015 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) ended in predictable disappointment

INTER PRESS SERVICE

Eyewitness to Nuke Explosion Challenges World Powers

By Thalif Deen

Between 1946 and 1958, the United States conducted 67 nuclear weapons tests in the Marshall Islands, triggering health and environmental problems which still plague the nation. Credit: Christopher Michel/cc by 2.0

 When the Foreign Minister of Marshall Islands Tony de Brum addressed a nuclear review Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) meeting at the United Nations last month, he asked whether anyone in the room had witnessed a nuclear explosion.

The question was met, not surprisingly, with resounding silence.

As a nine-year-old boy, the minister vividly remembered seeing the white flash of the Bravo detonation on Bikini atoll, six decades ago. It was 1,000 times more powerful than Hiroshima, he told PrepCom delegates, mostly proponents of nuclear disarmament.

A two-week-long meeting of the PrepCom for the upcoming 2015 review conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) ended in predictable disappointment.

John Burroughs, executive director of the Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy and the U.N. Office of the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA), told IPS the PrepCom succeeded in adopting an agenda for the 2015 conference.

But “to no one’s surprise, it did not accomplish anything else,” he added.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT IPS

Puerto Rico, Spain in talks on expanding commercial activities

PR, Spain seek to tighten trade ties

By : KEVIN MEAD

Gov. Alejandro García Padilla and other Puerto Rico officials are pitching the island as an ideal place for investment by Spanish companies looking to tap into the U.S. and Latin American markets.

García Padilla met Thursday with Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel García-Margallo at La Fortaleza in Old San Juan, where he touted a “new relationship” between Puerto Rico and the Iberian nation.

“This visit symbolizes the start of a new relationship that gives Puerto Ricans access to Europe and Spaniards access to the Americas,” García Padilla said.

“Puerto Rico has finally decided to leave behind the paradigm that told us that there was only one place to look if we wanted achieve economic development,” the governor said, pointing to the United States, which won the island as war booty from the Spanish-American War in 1898. “Yes we must continue to still looking to the U.S. and Canada, maybe even with even more intensity. But the post-World War II Europe is gone and Europe is on the rise.”

The governor said Spain is positioned as a door to tapping the European Union and its 500,000 consumers as well as North Africa.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE. 

Okinawa Mayor opposes U.S. base on sensitive land

wikitravel.org

Okinawa Mayor Invokes Sea Cow Deaths 

to Stop U.S. Base

Bloomberg.com

By Sangwon Yoon

Susumu Inamine, the mayor of Nago on Okinawa island, acknowledges he’s failed so far to persuade the Japanese and U.S. governments to drop plans to move an American military base to ecologically sensitive land in his city.

But he’s not giving up.

Inamine yesterday questioned the effectiveness of the U.S. military force on Okinawa and vowed to use his mayoral authority to block permits for the new base. He also promised to press his case with the global community and environmentalists about the threat the facility would pose to the biodiversity of Nago’s Henoko area, including to endangered sea cows also known as manatees.

“Why should only Okinawa hold the burden for security of all of Japan, when the presence of U.S. Marines doesn’t play a big role in deterring China?” Inamine, 68, said in an interview in Washington. “I, as mayor, have operational control over two ports that are needed for use as construction landfill and I will exercise all powers in the municipality to block access.”

READ FULL STORY HERE

Northern Marianas Governor rejects legislation creating political status commission that would review dependency status

CNMI political status commission vetoed

SAIPAN TRIBUNE/PACNEWS

Governor Eloy S. Inos of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI) has vetoed a bill creating a new commission to examine whether the people desire continuing the islands’ current political relationship with the United States.

He said it is doubtful that such commission could “unilaterally” alter that relationship adding that one of the bill’s provisions is “almost certain” to be unconstitutional.

The veto comes almost two months after the CNMI marked on March 24 the 38th year of the 1976 signing of the mutually negotiated Covenant that made the Northern Marianas a part of the American political family, and paved the way for its qualified people to become U.S. citizens in 1986.

Rep. Trenton Conner (Ind-Tinian), chairman of the Federal and Foreign Affairs Committee that reviewed and recommended the bill’s passage, said he was disappointed with the veto.

He said other members are still reviewing the governor’s message to see whether they would try to override the veto.

“I am not in conformance with the opinion. There is uniqueness in the Commonwealth’s relationship with the United States pursuant to the Covenant,” he said.

House Bill 18-112, House Draft 1, authored by Rep. Felicidad Ogumoro (R-Saipan), seeks to create a Second Marianas Political Status Commission to examine whether the people of the CNMI desire continuing its relationship with the U.S. pursuant to the Covenant.

The proposed commission would also determine whether that continuation of relationship is in the CNMI people’s best interest, or whether some other political status would better enable them to fulfill their “aspirations of full and meaningful self-government.”

The governor cited these reasons for vetoing the bill: unconstitutional provision and a unilateral alteration of the political relationship between the CNMI and the U.S.

Section 4 of the bill states partly that anyone appointed to serve on the commission shall be, among other things, “a person of Northern Marianas descent as defined in Article XII 4 of the NMI Constitution.”

“Unfortunately, it is almost certain that the emphasized language violates the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I 6 of the Commonwealth Constitution,” the governor said in his May 9 veto message to House Speaker Joseph Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) and Senate President Ralph Torres (R-Saipan).

Inos added that the equal protection clause prohibits the government from discriminating between similarly situated individuals. Importantly, he said, the equal protection clause’s prohibitions are not limited to discrimination on the basis of race or gender.

“A court reviewing HB 18-112, HD1 would almost certainly find the requirement that a commission member must be a ‘person of Northern Marianas descent as defined in Article XII 4 of the N.M.I. Constitution’ constitutes invidious discrimination in violation of the equal protection clauses of the United States and Commonwealth Constitutions,” the governor said.

Proponents of the bill said it “doesn’t hurt” to re-examine the CNMI-U.S. political relationship, while others said Covenant Section 902 discussions could be the better venue. Still, others said the Legislature should place the question on the ballot for voters to decide, before creating a commission.

The governor also vetoed two other bills: HB 18-87 and HB 18-1, HS1, SD1.

The first bill intends to punish public officials that issue unlawful orders to subordinates, which the governor said is already part of existing law, among other things. The second bill ratifies the adoption of the 2009 editions of the International Building Code and International Fire Code, but the governor said the measure violates the Constitution, among other things.

British Virgin Islands hosts Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories Council

BVI PREMIER TO CARIBBEAN COUNCIL: 

‘WE MUST WORK AS ONE’

British Virgin Islands Press Release

Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE has just returned from a Meeting in Montserrat where he encouraged members of the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories Council (COCTC) to strengthen the level of cooperation in the region, and unite to resolve common challenges.

In addressing the gathering on May 16, Premier Smith urged the Council to jointly assess political, economic and social situations and reflect on the needs as they relate to relevant programming priorities. He further rallied the leaders to work together as a region.

The COCTC meeting was held in Montserrat from May 15-16 to discuss the regional programming for the 11th European Development Fund (EDF). In attendance were officials from the Caribbean British and Dutch Overseas Territories of Anguilla, Turks and Caicos Islands, Saint Maarten, Curacao, Montserrat, and the British Virgin Islands.

Other topics discussed at the meeting focused on cooperation in the areas of food security, capacity building, waste management, health, tourism, renewable energy, transitioning away from fossils fuels, blending facilities to promote investment, and access to fisheries.

The Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories Council was established in April 2012 as a framework for discussions aimed at strengthening Regional Cooperation, enhancing international cooperation, addressing issues of mutual interest and concern, as well as sharing resources and overcoming common challenges among Caribbean Overseas Territories.

Ma'ohi Nui (French Polynesia) dedicates monument to United Nations re-inscription

Photo by OTR

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 17 May 2013

[without reference to a Main Committee (A/67/L.56/Rev.1 and Add.1)]

67/265.    Self-determination of French Polynesia

          The General Assembly,

          Recalling the Charter of the United Nations, its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and its resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960,

          Taking into account articles 3 and 4 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples[1] regarding the right of self-determination and the recommendation of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at its eleventh session on the implementation of basic fundamental human rights articulated in the Declaration, particularly the right to self-determination,[2]

          Taking note of the resolution of the Assembly of French Polynesia, adopted in Papeete, Tahiti, on 18 August 2011, in which it expressed its will that French Polynesia be reinscribed on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, and the decision taken by the Council of Ministers of the Government of French Polynesia on 15 June 2011 to call for the reinscription,

          Welcoming the decision of the Heads of State or Government of Pacific States taken at the second “Engaging with the Pacific” regional meeting, held in Nadi, Fiji, on 1 and 2 September 2011, to support the reinscription of French Polynesia on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories,

          Taking note of the communiqué of the second Polynesian Leaders Group meeting, held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on 25 August 2012, in which the Group affirmed its support for the reinscription of French Polynesia on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories,

          Welcoming the decisions of the Pacific Islands Forum, taken at its meetings held in Apia, from 5 to 7 August 2004, Auckland, New Zealand, on 7 and 8 September 2011, and Rarotonga, Cook Islands, from 28 to 30 August 2012, to support the principle of the right to self-determination of the people of French Polynesia,

          Welcoming also the Final Document of the Sixteenth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries,[3] held in Tehran from 26 to 31 August 2012, affirming the inalienable right of the people of French Polynesia to self-determination in accordance with Chapter XI of the Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV),

          Recalling that French Polynesia, as the former French Establishments in Oceania, was originally considered a Non-Self-Governing Territory in General Assembly resolution 66 (I) of 14 December 1946, and noting that the Government of France has not transmitted any further information regarding French Polynesia since 1946,

          1.       Affirms the inalienable right of the people of French Polynesia to self-determination and independence in accordance with Chapter XI of the Charter of the United Nations and General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), recognizes that French Polynesia remains a Non-Self-Governing Territory within the meaning of the Charter, and declares that an obligation exists under Article 73 e of the Charter on the part of the Government of France, as the administering Power of the Territory, to transmit information on French Polynesia;

          2.       Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to consider the question of French Polynesia at its next session and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session;

          3.       Requests the Government of France, as the Administering Power concerned, to intensify its dialogue with French Polynesia in order to facilitate rapid progress towards a fair and effective self-determination process, under which the terms and timelines for an act of self-determination will be agreed, and to extend its cooperation to the Special Committee in the implementation of the present resolution.

82nd plenary meeting
17 May 2013

 

---

[1] Resolution 61/295, annex.

[2] E/2012/43, para. 39.

[3] A/67/506‑S/2012/752, annex I.

Ma'ohi Nui (French Polynesia) Commemorates 1st Anniversary of Re-inscription by United Nations as non self-governing territory

Worldatlas.com

"...In cases such as French Polynesia, an arrangement termed 'autonomous' can continue with political inequalities passed on from earlier dependency versions, and then projected as a valid form of self-government, notwithstanding the nature of the specific arrangement which in this instance has never been compared against internationally recognised self-determination criteria. The model which has been constructed for, and applied to French Polynesia is illustrative of a governance arrangement with its genesis in a dependency model which has been changed in form and nomenclature over time, but not in substance. This has served to perpetuate the political power imbalance which has led to a process of internalisation and de facto legitimisation of the political dependency model under the guise of 'autonomy.' It should not surprise that such a model would be inconsistent with international principles of full self-government." 

- Excerpt from the "Assessment of self-governance sufficiency in conformity
with internationally-recognised standards - Country French Polynesia."

*****

"

The re-inscription of the territory now provides an opportunity for the people to move toward an act of self-determination where the options of full political equality would be available. This right is guaranteed by international law, and will  now be watched closely by the United Nations.

U.N. re-inscription requires not only clear evidence of democratic deficiencies in the political arrangements of non sovereign countries, but also needs political support by member countries of the U.N. General Assembly for the process to succeed. There is ample evidence that the political status of this French dependency is far from what is considered under international standards, and the adoption of the resolution by the U.N. General Assembly, without a vote, on May 17, 2013 confirms this realisation."  

- an international decolonisation expert.

t

Political leader Oscar Temaru and Kanaky political leader Marie-Claude Tjbaou participate in commemoration marking the first anniversary of the U.N. re-inscription of French Polynesia. New Caledonia was formally re-inscribed by the U.N. in 1986.

Temaru and Tjibaou speak with the press during the commemoration.  

The two political leaders conduct press conference.

A few of the thousands of marchers in commemoration of U.N. reinscription.

Temaru provides information to the press during commemoration.

(Pictures by Overseas Territories Review)

Referendum ta derecho di Pueblo Boneriano (Papiamentu)

James Finies

 Presidente i kordinado Fundashon Nos Ke Boneiru Bek

Worldatlas.com

Pueblo di Boneiru a wordu inkorpora  i integra den estado Hulandes sin su aotorisashon legal kual mester tabata un eskoho i desishon di e pueblo liber i konsiente di  tur konsekwensia  previo di su eskoho, i for di despues di 10-10-10 a drenta un epoka di divishon i inseguridat ku nunka prome no tabata e kaso.

E desunion i divishon aki huntu ku tur kambionan ku a wordu i kada dia di nobo ta wordu desidi i ta traha ley pa e pueblo Boneriano pa e gobiernu di Hulanda situa na Den Haag i kaminda ku e pueblo su bos ku ta su poder demokratiko a wordu neutralisa a krea un situashon di desesperashon i sin salida pa e pueblo.

 Nos a  splika i roga na politikonan ku a soru pa e divishon aki ku ta ‘union” ta e solushon i pa kuminsa e kaminda di rekonsiliashon di e pueblo i restorashon di e pueblo su derechonan historikamente hereda i atkeri  pa por duna e pueblo ku ta desampara un speransa nobo.

Nos Rei nobo Willem Alexander a bini, a skucha, i a komprende e situashon ku su pueblo di su Reino ta konfrontando a priminti di lo juda i a duna e pueblo un speransa nobo.

Despues di esaki  gobiernu di Hulanda a kumpli ku promesa di Rei i resien a deklara ofisialmente ku “ ku nan ta respeta nos pueblo su derecho di autodeterminsahon konforme reglanan di Nashonan Uni i awor nos mes por bai referendum i hasi un eskoho estatal nobo den Reino i nan lo respete i ku nan tin deber di juda nos i ku nan lo renegosha ku nos den kuadro di ley internashonal di igualdat, rasonabilidat, integridat i buena fe”

25 di februari Konseho Insular a uni den e moshon i desishon den su totalidat i unaninamente tur miembro a bai akuerdo ku lo mester tene un referendum pa por trese pas i trankilidat bek den e pueblo Boneriano i esaki a wordu ratifika ofisialmente  atrobe unaninamente pa tur miembro di raad riba 1 april instalando e komishon pa duna un konseho prinsipalmente na e uniko puntu di diskushon o desakuerdo ku tabatin pa sea tene e referendum prome ku elekshon o despues di evaluashon.

E pueblo Boneriano a sinti un alivio i a rebiba nan speransa pa un solushon pronto pa por duna e pueblo e oportunidat pa eherse su  derecho di  disidi su mes riba su futuro kual ta su responsabilidat i su desishon. E union i kaminda di rekonsialshon a habri di nobo i un futuro briiante mirando ku Hulanda lo juda i kopera ku deseo di e pueblo a kuminsa bira realidat.

E reunion di konseho insular siman pasa 6 mei kaminda e komishon, konsisitiendo entre otro di tres(3) eksperto legal e duna nan konseho “awor o nunka” riba e mandato di konseho insular riba e  pregunta prinispal ki dia lo tene  e referendum sea prome ku elekshon o despues di evaluashon a wordu desaproba i silensia sin ningun pregunta o remarke riba e puntu di desakuerdo kual ta e momentu adekua pa tene e referendum sea prome ku elekshon o despues di evaluashon. Niun solo momentu so e diskushon o pregunta o moshon pa ku esaki no tabata na diskushon.

 I koalishon a disidi na final den un votashon pa para e proseso i asina para e referendum i a bira lomba pa e pueblo i traishona e pueblo ku a konfia den su representanten ku nan deber ta  di proteha e pueblo i su derechonan i a bolbe kita e speransa di e pueblo ku a kuminsa sinti i kere ku e solushon tabata na kaminda i ta kibra e proseso di union i rekonsiliashon ku a kuminsa kue forma i a bolbe dividi e pueblo un biaha mas i awor e pueblo a bolbe kai den un estado di desesperashon i ta insierto di su futuro i ta riska di entrega nos pueblo su futuro den man di otronan.

Un jamada ta bai un biaha mas na direkshon di nos miembronan di konseho insular pa por rekonsidera nan posishon i tene kuenta ku nan a wordu skohe pa sali na defensa di nos pueblo i su derechonan i no lo kontrali i no por entrega esakinan bek sin autorisashon di e pueblo.  Mester tene debidamente kuenta ku e rogamentu i sklamashon di e pueblo pa debolbe esakinan bek  si no ta duna e pueblo  tambe e derecho di por eksigihi su derechonnan bek  di kualke otro forma  kual nos no ta spera ku lo mester ta e kaso si miembronan di nos konseho insular tene kuenta ku ley i nan konsenshi i aktua konforme esey.

Virgin Islands' first Premier, former Chief Minister to retire from politics

Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal OBE will not seek reelection!

- Longest serving Virgin Islands Leader told his 9th District Committee that he had enough and will not seek reelection when term ends in 2015/16

VALLEY, Virgin Gorda, VI - In a history making decision that has sent shock waves throughout the political class both locally and regionally the Virgin Islands’ first Premier and longest serving elected Member of Parliament in the English speaking Caribbean Honourable Ralph Telford O’Neal OBE has called it quits.

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