A forum for critical analysis of international issues and developments of particular relevance to the sustainable political and socio-economic development of Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs).
10 July 2014
Study Finds Greenland Glaciers Losing 10 Billion Tons of Ice Per Year
09 July 2014
Decline in population of young people in U.S. Virgin Islands
Read the full report from the
Community Foundation for the Virgin Islands
****
V.I. youth population sees steep decline
BY ALDETH LEWIN (DAILY NEWS STAFF)
ST. THOMAS - The youth population in the Virgin Islands is rapidly declining, and that may have a serious impact on the society in coming decades, according to a new report released Tuesday.
The report, put out by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, analyzes 2010 Census data as it relates to children in the territory. It provides an overview of the territory's demographic, social and economic characteristics of children and families.
The report was written by Mark Mather and Beth Jarosz, of the nonprofit The Population Reference Bureau, and was funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
At a press conference Tuesday, Mather went through the new statistics about the territory's youth and compared the data to the 2000 Census reports for the Virgin Islands as well as to national trends.
READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE.
Labels:
Caribbean,
non self-governing territories,
small island developing states,
U.S. Virgin Islands
06 July 2014
United Nations proposes decolonisation strategy for 2016-17
Subprogramme 4
Decolonization
Objective of the
Organization:
To promote the decolonization process in accordance with the Charter of the
United Nations and relevant resolutions of the General Assembly for the
17 Non-Self-Governing Territories so as to bring about the complete eradication of colonialism |
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Expected accomplishments of the Secretariat
|
Indicators of achievement
|
||
The Special Committee and the General
Assembly will be able to carry out their decolonization mandates and make
progress in the decolonization process of the 17 Non-Self-Governing
Territories
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(i) Timely
submission of parliamentary documents
|
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(ii) Sustained
level of support to the work of the Special Committee in facilitating
communication with the administering Powers
|
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Strategy
2.10 Responsibility for subprogramme 4 lies with the Decolonization Unit. The issues related to decolonization are guided by the Charter of the United Nations, as well as by the principles of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples contained in General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) and 1541 (XV) and other relevant Assembly resolutions.
2.11 The Special Committee and the General Assembly will continue to examine the situation with regard to political, economic and social developments in all territories that have not yet exercised their right to self-determination or that have not been decolonized according to their specific conditions, and to seek suitable means to implement the Declaration in accordance with the Charter and relevant resolutions of the Assembly. The Committee will continue to improve cooperation with the administering Powers at all stages of the decolonization process. It will examine the views of the representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; it will also organize its regional annual seminars in the Caribbean and the Pacific, as well as visiting missions to the Non-Self-Governing Territories, in accordance with the relevant General Assembly resolutions. Moreover, the Committee will continue to enlist worldwide support for decolonization and formulate proposals with respect to the issues on its agenda and report thereon to the Assembly.
2.12 In support of the above-mentioned legislative bodies, especially the Special Committee, advice and substantive assistance will be provided to the Committee, including in its deliberations on cooperation with the administering Powers, maintaining contacts with the representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories and relations with the organizations and agencies of the United Nations system, in accordance with the relevant General Assembly resolutions. In addition, in cooperation with the Department of Public Information, information material will be prepared and disseminated with a view to mobilizing international support for the achievement of the complete eradication of colonialism.
Labels:
Colonialism,
Decolonisation,
Decolonization,
international law,
Self-Determination,
United Nations
03 July 2014
Bonaire 1 July 1863 - 1 July 2014 Right to Recognition, Reconciliation and Reparation
1 juli 1863…………1 juli 2014 Derecho riba rekonosementu, rekonsiliashon I reparashon
original Papiamento
(English translation below)
Fecha konmemorando abolishon di esklabitud riba Boneiru I e otro islanan di Antias kolonisa dor di Hulanda den Caribe.
Na Oropa for di den siglo 13 I 14, sklabitud, laga hende traha trabao forsa sin pago I sin libertad, no tabata legal mas pa ley I a bira un derecho humano. E paisnan Oropeo a disidi di deklara pa ley Afrikanonan hasi katibo den nan kolonianan komo “no-hende”, “no-humano”, I komo “obheto o poseshon” I ku e status legal aki komo “no-hende” I “obheto o poseshon” a hasi pa medio ley e negoshi di hendenan Afrikano legal.
Hulanda a bira e pais mas poderoso I eksitoso den e negoshi di hende o katibu na mundu I e islanan di Antias Hulandes kolonisa den Caribe, inkluyendo Boneiru tabata forma e parti strategiko di e komersio di katibu di Hulanda.
Hulanda ta un di e ultimo paisnan na mundu ku bou di preshon internashonal a disidi di stop ku praktika legal di komersio di hende, sklabitud I pose hende komo poseshon, komo katibu. Na augustus 1862 a traha e ley pa abolishon di sklabitud, I a pase, pero riba reklamo I inisisti di donjonan di katibu ku nan ke warda te despues di kosecha pa libera nan katibunan, gobiernu a duna e donjonan di katibu nan gustu I e ley a bin den ehekushon riba prome di juli 1863.
Gobiernu a paga treshen florin na donjonan pa kada katibu pa bira liber, sea homber, muhe I mucha.Tambe e gobiernu a duna e donjonan di katibu e posibilidat legal pa tene e katibunan pa ley liber bao di nan kustodia i kontrat pa un termino di tres asta te ku dies anja mas, I asina a alarga sklabitud ahinda mas den forma administrativo.
E fecha 1 juli 1863 ta kuminsa e proseso di emansipashon di nos pueblo Boneriano komo un kolonia Hulandes. Emansipashon ta e hecho o proseso pa ta liber di restikshonan, poder, subordinashon, influensianan dominante, sea legal, sosial o politiko I pa tin bo derecho propio.
Basa riba e ley universal I derecho humano ku tur hende ta nase igual den dignidat I derechonan, e hendenan liber lo mester tin, i ku tur hende o katibu ku a bira liber lo mester tin e mesun derecho pa kuminsa un bida nobo igual, un start nobo igual, “level playing field”.
Esaki a keda un ilushon te ku dia di awe pasobra nos isla ku tabata sub-desaroya pa e motibu di kolonialismo a wordu marka dor di e paisnan ku a kolonisa nos, Hulanda, I ta un persepshon asepta te ku awe, ku nos no ta kapas pa eherse un gobiernu bon, I ta marka ku korupshon I tambe ku retrasonan kultural I sosial.
E kolonisado, Hulanda, a eherse tambe un manipulashon kolonial di e mente di esnan kolonisa ku a laga raskonan I sikatrisnan kasi permanente atras te ku awe, i ku un gran parti di esnan ku a ser kolonisa I nan desendientenan ta kere te ku awe, ku ta normal I natural ku nan ta wordu kolonisa o goberna dor di e nashon kolonisador, Hulanda,I ku ta normal I natural ku nan isla o pais ta pa sirba interes di e pais ku a kolonisa nan, Hulanda, I ku ta normal I natural ku nan mes no tin e inteligensia, ni boluntad I kapasidat pa disidi I dirigi nan propio destino.
Asina e pais kolonisador, Hulanda, a krea I mantene un posishon di poder geo-politiko te ku awe I a soru pa strukturalmente stagna, boicotia, I sabotia e proseso di emansipashon, desaroyo I kreamentu di esnan kolonisa nan mes nashon I tene nan dependiente di un o otro manera sea politiko o sosial-ekonomiko pa hasi kasi imposibel pa awe nan por realisa nan propio desaroyo I kresementu ekonomiko.
Konmemorando e fecha di abolishon di sklabitud, ta nos obligashon komo desedientenan, I pa respet pa nos antepasadonan di refleha riba e tragedia humano di nos diaspora ku pa ley a wordu duna e status di “no-humano” pa asina usa nan komo “obheto” pa negoshi i komersio pa ekonomia I enrikese nos kolonisador, Hulanda su posishon i su pueblo. I nos ta konstata ku e promesa I ley di derecho humano, nos emansipashon komo hende I pueblo, pa ta liber di subordinashon, restrikshonan, poder, influesianan dominante, sea legal, politiko, sosial o ekonomiko ku ta obligashon I responsabilidat di Hulanda pa juda I sostene nos den e proseso ey, no a kana su kaminda manera promete I nos sigur komo desendientenan tin derecho riba rekonosementu, rekonsiliashon I reparashon di e danjo hasi na nos antepasadonan I humanidat i te ahinda nos ta bibando e ilushon di “igualdat I libertat” ku Hulanda mes a promete I a bai di akuerdo ku ne despues di a wordu libera di e holocausto di segunda guerra mundial pa respeta e leynan aki pa por promove pas I felisidat pa nos tur.
1 July 1863…….1 July 2014 Right to recognition,
reconciliation and reparation
July 1st, commemorating abolition of slavery on
Bonaire and the other islands of the Antilles colonized by Holland in the
Caribbean.
In Europe since the 13th and 14th
century, slavery, to force people to work without payment and without freedom
was not legal anymore by law and has become a human right. The European
countries has decided to declare Africans which were made slaves in their
colonies as “non-human” and “object or possession” and with this legal status
as ‘non-humans” and ‘object or possession” has made by law the commerce of
African people legal.
Holland has become the most powerful and successful country
in the world in the business trade of humans and the Dutch Antillean islands,
including Bonaire formed a strategic part of the commerce of slaves by Holland.
Holland as one of last countries in the world under
international pressure has decided to stop the practice of trade of humans,
slavery and to possess humans as possession, as slave. In august 1862 the law
was made to abolish slavery, but on complaints and persistence of the
slave-owners to wait with the execution of law till after the harvest period to
free their slaves, the government has sympathized with the wish of the
slave-owners and the law has come into execution on July 1, 1863.
The government paid three hundred guilders to the
slave-owners for the freedom of every slave, man, woman or child. Further the
government gave the slave-owners the legal possibility to keep the free slaves
by law under their custody by contract for a period of three up to ten years
more, so extending slavery even more in an administrative form.
On July 1, 1863 initiated the emancipation process of our
Bonerian people as colony of Holland. Emancipation is the fact or process to be
free of restrictions, power, and subordination, dominating influence, being
legal, social or political and to have your own right.
Based on the universal law and human right that all human
are born equal in dignity and rights, that free humans has, and that everyone
or slaves that has became free has the same right to start a new life equal, a
equal new start, a level playing field.
This remained an illusion up to now in view of the fact that
our island which was sub-developed because of colonialism and has been marked
by the country which has colonized us, Holland, and that it is a accepted
perception up to now, that we are not capable of good government, marked with
corruption and lagging behind culturally and socially.
The colonizer, Holland, has instilled colonial manipulation
of the mind of the colonized people which
left behind scars almost permanent up to now, and that a great part of
the colonized ones and their descendants believe up to now, that it is normal
and natural that they are colonized and governed by the colonizing nation,
Holland, and that it is normal and natural that their island or country is to
serve interest of the nation which colonize them, Holland, and that it is normal
and natural that themselves do not have the intelligence, or willingness or
capacity to decide and rule their own destiny.
Thru this method the colonizer, Holland, has created and
maintain a position of geo-political power up to now and structurally stagnate,
boycott and sabotage the process of emancipation, development and building of
their own nation of the colonized people and kept them dependant in one way or other,
politically or social-economically to make almost impossible for them now to
realize their own development and economic growth.
Commemorating the abolition of slavery, is our obligation as
descendants, and for respect to our ancestors, to reflect on this human tragedy
of our Diaspora that by law has been given the status of “non-human” to make it
possible to use them as “objects” for trade and commerce for the economy and
enrichment of our colonizer, Holland for their economic wealth and their people.
And we can establish that the promise and human right laws
of emancipation as human and nation, to be free of subordination, restrictions,
power, dominating influences, being legal, political, social or economical that
is the obligation and responsibility of Holland to help and support us in this
process, has not evolve as was promised and us as descendants for sure has the
right on recognition, reconciliation and reparations of the harm brought upon
our ancestors and to humanity.
And up to now we are living the illusion of “equality and
freedom” that Holland their selves has promised and has agreed upon after being
liberated from second world war holocaust, to respect these laws in order to
promote peace and happiness for all of us.
Labels:
Africa,
Bonaire,
Caribbean,
Colonialism,
Dutch Antilles,
emancipation,
Netherlands,
reparation,
slavery
02 July 2014
French control of electoral system in French Polynesia/Ma'ohi Nui inconsistent with democratic governance
Hon.
Richard, Ariihau TUHEIAVA
Statement to
Special Committee on Decolonization
United Nations Headquarters
New York
"The unilateral authority exercised by the administering power... is its absolute control of the electoral system at all levels of governance. This includes the authority to write and amend the electoral ordinances and the determination of voter eligibility, through to the confirmation of the results of elections including the authority to cancel the result of those elections for dubious reasons." -- Senator Tuheiava
*****
| Senator Tuheiava addresses U.N. Decolonization Committee. He is flanked by political leader Oscal Temaru. |
Mr. Chairman, members of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization,
It is my honour to address the Special Committee on Decolonization in my capacity as an elected member of French Polynesia to the French Senate, and an elected member of the House of Assembly of French Polynesia from the Group “Union Pour La Démocratie” (U.P.L.D.) led by President Oscar Temaru who heads our delegation to this meeting. I join with President Temaru in extending the warmest regards to the members of the Special Committee from the people of Ma’ohi Nui/French Polynesia.
Mr. Chairman,
Ma’ohi Nui/French Polynesia is a non-self governing territory now under the purview of the United Nations decolonization process, pursuant to Chapter 11 of the Charter which highlights the responsibility of the administering powers to prepare the territories for full self-government consistent with international law.
It is regrettable, however, that the administering power has failed to transmit information on our territory this year by virtue of its obligation under Article 73 (e) of the U.N. Charter. Indeed, the working paper prepared by the Secretariat of the Special Committee clearly indicates that the information contained in such document was obtained without the support and cooperation of the administering power.
During this year’s Pacific Regional Seminar on Decolonization held in Denarau, Nadi (Fiji) from 21 through 23 May, all participants of the plenary session might wish to remind that the administering power, however attending officially the event, has deliberately moved out from the meeting when the question of French Polynesia was considered, while publicly asserting, a few minutes ago, its contribution and cooperation in favour of the process of decolonization of New Caledonia.
| United Front: Kanaky leader Roch Wamytan, together with Senator Tuheiava and political leader Temaru, address United Nations on decolonization of New Caledonia. |
As stated by me, therefore, the inclusion of the reference in the draft resolution to the failure by the administering Power to submit information on our territory is relevant and therefore appreciated.
Chilean diplomat José Antonio Cousiño (left) discusses decolonization issueswith French Polynesia political leader Oscar Temaru (center) and Senator Tuheaiva. |
Mr. Chairman,
The unilateral authority exercised by the administering power on the non-self governing territory of Ma’ohi Nui/French Polynesia is its absolute control of the electoral system at all levels of governance. This includes the authority to write and amend the electoral ordinances and the determination of voter eligibility, through to the confirmation of the results of elections including the authority to cancel the result of those elections for dubious reasons. Such unilateral power to control, modify, influence and cancel the electoral process is hardly consistent with democracy.
According to the independent "Assessment of Self-Governance Sufficiency" of 2013:
"There is indication of intervention in the electoral process including the use of restrictive systems of voting registration, the striking down of electoral lists seeking to participate in elections, and pressure from the administering Power on individual voters or candidates. Such intervention also includes the 'strategic' setting of electoral constituencies to favour specific political interests including the establishment of disparities in the number of votes required to elect an individual representative to the Assembly."
The 48 communes of French Polynesia, created by the administering power back in the 1950s’ and in 1971, are under legal, judicial and technical control of the administering Power (legal status, electoral system, competencies, standards of accountings, etc.). On the other hand, these communes are financially, hence politically, operating under strong influence of the local elected government of French Polynesia (fundings, tax system, etc.), by virtue of a complex mechanism created under colonial arrangement since 1996. My two colleagues within the French Senate in 2008, the Hon. Bernard FRIMAT and Christian COINTAT reported this context.
However, since this diagnosis from its own Parliament, the administering Power remained indifferent to such issue, taking all the communes of French Polynesia as hostages financially speaking.
Imposed in 2008, the new General Code of the Territorial Collectivities adopted by the French Parliament was imposed to the communes of French Polynesia without prior consultation. Intended to provide a modern frame of governance to the metropolitan communes in France, such legislation has definitely generated governance issues since it was implemented in French Polynesia,
Thus, any initiative from the Executive or Legislative branch of the administering power to restore a climate of good and self-governance of the 48 communes in French Polynesia should be highly encouraged.
The administering power’s interference within the non self-governing territory of French Polynesia also includes a system of ‘bonus seats’ intended to be awarded to those political parties which may favour political accommodation with the dependency status, and the inclusion in the electoral rolls of French police and military personnel.
In this regard, immigration policy remains under the control of the administering Power and it is the administering Power that unilaterally decides who can vote and who is eligible in French Polynesia, according to the colonial status quo.
As a matter of fact, there is open encouragement of French migration to the territory, which would dilute the electorate and insidiously maintain the pro-independence portion of the Ma’ohi people into insufficient number to democratically move towards such option of decolonization. But there is also the imbalance of resources available for electoral campaigning including access to electronic medias, and availability of marine and air transportations for electoral campaigning in the large number of outer islands.
Such practices affect the good governance of the local elected government and the 48 communes alike, causing significant political instability due to strategic abuses of the French Electoral Code, as a matter of fact, especially when pro-independence candidates are successful at the polls. The status of the communes, in fact, are grossly out of legal proportion allowing for the administering Power to even cancel elections by unilateral interpretation of its own Electoral Code applicable in French Polynesia.
This occurred recently in the commune of Hitiaa O Te Ra, including the four associate districts of Papenoo, Ti’arei, Maha’ena and Hitiaa, and also the commune of Western-Taiarapu, both located on the main island of Tahiti. As a matter of fact, the brutal resignation of a small portion of elected members of each associate district concerned was unilaterally interpreted by the administering Power as a motive to cancel the elections over the whole Commune, and to set up new elections. Such elections were held last week for the Commune of Hitiaa O Te Ra and are set up for early July for the Commune of Western-Taiarapu.
Both precedents are clearly an ‘open-door’ to political instability at the level of the Communes of French Polynesia, as well as a violation of the basic tenants of democracy in our territory.
Any initiative from the administering Power, through its Executive or Legislative branch, to correct such deficiency of its electoral system applicable in French Polynesia must be encouraged, as a preliminary step towards genuine self-governance.
It is within this context that the utilization of the doctrine of ‘transfer of powers’ to remove such unilateral authority, as contained in the Decolonization Declaration of 1960, is clearly relevant if a process of self-determination is to be fair, and if the results are to be genuine. Therefore, the colonial status quo that rules the current electoral system in French Polynesia, unilaterally shaped by the administering Power to accommodate its colonial interests from a decolonization perspective, is inconsistent with a fair and genuine process of self-determination.
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, we look forward to working with the Special Committee in this most important phase of implementation of the various elements of the decolonization mandate.
Labels:
Colonialism,
Decolonization,
France,
French overseas territories,
French Polynesia,
international law,
Self-Determination,
United Nations
Former Danish West Indies commemorates abolition of slavery
The 166st anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the former Danish West Indies – the present day US Virgin Islands - is celebrated on 3rd July 2014. At the commemorative programme held at Fort Frederik in Frederiksted, St. Croix during the 161st anniversary in 2009, an address was delivered by International Governance Advisor Dr. Carlyle G. Corbin entitled "Political Evolution: The Next Phase of Emancipation." The issues raised in the 2009 presentation remain very much unresolved in 2014 as the dependency looks ahead to the year 2017 which would mark 100 years of U.S. unincorporated territorial status Below are excerpts of the 2009 address along with a link to the full text.
(Read the full address here)
"... it is my firm belief that today, Emancipation Day, is our single most important holiday because it represents the successful struggle of the ancestors in abolishing the abominable system of slavery under the Kingdom of Denmark, beginning a long and arduous journey towards the pursuit – but not yet the attainment - of the civil, political and human rights of the people.
| stjohnhistoricalsociety.org |
It is interesting that Emancipation Day in other parts of the Caribbean is often the most important holiday on the calendar. Our close neighbor, the British Virgin Islands, commemorates its emancipation on the first Monday in August (August Monday). In fact, the Emancipation Festival in the BVI, as in other British territories, is centered around Emancipation Day, with many activities dealing with cultural history and the struggle of African people who succeeded in defeating slavery under the British...
*****
Denmark’s acknowledgment of the past has been encouraging. In a 2007 report submitted to the United Nations, Denmark acknowledged its role in “the barbarism of transatlantic slave trade (which) constitute(d) one of the darkest chapters of our history, in terms of its magnitude, its organized nature and particularly its negation of the human dignity of the victims.
The Danish perspective, however, regards slavery as a legal institution at the time it was practiced, and as such, absolves them of any liability to this point. In any case, the Danes, too, should share in this July 3rd commemoration as well since our emancipation, and the cessation of that “crime against humanity,” was part of Danish political history and evolution, as well – even as emancipation was not one of benevolent enlightenment, but rather the result of the organized revolt by the enslaved Africans.
*****
The fact is that we are a people who have a right to self-determination under international law - but we have never exercised that right. The Charter of the United Nations and the human rights conventions such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights confirm this right as inalienable. This is not based on United Nations resolutions whose effect is not legally binding – although they are certainly morally binding. These are international treaties which are, in fact, legally binding on the countries that enter into them.
Under this inalienable right of self-determination, we have the right to choose from a set of legitimate political status options which provide for absolute political equality. As a society, however, we seem to have internalized the dependent territorial status, and by doing so, we have given it a legitimacy which it does not necessarily warrant."
Labels:
Africa,
Caribbean,
Colonialism,
Denmark,
emancipation,
non self-governing territories,
Self-Determination,
United Nations,
United States,
US Virgin Islands
01 July 2014
French Polynesia political leader addresses United Nations
Address of Mr. Oscar Manutahi TEMARU
Statement to Special Committee on Decolonization
U.N. Special Committee on Decolonization
I am honored to address the Special Committee on Decolonization in my capacity as an elected member of the House of Assembly of Ma’ohi Nui / French Polynesia from the Group “Union Pour La Démocratie” (U.P.L.D.) which I have been leading since 2004. I present to you and the members of the Special Committee the warmest regards from the people of Ma’ohi Nui/French Polynesia. We congratulate you and the other members of the Bureau on being elected to lead the work of this Committee. We also wish to extend our gratitude to your predecessor Ambassador Diego Morejón who assisted us immensely in our re-inscription on the U.N. list of non self-governing territories with the adoption of Resolution 67/265 of 17th May 2013, and the subsequent adoption of Resolution 68/93 on 11th December 2013 on the "Question of French Polynesia."
Mr. Chairman,
On 17th May 2014 - exactly one year after the re-inscription - thousands of our people moved throughout the towns and villages of Tahiti in a coordinated march in commemoration of this historic event which has provided us with the opportunity to engage in a process of self-determination under the watchful eye and with the technical support of the United Nations.
A series of activities were undertaken nationwide, including marches, demonstrations and vigils, to celebrate this monumental achievement which served to permit our engagement with the international community after the long period of 'dependency in the periphery' due to the unilateral de-listing of our territory in 1963 without U.N. concurrence. The men, women, children, and disabled from all walks of life began their journey from several points throughout the island of Tahiti over the course of several days under blazing sun, finally converging on the city of Faa’a in the late afternoon.
There, in a prominent ceremony, the permanent memorial to our re-inscription was unveiled symbolizing the relentless efforts of our people and a major milestone for a struggle that I started here, in New-York in 1978, as a simple citizen of my country to petition against the French nuclear testing, trying to gain international support for our struggle to overcome colonialism in our country.
This permanent memorial to our re-inscription also serves as solemn acknowledgement of the support provided by the international community, and especially the smallest of our brother Pacific countries, who stood with us as we pursued this important step towards the exercise of our right to self-determination. It is also a testament to the role of the international community in this quest highlighted by the strong backing of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) which maintains self-determination as part of its DNA. We are deeply grateful for the sustained reference to our right to self-determination as set forth in the Seventeenth Ministerial Conference of the Non Aligned Movement held in Algiers last May. We are pleased that the sustained efforts of the NAM on our behalf are duly recognized in the draft resolution on the Question of French Polynesia (L.16) presently before you.
We are now under the purview of the United Nations decolonization process pursuant to Chapter 11 of the Charter which highlights the responsibility of the administering powers to prepare the territories for full self-government consistent with international law. We fully expect that France, as the administering power, will live up to its international legal obligations in this regard. It is regrettable, however, that the administering power has failed to transmit information on our territory this year pursuant to its obligation under Article 73 (e) of the U.N. Charter. The international community cannot simply countenance such pretense as if the consensus resolution of re-inscription had never been adopted. If countries are allowed to pick and choose which parts of the U.N. Charter they would implement, and which parts they would not, then their aggressive claims of adherence to the international ‘rule of law’ in other international scenarios ring particularly hollow.
We therefore appreciate the inclusion of the reference in the draft resolution to the failure by the administering Power to submit information on our territory. We fully expect France to meet its international legal obligations in transmitting information on French Polynesia as they did following a similar delay in transmission of information on New Caledonia one year after its re-inscription in 1986.
Mr. Chairman,
We are pleased that as a newly-listed territory the broad range of decolonization resolutions has become applicable to our territory. In this regard, we take note of the draft resolution (L.9) adopted by this Committee on Tuesday on the Implementation of the Decolonization Declaration with its varied provisions, in particular, the operative paragraph which recognizes the "inalienable rights of the people of the non self-governing territories to their natural resources," and their right to establish and maintain control over the future development of those resources."
This language mirrors longstanding text of U.N and Law of the Sea resolutions, and U.N. legal opinions, and the applicability of this doctrine is critical to the disposition of our marine resources comprising some five million square kilometres of ocean. Studies from Japan, and official report from the French Senate from April 2014 clearly establish that vast amounts of minerals and rare earth lie on the seabed of Maohi Nui.
In view of this clear authority the rule of law must prevail since the powers unilaterally exercised by the French State are used to limit the territory's scope and authority in relation to these resources. France is member of the International Seabed Authority. All our independent brothers and cousins from the South Pacific are also members of I.S.A. We are not. We therefore fully expect that in the course of the self-determination process our internationally recognized ownership and control of the resources is given effect.
Technology to reach these seabed resources is already available. Our administering power is already in the process of planning exploitation and has established a special committee on strategic minerals (COMES) in which we again have no say. Without real recognition of our ownership on these resources, and without control over immigration, we are bound to become the powerless spectators of yet another pillaging, as has been the case for over 30 years during the French exploitation of phosphates on the island of Makatea in our Tuamotu archipelago.
Job seekers from France will flock to our islands, and easily saturate our job market, leaving our People and our children with only the scraps. This very sad scenario has already happened throughout the history of mankind.
Mr. Chairman,
On the issue of the impact of the nuclear testing, we take note of the reference in draft resolution L.16 to Resolution 68/93 adopted last December requesting the Secretary-General, "in cooperation with relevant specialized agencies, to compile a report on the environmental, ecological, health and other impacts as a consequence of the 30-year period of nuclear testing in the territory.” We are disappointed that the Secretary General’s report was not made available for the consideration of the Special Committee during this substantive session. We trust that the delay is only due to the need for more time to do a credible report on an issue of great significance to our people. We are, however, keeping our "eyes wide open" - and we ask this Committee to do likewise - owing to the type of maneuvers which could be used to hinder the completion of such a report.
As a reminder we would like to recall that when it seized the two atolls of Moruroa and Fangataufa where the nuclear testing took place, France had agreed to give them back when those testing would be over. Since 1996 to this day, this agreement has not been respected and the atolls of Moruroa and Fangataufa remain military property of France where the question of conducting truly independent surveys remain problematic.
In conclusion, we look forward to working with the Special Committee in this most important phase of implementation of the various elements of the decolonization mandate.
Thank you, te aroha ia rahi.
30 June 2014
French U.N. delegates avoid U.N. debate on French Polynesia
Special to Overseas Territories Review
"The United Nations has begun to intensify its focus on the extensive unilateral authority exercised by the French Government over the affairs of French Polynesia in classic colonial fashion. Nevetheless, France stubbornly insists that this dependency model it calls 'autonomy' is somehow 'self-governing' and refuses to meet its international legal obligations to provide information to the U.N. on these political arrangements which do not meet even the minumum of self-governance standards." - An international decolonisation expert.
_________________________
WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE RUSHING OFF?
Resolution 67/265 Self-determination of French Polynesia
The United Nations General Assembly,
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.
17th May 2013
U.N. Committee adopts resolutions on French, New Zealand territories
27 June 2014
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| Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York |
Special Committee on Decolonization9th Meeting (AM)SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON DECOLONIZATION CONCLUDES 2014 SESSION, APPROVINGDRAFT RESOLUTIONS ON NEW CALEDONIA, TOKELAU, FRENCH POLYNESIAThe Special Committee on Decolonization today concluded its 2014 substantive session with the approval, without a vote, of three draft resolutions, including one calling on France, New Caledonia’s administering Power, to consider developing an education programme to inform the people in the Territory about the nature of self-determination and prepare them for a future decision on the matter.By other terms of that expansive text, introduced by Papua New Guinea’s representative (document A/AC.109/2014/L.12), the Assembly would urge all concerned parties, in the interest of the people there and within the framework of the 1998 Nouméa Accord, to promote peaceful progress towards an act of self-determination with all options open. It would encourage France to guarantee the inalienable right of the people to own, access, use and manage their natural resources, including proprietary rights for their future development.Further by the text, the Assembly would note the concerns regarding challenges in the provincial elections process, and encourage the administering Power and the people of New Caledonia to address those amicably under the relevant laws in the Territory and in France, in line with the Noumea Accord. It would commend the recommendations of the United Nations visiting mission to the Government of France and of New Caledonia for appropriate action.A draft resolution on the question of Tokelau (document A/AC.109/2014/L.15) would have the Assembly acknowledge the decision of the General Fono in 2008 that consideration of any future act of self-determination by Tokelau would be deferred, and that New Zealand and Tokelau would focus on enhancing essential services and infrastructure on the atolls.A related provision would have the Assembly recallthe adoption by Tokelau of its National Strategic Plan for 2010-2015, and commend the achievement in 2013 of 60 per cent of the Plan’s objectives, including completion of the Tokelau Renewable Energy Project with the support of the administering Power.The text on the question of French Polynesia (document A/AC.109/2014/L.16) would have the Assembly express regret that France had not responded to the request to submit information on French Polynesia under Article 73 (e)of the United Nations Charter, and call on it to intensify its dialogue with French Polynesia to facilitate rapid progress towards a fair and effective self-determination process.Reaffirming that it was up to the people of French Polynesia to determine freely their future political status, in line with relevant texts, the Assembly would call on the administering Power, in cooperation with the territorial Government and appropriate bodies of the United Nations system, to develop political education programmes for the Territory in order to foster an awareness of the people’s right to self-determination in accordance with legitimate options.Following a presentation by Amadu Koroma (Sierra Leone) on the United Nations visiting mission to New Caledonia from 10 to 15 March, Rock Wamytan, Signatory to the Noumea Accord and President, UC-FLNKS, Congress of New Caledonia, called the mission “historic” in that it had taken place during the final period of the Nouméa Accord, with the Kanak people hoping to achieve self-determination through electoral consultations.The Accord’s provisions on those consultations, he said, could end a 160-year-long history of turning the Kanak people into a minority through a methodical settlement policy. Through the non-independence parties, France was threatening Kanaks in efforts linked to the creation of lists of those eligible participants in elections, he said, adding that, for decades, the administering Power had set the rules of the game on voting rights, having strengthened the anti-independence party and contravened the wishes of the Kanak people.Béatrice Le Fraper ( France) said her country had regularly communicated with the United Nations and responded positively to the Special Committee’s requests. Her Prime Minister had decided to undertake the mission to show that France played an “exemplary” role in New Caledonia. Provincial elections, held on 11 May, had been conducted smoothly, she said, emphasizing that the Nouméa process should be seen through to the end and allow for the full exercise of sovereignty by Caledonians. A critical discussion phase was beginning among Caledonians, which must be done in an atmosphere of mutual trust. France’s role was to facilitate dialogue that linked the various segments of Caledonian society.Gaël Yanno, President of the Congress of New Caledonia, said that, in the May provincial elections, anti-independence candidates had won a majority of seats. Free association, integration and independence were not the only options for New Caledonia, he said, noting the option to become a decolonized French territory.Marie-Paule Tourte-Trolue, Deputy Secretary-General, Office of the High Commissioner of New Caledonia, said the French Government was a partner in the Nouméa Accord, having “progressively and irreversibly” shifted its powers to New Caledonia and supported socioeconomic development.Also today, the Special Committee heard two petitioners on question of French Polynesia, as well as adopted the Report of the Pacific Regional Seminar (document A/AC.109/2014/CRP.11) and its report on decisions concerning organizational matters (document A/AC.109/2014/L.14).Additional participants in today’s discussion were the representatives of Nicaragua, Saint Lucia and Chile.
READ FULL PRESS RELEASE HERE.
Labels:
Colonialism,
Decolonization,
French overseas territories,
French Polynesia,
independence,
indigenous peoples,
New Caledonia,
Pacific,
Tokelau,
United Nations
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