Pacific Notes
Pacific Notes
| Marshall Islands
"We'll See You In Court" Islanders from the sites of 67 American nuclear tests and a third island that was engulfed in radioactive fallout in a Chernobyl-style nuclear accident are to file lawsuits in United States courts seeking more than $1 billion in compensation. Both Bikini and Enewetak atolls were preparing to file claims in U.S. courts as Pacific went to press. For the Bikinians, the suit coincides with the 60th anniversary of their removal by the U.S. Navy to start the first post-World War II nuclear tests. The Bikinians' lawsuit is an effort to get payment on the $563 million judgment issued but not paid by the Nuclear Claims Tribunal in 2001. Enewetak Atoll wants to get action on a $386 million Nuclear Claims Tribunal award. Enewetak was the site of 44 nuclear tests; Bikini 23.
Because of a lack of funding from the U.S., the Tribunal made only two small payments on these awards in 2002 and 2003, amounting to about $2.2 million for Bikini and $1.6 million for Enewetak. Although the Tribunal has not yet ruled on Rongelap Atoll's land damage claim, Rongelap is also preparing for U.S. court action later this year. Unsuspecting islanders on Rongelap, about 100 miles east of Bikini, were engulfed in radioactive fallout from the 1954 Bravo test, the largest hydrogen bomb ever exploded by the U.S. They suffered serious burns and other radiation-induced illnesses in the days after the test, and have suffered numerous health problems, including a high rate of thyroid tumors, in the 50 years since Bravo. - ADVERTISEMENT -
"We have no other choice," Rongelap Mayor James Matayoshi said. "The message from the United States government is that 'changed circumstances' doesn't exist." His comment refers to a provision in an earlier compensation agreement between the U.S. and Marshall Islands governments that says if the Marshall Islands can show that there were "changed circumstances" that rendered the $270 million compensation already paid "manifestly inadequate," then the U.S. Congress would consider additional compensation. In response to the petition filed with the Congress by the Marshall Islands in 2000, the Bush administration last year issued a report to the Congress stating that there is no legal obligation for the U.S. government to provide more compensation. Despite dismissing additional Marshall Islands claims, U.S. Ambassador to the Marshall Islands Greta Morris told the Bikini people at a ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of their relocation that the U.S. government continues to be "concerned about the damage done to the Marshallese people and environment caused by the nuclear tests in the 1940's and 1950's." But she described the 1986 compensation package as a "full and final settlement" of all Marshall Islands claims. Bikini and Enewetak had lawsuits pending in the U.S. courts for land damages, and thousands of Marshall Islanders had personal injury claims pending when the first Compact of Free Association with its nuclear test compensation package came into effect in 1986. The more than $5 billion in lawsuits were dismissed in 1986 by a U.S. judge on the basis that an alternative forum-the Nuclear Claims Tribunal-had been created by the two governments to address the nuclear test problem. Matayoshi said the nuclear affected atolls spent the last 20 years going through this process, but that because the Tribunal was not adequately funded by the U.S. to pay the amounts awarded, the process has failed to satisfy the claims. -- Giff Johnson Fiji
The Fiji Women's Rights Movement ran "Picture This!"- a photography exhibit by young Fiji women to mark International Women's Day in March. The most outstanding photos, including One Step by Lauretta Ah Sam (above) and Tailor Made by Luisa Nasau (below) were exhibited at the Alliance Francaise.
"The photographs captured the young participants' perceptions of Women in Decision- Making: Meeting challenges, creating change. For them it wasn't about professional women or women politicians - it was about everyday women: mothers, tailors, grandmothers, market-vendors, fisherwomen and the homeless," said FWRM Executive Director Virisila Buadromo. -- Samantha Magick Solomon Islands The Taiwan (Republic of China) Embassy in Honiara has been heavily criticized for allegedly meddling in domestic politics. At least two MPs in the last Parliament, Joses Tuhanuku of Rennell-Bellona province, and Alfred Sasako of east Kwaio on Malaita, say that the ROC Embassy actually fielded and supported candidates for the April 2006 elections. Both men claim certain rival candidates were going around telling voters that no Taiwanese funding would come to them if they returned the former MPs to parliament. Both men also accused the embassy of moving from the usual procedure of channeling funding through MPs to dealing directly with community leaders. But Taiwan's Ambassador in Honiara, Antonio Chen, has denied direct funding support to candidates. He says all funding to Solomon Islanders go through the approved government arrangements. Chen says there is no room for "dirty dealings." Ambassador Chen also directed critical comments at both Tuhanuku and Sasako. He asked Tuhanuku to explain to his constituents how he had spent close to SBD $4 million (US$0.5 million) the ROC government had paid to the Rennell-Bellona constituency in the last four years. Meanwhile, Chen says his office in Honiara has lost trust in the former east Kwaio MP Sasako because he failed to account properly for a SBD $315,000 (US$41,450) police project for his constituency. Asked if there were other former MPs who've failed to account for money they received from Taiwan in the name of community projects, Chen indicated there were, but that Sasako's was the worst case. But Sasako fired back that he did account properly for the money, and expressed surprise at Ambassador Chen's public remarks against leaders of the Solomon Islands. Sasako says he has never come across a diplomat who has publicly engaged in a row with leaders of the nation in which he is serving. Taiwanese government officials have also been accused of bribing political leaders in both the Marshall Islands and Kiribati. -- Alison Ofotolau Palau With the renegotiation of the Compact of Free Association getting closer, Palau continues to explore revenue generating opportunities. Some feel that one such opportunity lies in amending Palau's current public land lease limitation from 50 years to 99 years in an effort to make development packages more attractive to potential investors. Local feeling on this issue however, remains unresolved, and so the question of the 50-year lease limitation versus the 99-year lease has been listed as a referendum item during the Constitutional Convention scheduled for 2008.
Despite this, Senator Alfonso Diaz introduced the same proposal to Palau's Senate this past December. When asked why he chose to push the bill despite the fact that it was scheduled as a referendum item Senator Diaz responded, "We have little over three years to boost up the economy to where we can afford to fund our annual budget without a subsidy from the Compact funding. And we've got to prepare this country for that." This is not the first time that the viability of a 99-year lease has been questioned in the Republic. In 1990 a 99-year lease entered into by the United Micronesian Development Corporation (UMDA) was declared unconstitutional and void by Palau's Supreme Court. According to the ruling, this decision was based upon the implied intent of the framers of Palau's Constitution which was to "limit the control of and the benefit from Palau's lands and waters to Palauan citizens as much as possible." Supporters of the proposal feel that 99 years is more reasonable than 50 years in terms of allowing major investors time to recoup their investment. Critics however, question the necessity of the bill when the current 50-year limitation provides for the option of renewal. "We want to open a wider window for investors and landowners. It is a standard that a lot of countries in the world are using," says Diaz. Those who oppose the bill also feel that 99 years-otherwise defined as at least three generations-is too long for lease contracts. Senator Yukiwo Dengokl, who voted against the bill, cited his hesitation to "lock future generations to come" into such an arrangement. He also commented that while he is "not against development" he feels that "current legislators should not make laws that close doors to future generations." The bill has been approved by a 5-4 majority vote in the Senate. In response to concerns voiced by the community in regards to the bill, the House of Delegates has scheduled community hearings in each of the 16 states in the Republic. Their position on the proposition will not be determined until all the hearings have been conducted. If the bill is approved by the House and is signed into law by President Tommy Remengesau, Jr., states will be allowed to enter into 99-year lease contracts until the issue is once again confronted in 2008. -- Blaire Phillips New Zealand On any given day, the Western Springs reserve in the heart of Auckland city is a place of relaxation regularly used by the public. But once a year, this lush green garden paradise is transformed literally into a buzzing, city-sized Pacific marketplace.
The Pasifika Festival holds the reputation as the biggest free community event in the world and in March this was again reinforced when an estimated 210,000 people, many of them tourists, turned out in force for the 14th annual event. The festival is part of Celebrate Pasifika month, which features sporting, cultural and business events co-ordinated by the Auckland, Manukau and Waitakere City councils. The night before, some 4,000 people attended the festival's opening concert showcasing a variety of musical and instrumental performances, choral singing and traditional Pacific Island dance items. With over 60 music, cultural and arts groups performing on eight performance stages throughout the day, and 150 food and 200 craft stalls offering goods ranging from fine mats to fresh coconuts, it is easy to understand why the festival is described as a huge melting pot. If you were looking for anything with a Pacific theme, chances are you would find it. Raw fish? You got it. Pearl necklaces? Take your pick. Fancy a cup of kava? No problem. Not surprisingly, the food stalls did brisk business. Fresh pineapples cored and filled with ice cream was a favorite.
On the entertainment side, the biggest crowds gathered around the Radio 531pi and Air NZ Contemporary Stages. Some of New Zealand's top music acts headlined the festival, among them a throng of award winning Pacific Island artists who have been successful in the mainstream like Samoan rapper Tha Feelstyle, Nesian Mystik and Sarah-Jane Auva'a. The festival was where the latter two acts kick-started their careers. "Pasifika is where I had my first big gig as an entertainer; it's where I started off," said Auva'a, a qualified lawyer of both Samoan and European descent "It's great to be recognized as a leading Pacific artist now. Pasifika is a great chance to share our culture with other New Zealanders." -- Peter Rees American Samoa The American Samoa government estimates that it will cost $6.6 million to host the 2008 Pacific Arts Festival. Festival task force chairman and executive director of the Office of the Pacific Arts Festival, Lauti Simona says his office will request $3 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Interior; $2 million from federal National Endowment for the Arts and $1.5 million from the territorial government. Lauti hopes American Samoa will raise more that $7 million to host the festival. "This is a community wide project, that will be presented to the world and the region and we request everyone's cooperation and support," he said. The festival, sponsored by the Pacific Community formerly known South Pacific Commission, first started in 1972 in Fiji, to revive and maintain cultural values that are significant to the lives of the people, and most importantly to promote understanding among the Pacific islanders. Between 25 and 29 countries and Pacific territories are expected to attend. -- Fili Sagapolutele Region The French government's second France-Oceania Summit on June 26 in Paris will offer Pacific island leaders an important opportunity to capture the attention of French government and European Union officials, says French Ambassador to the region Eugene Berg, who is based in Suva. Berg has been island-hopping to promote attendance at the summit. The one-day meeting will feature French President Jacques Chirac, and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare and Palau President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. speaking, respectively, on political and environmental stability in the region. Berg is encouraging heads of state and other leaders to join in the Summit in June to increase the focus on the Pacific. He says with all the pressing issues of the Middle East and Africa, it's often difficult to get the attention of European leaders for the Pacific area. But the Summit offers this opportunity, and at the key time when the next European Union (EU) funding package for the Pacific is being developed, he says. France held its first Oceania summit in Papeete, French Polynesia in 2003. All island heads of state attended and met with Chirac at that meeting. "After the first summit, France doubled our marine surveillance support to the Pacific," Berg said. "My president knows the Pacific. He's been here a number of times." With French Polynesia and New Caledonia being accepted by the Pacific Islands Forum as "associate members" for the first time following last year's Forum meeting in Papua New Guinea, Berg sees France and its territories playing a more significant role in regional affairs. "We've asked the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to study this special relationship because of this evolution (in Forum membership for the territories)," Berg says. Forum Secretary General Greg Urwin "is coming to Paris to discuss how France can be more involved in issues in the region," he said. Berg says that strengthening institutions, political cooperation and environment are three priorities on France's agenda. An example of this type of cooperation was seen in 2005, when for the first time officials from the Universities of New Caledonia and French Polynesia met with the University of the South Pacific to discuss cooperation, student and staff exchange and joint curriculum. -- Giff Johnson Region Depending on which side of the Pacific you stood and what line of business you were involved in, the inaugural Pacific Trade Expo held in Auckland in March meant many things. But the common thread was addressing the lop-sided export to import ratio between New Zealand and the Pacific through improving trade links. The collective Pacific market is worth NZ$1.1 billion (US$669 million) to the New Zealand economy, making the region its sixth biggest market. In comparison, just NZ$80 million (US$48.6 million) in imports comes from the Pacific to New Zealand. That statistic illustrates that despite New Zealand's strong ties with the region and its own Pacific community, existing economic links were not as strong as they could be. The expo was the brainchild of the newly formed New Zealand Pacific Business Council and sponsored by the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Auckland, Waitakere and Manukau City Councils. Some 2,500 people visited the Telstraclear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau, South Auckland, during the two day event. Over 100 companies from 13 Pacific nations displayed their products and services, with an even representation from New Zealand and the Pacific. "The expo gave participants an opportunity to network which they had never had before," remarked NZPBC Executive Officer Richard Maugeuret. New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Michael Cullen opened the expo by speaking of the importance of trade as one of the key components of the recently implemented Pacific plan between the region's governments. He urged smaller local enterprises to recognize the opportunities and advantages that lay in trading in the islands. Encouraging more trade with the Pacific would mean the island nations spending more and in turn benefiting New Zealand's economy. New Zealand's Fiji based Pacific Trade Commissioner, Michael Greenslade, said the Pacific also needed to export more - that it was in their interests to transform themselves from aid-based to trade-based economies. "They need export growth - just as we do," Mr Greenslade said. "The plain fact is that the more Pacific countries can earn from exports - the more potential they have to buy from us." -- Peter Rees
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