Praying for Guam's unresolved issues: Grassroots organization speaks out against buildup

Praying for Guam's unresolved issues: Grassroots organization speaks out against buildup

By Amritha Alladi • Pacific Daily News • January 11, 2010


A handful of manamko sat facing the setting sun, a wooden cross draped in red and white cloth standing in the sand before them.

They were gathered at the shrine and beach of Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores and Blessed Pedro Cologsod to honor Guam's conquered past and to stand up for Guam's future, according to Jonathan Diaz, a member of the The Coalition of Peace and Justice of Guam.

The candlelight vigil, rosary and prayer ceremony were sponsored by the grassroots organization, with the intent to pray for world peace, Guam war reparations, the political self-determination of the Chamorro people and the reunification of the Mariana Islands, said Diaz.

It's because these issues remain unresolved that Diaz said the coalition is skeptical whether the buildup will be carried out in the community-friendly manner that has been assured by the Defense Department. Other federal actions that they were supposed to follow through have fallen through instead, he said.

"We need to work for peace, we need to work for justice, we need to save people from making the mistakes of the past," he said.

"It's about bringing 80,000 people here without having these things addressed," Diaz said, in reference to the the pending issues of war reparations, Chamorro self-determination and the reunification of the Mariana Islands.

'It's hypocrisy'

"You can't bring 80,000 new people here. It's hypocrisy," he said. "You say you're going to promise to do things, and you don't," he said.

Diaz said his coalition's members have read the draft Environmental Impact Statement and they will go to the public hearings to speak out against the buildup.

"A majority of the people are saying no to this. I hope President Obama as well as the Department of Defense understand the people's position that you can't do that," Diaz said.

The issue of war reparations continue to be discussed in Congressional hearings. In regards to draft EIS report, the public has the opportunity to comment on the buildup plans in ongoing community meetings.

Prayer Vigil Sunday for War Reparations, Political Self Determination & Reunification of Mariana Islands

Prayer Vigil Sunday for War Reparations, Political Self Determination & Reunification of Mariana Islands

Guam - A group calling itself the Coalition of Peace and Justice of Guam has called for a prayer vigil this Sunday seeking World Peace, War Reparations, Political Self Determination & the Reunification of the Mariana Islands.

According to a release from the gorup, the vigil will be held from 3pm in the afternoon until 7 pm Sunday evening at the San Vitores Shrine in Tumon which is located next to Guam Reef Hotel & next to Nana’s Café.

The group says the vigil will be non-denominational and ecumenical. Their aim is pray for World Peace, the Guam War Reparations, and the Political Self Determination of the Chamorro People and the Reunification of the Mariana Islands. The gathering is sponsored by a grassroots coalition of Peace and Justice on Guam who will lead in the prayer service and are composed mostly of older Chamorro Catholics.

The gathering is meant to pray for World Peace as a resurgence of 30,000 new US troops will be heading to the Middle East, as the unresolved issue of the Guam War Reparations of WWII has not been attained, as 489 years (1521-2010) has passed whereby the Indigenous Chamorro People of Guam have never been able to achieve their political self determination, and as we await for the political reunification of our Mariana Islands.

Diego Luis de San Vitores (1627-1672) died a martyr's death on the island of Guam alongside his Filipino catechist, Pedro Colongsod. As world’s collided and as different worldviews arose, the Chamorro people were enslaved as a consequence to these actions through violent means. The Vigil for World Peace will highlight how we are called to be peacemakers and peacekeepers in the 21st Century and we pray for miracles of healing and peace.

The public is invited to join and to bring candles to this event. Parking is limited. For more information, please contact Margaret Taitano at 671-632-9728 or Jonathan Diaz at 671-472-3132


Schedule of Events

3:00pm: Opening & The Recitation of the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy

4:00pm: Recitation of the Holy Rosary in Chamorro

5:00pm: Reading of the Life and Martyrdom of Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores and Blessed Pedro Colongsod

5:30pm: Reflections from Various Community & Religious Leaders on World Peace, War Reparations, Political Self Determination, and the Reunification of the Mariana Islands

6:00pm: Candlelight Service for Peace

7:00pm: Songs for the Journey & the Struggle

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