Statement of Patricia Ulloa Garrido

President of Nilibre, advocates for Free Association

on behalf of the Guam Task Force on Free Association

an entity of the Guam Commission on Decolonization

United Nations Pacific Regional Seminar

at Nadi, Fiji

14-16 May 2002

 

 

Discussion Paper Topic:        "Guam: reflections on its quest for political identity"

 

Issues:            ►Self-Determination = based on U.S. sovereignty

                        ►Land = return to be on U.S. terms

                        ►Human Rights = flow from decolonization; violation of the most fundamental human

                             right of self-determination - identity and nation

                       

Plan of Action:            "... ushering in the 21st century, a world free from colonialism."

 

            Excellencies, Representatives, Ladies and Gentlemen – greetings, ni sa bula (nee sah mbula) and Hafa Adai.  My name is Patricia Ulloa Garrido, and I come to you from Guam, representing Nilibre [advocates for Free Association] and on behalf of the Guam Task Force on Free Association, an entity of the Guam Commission on Decolonization.  Thank you, Honorable Excellencies for this opportunity to be with you in this Seminar and to have the time also to enjoy the beauty and wonder that is Fiji and the people of Fiji.  It is a most beautiful day indeed in both our paradise islands.   Our Governor of Guam, the Honorable Carl T.C. Gutierrez, is the Chairman of the Guam Commission on Decolonization; and my brother, Jose Ulloa Garrido, is the Chairman of the Guam Task Force on Free Association. Both Governor Gutierrez and Mr. Garrido also extend their greetings and warm regards and wishes for a successful seminar.

 

            Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, if you will please indulge me with these particular highlights of Excerpts from the Official Report of 2001 of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples contained in UNGA Resolution 1514(XV):

 

            "... the implementation [of the Declaration] is not complete as long as there remain Non-Self-Governing Territories that have yet to exercise their right to self-determination...

             In this process of decolonization, there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination, which is also a fundamental human right.  All available options for self-determination are valid as long as they are in accordance with the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned and in conformity with the clearly defined principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations, and as enumerated in UNGA Resolutions 1514(XV) and 1541(XV) and other relevant resolutions and discussions...

            Any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and the territorial integrity of a country is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter...

            In the current stage of global development, there is still a need for identifying and implementing innovative practical and pragmatic approaches in the search for a specific solution for each of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories in accordance with the freely expressed wishes of the populations concerned and in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations...

            As long as the administering Powers exercise unilateral authority to make laws and other regulations affecting the Non-Self-Governing Territories without their consent, pursuant to such methods as legislation, orders in council and other methods, a Territory should not be considered self-governing...

            Special characteristics of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories should in no way prevent their populations from exercising their inalienable right to self-determination in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations...

            The views of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories in respect to their right to self-determination should be ascertained under the supervision of the United Nations...

            [there is a great] need to actively embark on a public awareness campaign aimed at getting the peoples in the Territories to gain an understanding of the options for self-determination included in the relevant United Nations resolutions on decolonization...

            Subject to approvals... Non-Self-Governing Territories should be given access to relevant United Nations programmes in the economic and social sphere, including those emanating from the plans of action of United Nations world conferences, in furtherance of capacity-building and consistent with necessary preparation for the attainment of a full measure of internal self-government...

            All efforts should be made by Member States, when presenting draft resolutions on decolonization to the General Assembly, to take into account the views, as appropriate, of the people of the Territories concerned...

            [there is a great] need to dispatch periodic visiting missions to the Non-Self-Governing Territories with the aim of assessing the situation in those Territories and of ascertaining the wishes and aspirations of the peoples thereof regarding their future status and called on the administering Powers to cooperate in facilitating such visiting missions...

            That as long as there are Non-Self-Governing Territories, the inalienable rights of the peoples of the Territories must be guaranteed by the United Nations and the Special Committee in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and General Assembly resolutions 1514(XV) and 1541 (XV).

 

            Sometimes, Exellencies, we don't have to reinvent the wheel; sometimes the words previously spoken are still relevant and exactly describe the situation; sometimes they are memorable and most appropriate.  Those excerpts, Excellencies, were your words, from your Official Report, a collaboration of the presentations and discussions of other previous representatives from Guam and, for me, most, most still appropriate.  And I defend, rely, and take each one to heart, for this is a fundamental human right we are presented with – the quest for return of our lands, for the yearning to experience self-determination to reaffirm our Chamorro identity and nationhood - and you, Excellencies are the guardians.  It would be the United Nations that would guarantee our right to FREEDOM!

 

On the first issue:          ►Self-Determination = based on U.S. sovereignty

 

            After nearly fifteen years of attempting to engage the administering Power to endorse a process for Guam’s decolonization through Chamorro self-determination, we are perhaps farther away than ever on any agreement.  The Guam Draft Commonwealth Act directs that any constitution developed by the people of Guam would recognize United States sovereignty over Guam.  This would not be a decolonizing situation.  The people must know their own sovereignty, to include exercising external and internal sovereignty politically, in their self-governing status. 

 

On the second issue:     ►Land = return to be on U.S. terms

 

            The U.S. government has held over 47,000 acres of land in Guam or one third of the total land area of our homeland:

                        U.S. Navy – 26,773 acres or 56.93%

                        U.S. Air Force – 19,931 acres or 42.39%

                        U.S. Department of the Interior – 320 acres or 0.68%

 

            It is true that the U.S. has returned some of these lands back to Guam, but always with conditions, including reversionary clauses.  Most of the returns have been for economic development conveyance at our ports, both harbor and airports.  In the recent three years, 100 acres additionally slated to be returned at the harbor port was to be developed which would have helped our struggling island economy and provided jobs for our people, but at the last moment, the U.S. Navy changed their decision and rescinded the release.  In the northern area of Guam, 1,600 acres also set for release was instead transferred interagency for use in military urban warfare exercises – after nearly 50 years of sitting idle – and intermittent use at that.

 

            In 1999, through our Governor’s advocacy, the Guam Legislature created the Guam Ancestral Lands Commission whose mission is to return ancestral lands to original landowner estates [and ultimately their heirs] and to design just compensation awards for those less fortunate landowners who will never see their lands again.  In the last year and a half, the Commission received transfer of some 3,600 acres of property, and will begin the historic return process back to ancestral landowners on our return to Guam after this Seminar.  It would be crucial to our people that the administering Power refrain from utilizing these reversionary clauses.  It would be our desire to receive releasable lands and simply return them.  Our people are quite capable to determine how best they want to use their lands.

 

On the third issue:              ►Human Rights = flow from decolonization; violation of the most fundamental human

                                             right of self-determination - identity and nation

 

            It cannot be stressed any more clearly that when we free the land, we free the people of the land.  The administering Power continues to deny the Chamorro people their fundamental human right of self-determination.  Piece-meal amendments to Guam’s governing document, not of our making, the Organic Act of 1950, does not define that we are self-governing.  We will be self-governing when we experience self-determination and create our own constitution, our own testament that we consent to our full measure of self-government, at our free expression – not as dictated to us by a mightier power, not as dissatisfied second-class citizens.

 

            In summary, Excellencies, it is my belief that anyone, any government who espouses the principles of freedom and true democracy will not stand in the way of decolonization for Guam and the exercise of the inalienable right of self-determination for the Chamorro people.  There can be no just and right discussion of equal rights, voting rights, equal protection under the law,  due process,  etc., when all things are not equal.  In order for a true decolonization for Guam to occur, the parties to the negotiation, in this case:  the United States and Guam, must be equal - not that one party exercises sovereignty over another party.  That's like me asking my master for permission to be free.  This is wrong!

 

            The Chamorro people, and all residents of Guam who will declare Guam their home, must be afforded a fully supported education outreach to discuss this issue.  We need the full support, as is the obligation, of the administering Power to empower the Chamorro people to make this precious decision, to understand about self-determination, about decolonization, about the various political status options, about drafting our own constitution.  We need to be fully involved in a reorganizing of our government, in the governing of Guam, in preparation for our future, as sovereigns with other nations and peoples of the world.

 

            When all is said and done, it is my hope that the Chamorro people will rediscover themselves and grow as a mighty little nation - proud and dignified in the development of our government,  our economy,  and our liberties - testament to a people who once were free, to reclaim "Guahan"  - as our ancestors called our homeland and which means “we have”  -  to reclaim our former FREEDOM!