Voices
I Say No
FSM Senator Pleads for Compact II Rejection
Federated States of Micronesia Congress veteran Senator Isaac Figir’s opposition to a new U.S.-FSM Compact takes on greater weight considering both Figir’s 18-year tenure in the Congress and the fact that he’s representing Yap, the only state that has ended the first Compact period with its government financially sound and living within its means. What follows are excerpts from his speech to his colleagues in the FSM Congress.
Mr. Speaker and esteemed colleagues: I rise to express my deep concerns over the status of our negotiations with the United States regarding the second Compact of Free Association. My concerns relate to what I perceive as the general spirit of the negotiations on the part of the United States.
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I think we would all agree that we consider the United States a good friend, and we hope that the feeling is mutual. And as a friend, we have stood side-by-side with the United States on every international issue, including supporting their global war against terrorism. Thus, I am surprised and dismayed at both the attitude of our counterparts and the results of our negotiations. Sadly, I do not believe that the United States has treated the FSM with the regard that it should a sovereign equal and a friend.
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The United States has publicly criticized our handling of our internal financial affairs. Much of their criticism is valid. We have made mistakes. But I would remind our friends that in the years before self-rule, we received little or no training in managing the fiscal activities of a nation. All nations, even old nations, make mistakes. I am not saying that I do not appreciate the United States’ concern for our well being. I do. A friend should offer assistance when he sees a friend in trouble. But a friend who sees a problem in a neighbor’s house should not take over the running of his house. The help our friends offer is to supervise our governmental operations for the next 20 years.
To a large extent, JEMCO [Joint Economic Management Committee, consisting of five members, three from the U.S. and two from the FSM] not our elected officials, will determine how our funds are spent and how our government will function. We would be forced to abandon that most basic of all sovereign rights. Further, the sums they have offered to establish our trust fund would virtually guarantee our dependence on the United States or some other donor nation forever.
Finally, we were assured throughout the negotiation process that, if we would agree to the basic framework of the Compact, we would be allowed to plead our case to the United States Congress. Now we have been informed that the Compact will not be presented to Congress until it is finalized. It grieves me to wonder if the United States administration has truly been negotiating in good faith.
We would not presume to tell another nation how to run its affairs. We ask only for the same consideration. We are a sovereign nation. After a century of foreign domination, I can stand here before you and make that statement today.
We, the members of the Congress, have been given a sacred trust, the future of our nation. Our decision on whether to accept or reject the United States proposals will determine the fate, not only of you and me, and the people who put us here, but also the future of generations of Micronesians.
I have considered it. And, regrettably, I have concluded that I cannot in good conscience support the proposal currently offered by the United States. We face only the reality of living within our financial means, of living responsibly within the confines of the resources that we possess. We must decide.
Will we sacrifice our freedom, our sovereignty, our very dignity? Will we trade these priceless ideals for more televisions to undermine our culture, for more cars to clog and choke our roads, for more imported foods that poison us? Are we really so shortsighted? So weak? I say no.
No, Mr. Speaker, colleagues, I hope that you and the members of this Congress will join me in rejecting the United States proposal. Sometimes dignity and honor require that one must simply turn and walk way.
