Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that he will
be participating in a seminar on decolonization sponsored by the United
Nations Special Committee of Twenty-four. The Congressman was invited
to participate in the seminar by the Honorable Bernard Tanoh-Boutchoue,
Acting Chairman of the Special Committee. The seminar is being held
in Havana, Cuba, on May 23 to 25, 2001.
“I am very appreciative of the invitation to participate in this
U.N. seminar,” said Faleomavaega. “For too many years American Samoa
and other U.S. territories have been used to score political points against
the United States when the real issue has nothing to do with territorial
governance. I am pleased to have the opportunity to convey in no
uncertain terms our support of the United States and the inaccuracy of
referring to the U.S. territories as ‘colonies’”.
In a letter to Governor Tauese concerning the U.N. seminar, the
Congressman noted,
“Over the years, the United States has always been severely criticized
by certain members of this Special Committee for continuing a policy of
suppression and denying our people the right to greater self-government
and to adhere to the principles of self-determination. You and I
know that such allegations are not true, but it is part of the political
arena within the United Nations, and it is for this reason that our State
Department has even refused in the years past to even participate in such
seminars and meetings.”
Faleomavaega also noted the lack of data on the historical events
which “led to the establishment of a very ‘unique’ political relationship
between the two island groups of Tutuila/Aunu’u and Manu’a and the United
States.” In discussing the legislation he introduced in 1995 to provide
for a comprehensive study of the events which led to this relationship,
he said,
“Although some of our leaders at the time believed this was an attempt
on my part to change the political status of our territory, this simply
was not true. I believed then, and continue to believe now, that
a complete historical record is necessary, in order to understand how “Eastern
Samoa” came to be whatever it is today. Our people and our leaders
need to understand how, when, where and why American Samoa currently exists
the way it is today. I believe we do not have sufficient information
and data to fully understand and comprehend our current status with the
United States.”
The Congressman also expressed his support of the attendance of
the Governor, the President of the American Samoa Senate, and the Speaker
of the American Samoa House of Representatives at the seminar, noting
that the appearance of four of the territory’s leaders speaking in support
of the territory’s current political status would send a strong message
to U.N. committee members.
Below is the full text of the Congressman's letter to Governor Sunia:
May 16, 2001
The Honorable Tauese P.F. Sunia
Governor of American Samoa
Office of the Governor
Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799
Dear Governor Tauese:
I have received information from recent news accounts that you will
be attending a seminar in Havana, Cuba, sponsored by the United Nations
Special Committee of Twenty-four which considers the political status of
certain “non-self-governing” territories throughout the world.
As you are aware, several weeks ago U.N. Secretary General Kofi
Anan expressed his concern specifically with the political status of American
Samoa and other territories. Some member states of the United Nations
have long considered American Samoa to be a non-self-governing colony of
the United States, a position you and I have opposed for the past years.
Over the years, the United States has always been severely criticized by
certain members of this Special Committee for continuing a policy of suppression
and denying our people the right to greater self-government and to adhere
to the principles of self-determination. You and I know that such
allegations are not true, but it is part of the political arena within
the United Nations, and it is for this reason that our State Department
has even refused in the years past to even participate in such seminars
and meetings.
The discussion of American Samoa’s political status is not a new
issue, both of us having worked and debated this issue for some time.
There have been about three constitutional conventions held in American
Samoa in the last 40 years. Our territorial constitution was last
approved by Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall in July, 1967.
For lack of data and historical information, I introduced federal
legislation in 1995 to provide for a comprehensive study of the historical
events that led to the establishment of a very “unique” political relationship
between the two island groups of Tutuila/Aunu’u and Manu’a and the United
States. Although some of our leaders at the time believed this
was an attempt on my part to change the political status of our territory,
this simply was not true. I believed then, and continue to believe
now, that a complete historical record is necessary, in order to understand
how “Eastern Samoa” came to be whatever it is today. Our people and
our leaders need to understand how, when, where and why American Samoa
currently exists the way is its today. I believe we do not have sufficient
information and data to fully understand and comprehend our current status
with the United States.
I believe that the issue of a comprehensive study/report of American
Samoa’s historical and current relationship with the United States must
first be established before there is any discussion of the territory’s
future status. I enclose a copy of the bill for your consideration,
as well as for the members of the Fono.
It has become apparent that over the past several months, the national
publicity and Federal investigations surrounding Daewoosa’s problems did
not project a positive image of our people and our territory. Enclosed
is a copy also of a newspaper article that appeared in the Las Vegas Review-Journal,
dated 6 May 2001, and titled, “Vietnamese Escape Slave Conditions in Samoa.”
I noticed that in recent news accounts our Attorney General is seriously
questioning the authority of Department of Justice officials to conduct
federal investigations in American Samoa, particularly in view of the Daewoosa
controversy. For your information, last year Congress passed the
Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386),
which expressly mandates that all states and U.S. territories, including
American Samoa come under the purview of this federal law. While
there may be some merit in raising the jurisdictional authority of the
federal government over American Samoa, I suggest we do not dwell on it
too long, given the uncertainties on so many other issues that even our
own people have not decided upon.
My reasons for attending the seminar are as follows: First,
in my capacity as Ranking Democrat of the House International Relations
Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, my colleagues and the leadership
in the Committee are supportive of the idea that Members need to understand
more of the activities of this Special Committee of the United Nations.
Second, the subcommittee has jurisdiction over all U.S. foreign policies
that deal with countries of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Region.
Third, the United States is the administering authority over the territories
of Guam and American Samoa, and as such, the U.S. policy governing these
territories relative to its relationship with the United Nations comes
under the purview of the Subcommittee on Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Fourth, for the past years I have been wanting to attend these meetings
but unfortunately there were always conflicts with my schedule. I
want to commend you for attending the past meetings, and I look forward
to your guidance on how the Special Committee has operated for the past
forty-one years.
I enclose for your information a copy, dated 8 May 2001, of the
invitation I received from the Honorable Bernard Tanoh-Boutchoue, Acting
Chairman of the Special Committee, to attend and participate in the seminar
next week.
I am currently preparing a statement to be submitted at the seminar,
and I hope you will do the same, as well as President Lutu and Speaker
Mailo.
Looking forward to seeing you and our delegation in Havana,
Soifua,
ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA
Member of Congress |
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