By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

SAIPAN, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands – Local Island officials are speaking out against a U.S. proposal to create a national marine monument in the Northern Mariana Islands. Government officials claim that such a preserve would greatly inhibit locals’ rights to use the islands and their waters for their own economic benefit.

In a letter to President Bush, John B. Joyner, Ph.D., director of the Coastal Resources Management Office, Sylvan O. Igisomar, director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife, Frank M. Rabauliman, director of the Division of Environmental Quality, Ray Mafnas, senior policy advisor to the governor, and local community leaders like Lino M. Olopai, expressed their deep concerns for their people’s own autonomy:

“We remember being disposed of the area waters first by Spain, then Germany, followed by Japan, and now America? We beg your consideration so we, Pacific Island Americans, might avoid the never forgiven property plight of the Native Americans and the property infamy of the Japanese Americans.”

Island officials compare the U.S. designation protecting CNMI waters to recent actions taken by Russia against Georgia and China against Tibet.

In addition, the group wrote to President Bush, “You have said repeatedly that it is the role of government to protect the rights of the minority, not to abuse them just because the government may have the power to do so.”

On Thursday, the Senate  adopted House Joint Resolution 16-13 which asks President Bush to reject the marine monument proposal.

For more information, please see:
Mariana Variety –  Gov’t urges Bush to reject monument proposal – 22 September 2008

Pacific Magazine – Island Officials Say U.S. Move Would ‘Trammel’ Local Rights – 22 September 2008