US military build-up on Guam worries islanders
Fri, Jan 22, 2010
By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
HAGATNA, Jan 22, 2010 (AFP) - Residents of the US territory of Guam fear the planned influx of thousands of American troops and their families will leave their Pacific island home swamped.
Around 19,000 personnel and their families are set to relocate to Guam from southern Japan in a move that will treble the US military presence on the island.
But despite proclaimed economic benefits, not all of the 178,000-strong population is looking forward to the troops' arrival.
"This proposed military build-up, with our current political status, will result in the cultural and racial genocide of the Chamorro people," said Frank J. Schacher, chairman of the Chamorro Tribe Inc., a group representing the island's indigenous people, who make up a third of the population.
"It is our island, our ancestral remains, our sacred artifacts, our waters, our culture, and our right to exist as a race that would be destroyed by these intended actions."
It is a long time since the Chamorro have been masters of their own destiny: Spain controlled the island for more than two hundred years until the late 19th century, when it was taken over by the United States, and it was occupied by Japan during World War II.
In 2006, Washington and Tokyo agreed to shift thousands of marines from Okinawa after complaints that, with half of the country's 47,000 US military personnel, the island was over burdened.
Guam's US Congress delegate, Madeleine Bordallo, hailed the plan as a great opportunity for the territory. The local government and the business community have also welcomed an expected economic boom fuelled by the build-up.
"We acknowledge the unprecedented growth that lies ahead," Guam Governor Felix P. Camacho said recently.
"Our future, however, will test our resolve and we will be called upon to display our commitment to doing what is good and right for our people."
An 11,000-page US Defense Department draft environmental impact statement said the military expansion would strain the island's limited infrastructure, healthcare, and ecology.
The study says the relocation, costing up to 15 billion dollars, would bring 8,600 marines, 630 army personnel, and about 10,000 dependents to Guam.
More than 33,000 foreign workers would also be needed to build wharves, aircraft carrier berths, roads, military barracks, and homes.
The Guam Chamber of Commerce, an early supporter of the relocation, said it was not oblivious to growing scepticism within the community.
"We're the voice of the businesses, but our members all live in Guam too. So we're looking out for the best interests of our businesses and the community at large and so we're looking at everything," Chamber president David Leddy said.
"There are positive and negative impacts. We just have to weigh the positive and negative and see what's good for the people."
About a third of Guam's 549 square kilometres (212 square miles) is already owned by the US government, mainly for military use, and it wants to buy another 2,200 acres (890 hectares) as part of the troop transfer.
"Lands that our ancestors fought for are passed down from one generation to the next until they are indiscriminately taken away for purposes other than sustaining and nourishing the family clan," said Gloria B. Nelson, whose property is being eyed by the Department of Defense.
Melvin Won Pat, one of the founders of a new activist group opposed to the build-up, said it was false to suggest the move was supported by the wider community.
"I think a lot of our people have been misled into believing the general population is in full support of this move," he said.
The Department of Defense's Joint Guam Project Office, which is in charge of the relocation, has held a series of public meetings to discuss the draft report, but some locals remain sceptical.
"I refuse to dignify this whole charade," resident Filamore Alcon Palomo said.
"Attending public hearings would just be a waste of time because I know - everybody knows - this is a done deal. The military won't listen to us. They will do what they want to do."
Showing posts with label Chamorro Tribe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chamorro Tribe. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Friday, January 08, 2010
Emotions Run High During Military Buildup Public Hearing
Emotions Run High During Military Buildup Public Hearing
Guam - Residents filled the Southern High School gymnasium Thursday night to testify during the Joint Guam Program Office's public hearing on the draft environmental impact statement.
Speaker after speaker raised concerns about the buildup ranging from the dredging of the Apra harbor, to land acquisition. Taotaomona Native Rights Magahaga Trini Torres called Guam a US colony and called on fellow Chamorros to stand up to the federal government saying "...it's not a done deal" in reference to the military buildup.
Senator BJ Cruz spoke about the need to test soil dredged from the harbor for nuclear contaminants. According to the senator although extensive tests were done for the presence of metals none has been conducted for the presence of nuclear waste. According to Cruz the Prodius spilled nuclear material into the harbor back in 1975 and since then there have been rumors of other spills. In fact the navy confirmed a leak in one of it's nuclear subs just a couple years ago.
Others like Chamorro Tribe Chairman Frank Schacher spoke about his prior service with the US military and how he now feels betrayed by the very country he once helped defend. Schacher spoke about the changes to the island and the negative impacts an influx of non-native people would have on the Chamorro language, culture and customs. Schacher said "we're very disappointed in this DEIS..." He also said he wished he could've had more than the three minutes that were allotted to each speaker as he has "...spent the last two months reading the 11 thousand plus pages."
Other concerns brought up by various speakers included concerns about the limited water resources, contamination of the island and it's aquifer, salinization of the aquifer, the acquisition of land, the access to hiking trails and traditional fishing and hunting grounds, and the overall environmental impacts to the island. Not all spoke against the military buildup. Some like Chamber of Commerce President Dave Leddy spoke in favor of it. Leddy touted among other things the economic impacts and the improvements to Guam's infrastructure. In fact the Chamber of Commerce has submitted fourteen points in support of the military buildup.
JGPO D.C. Chief of Staff Colonel Paul Pohn assured the audience that no final decisions will be made until the record of decision is signed in July. He encouraged Guamanians to show up and provide public comments as they will all be included in the DEIS and factored into the Department of Defenses final decision.
Island residents did indeed show up to comment filling the southern high's gymnasium. Most of the comments given were either against the buildup as a whole or against specific sections of the DEIS.
Written by :
Clynt Ridgell
Guam - Residents filled the Southern High School gymnasium Thursday night to testify during the Joint Guam Program Office's public hearing on the draft environmental impact statement.
Speaker after speaker raised concerns about the buildup ranging from the dredging of the Apra harbor, to land acquisition. Taotaomona Native Rights Magahaga Trini Torres called Guam a US colony and called on fellow Chamorros to stand up to the federal government saying "...it's not a done deal" in reference to the military buildup.
Senator BJ Cruz spoke about the need to test soil dredged from the harbor for nuclear contaminants. According to the senator although extensive tests were done for the presence of metals none has been conducted for the presence of nuclear waste. According to Cruz the Prodius spilled nuclear material into the harbor back in 1975 and since then there have been rumors of other spills. In fact the navy confirmed a leak in one of it's nuclear subs just a couple years ago.
Others like Chamorro Tribe Chairman Frank Schacher spoke about his prior service with the US military and how he now feels betrayed by the very country he once helped defend. Schacher spoke about the changes to the island and the negative impacts an influx of non-native people would have on the Chamorro language, culture and customs. Schacher said "we're very disappointed in this DEIS..." He also said he wished he could've had more than the three minutes that were allotted to each speaker as he has "...spent the last two months reading the 11 thousand plus pages."
Other concerns brought up by various speakers included concerns about the limited water resources, contamination of the island and it's aquifer, salinization of the aquifer, the acquisition of land, the access to hiking trails and traditional fishing and hunting grounds, and the overall environmental impacts to the island. Not all spoke against the military buildup. Some like Chamber of Commerce President Dave Leddy spoke in favor of it. Leddy touted among other things the economic impacts and the improvements to Guam's infrastructure. In fact the Chamber of Commerce has submitted fourteen points in support of the military buildup.
JGPO D.C. Chief of Staff Colonel Paul Pohn assured the audience that no final decisions will be made until the record of decision is signed in July. He encouraged Guamanians to show up and provide public comments as they will all be included in the DEIS and factored into the Department of Defenses final decision.
Island residents did indeed show up to comment filling the southern high's gymnasium. Most of the comments given were either against the buildup as a whole or against specific sections of the DEIS.
Written by :
Clynt Ridgell
Thursday, January 07, 2010
JGPO: ‘It’s a process’
JGPO: ‘It’s a process’
Friday, 08 January 2010 00:39
by Zita Y. Taitano | Variety News Staff
Bice says checks and balances in place to protect landowners
JOINT Guam Program Office executive director General David Bice expressed confidence that mutually acceptable arrangements for acquiring the additional lands – as outlined in the draft environmental impact statement – will eventually be reached.
Bice made his comments during the first planned public hearing for the controversial report last night in Santa Rita.
Close to 100 people attended the hearing of the draft environmental impact statement at Southern High School to learn more about the massive report contained in 10 volumes.
The executive director, trying to assuage fears of military grabs for land like those of the past, Bice explained acquiring new land is a process.
“It has to go through an approval process all the way to congress and a key committee to approve and fund the agreement with the land owners,” he said, noting that Guam delegate Madeleine Bordallo serves on that important board, the House Armed Services Committee. “There are checks and balances all the way through to achieve and insure that this a fair deal for everyone involved,” Bice claimed.
Voicing concerns
Looking around at the set up, Frank Schacher, chairman of the Chamorro Tribe organization, said he had read the draft study in its entirety and came to the hearing to voice his concerns about the entire process.
“I think what we are seeing right now is in conformance with NEPA regulations. That’s the National Environmental Protection Act and were it not for NEPA, we would not even have a voice in this process,” he said.
“And that’s the most disturbing part,” Schacher added. “We’re not being totally represented or directly represented as a people so the impact this would have on the Chamorro people is not a concern to them and has been addressed within the draft impact report, that’s what concerns me. There’s nothing in the [impact statement] that addresses or mitigates the Chamorro rights of the Chamorro people, not one single paragraph,” said native rights group leader.
Some in the community have stated that as it is their perception that the military will do whatever it is they so choose and believe the public input aspect is a futile effort with no real chance of having any sway over foregone conclusions made in the JGPO report.
“This is very much a public process and we want to hear comments from the public on the draft EIS,” assured Bice. “Every comment will be evaluated and analyzed and considered as we look into producing the final EIS.”
Approval
“I think it’s good that we have these hearings and I think it’s good to hear all the view points because I think its good information,” said David Leddy, president of the Guam Chamber of Commerce. “This whole process has to involve our people to get involved and interact.”
When asked about opposition to the draft report, Leddy said the Chamber supports the buildup but maintains his organization is equally concerned about possible adverse affects on the environment and community the massive buildup could have.
“We’re the voice of the businesses, but our members all live in Guam, too. So, we’re looking out for the best interests of our businesses and the community at large and so we’re looking at everything, the Chamber president said.
Leon Guerrero said his family owns property across the street from Camp Covington, Next to Naval Magazine, and near the Sasa River along Route 1, Kellis Leon Guerrero, 48, of Agat, wanted to know how the plans would impact their land.
“They said I wasn’t going to be affected and they have no plans for that area,” the property owner said. “No eminent domain on my part.” As for the buildup, he said he is in favor of the move.
“Guam needs it,” Leon Guerrero said. “With the tourism industry going the way it is right now. The economies of the world especially with the countries we deal with, Japan and Korea, we need funding to build that void and the military buildup will fill the void.”
Friday, 08 January 2010 00:39
by Zita Y. Taitano | Variety News Staff
Bice says checks and balances in place to protect landowners
JOINT Guam Program Office executive director General David Bice expressed confidence that mutually acceptable arrangements for acquiring the additional lands – as outlined in the draft environmental impact statement – will eventually be reached.
Bice made his comments during the first planned public hearing for the controversial report last night in Santa Rita.
Close to 100 people attended the hearing of the draft environmental impact statement at Southern High School to learn more about the massive report contained in 10 volumes.
The executive director, trying to assuage fears of military grabs for land like those of the past, Bice explained acquiring new land is a process.
“It has to go through an approval process all the way to congress and a key committee to approve and fund the agreement with the land owners,” he said, noting that Guam delegate Madeleine Bordallo serves on that important board, the House Armed Services Committee. “There are checks and balances all the way through to achieve and insure that this a fair deal for everyone involved,” Bice claimed.
Voicing concerns
Looking around at the set up, Frank Schacher, chairman of the Chamorro Tribe organization, said he had read the draft study in its entirety and came to the hearing to voice his concerns about the entire process.
“I think what we are seeing right now is in conformance with NEPA regulations. That’s the National Environmental Protection Act and were it not for NEPA, we would not even have a voice in this process,” he said.
“And that’s the most disturbing part,” Schacher added. “We’re not being totally represented or directly represented as a people so the impact this would have on the Chamorro people is not a concern to them and has been addressed within the draft impact report, that’s what concerns me. There’s nothing in the [impact statement] that addresses or mitigates the Chamorro rights of the Chamorro people, not one single paragraph,” said native rights group leader.
Some in the community have stated that as it is their perception that the military will do whatever it is they so choose and believe the public input aspect is a futile effort with no real chance of having any sway over foregone conclusions made in the JGPO report.
“This is very much a public process and we want to hear comments from the public on the draft EIS,” assured Bice. “Every comment will be evaluated and analyzed and considered as we look into producing the final EIS.”
Approval
“I think it’s good that we have these hearings and I think it’s good to hear all the view points because I think its good information,” said David Leddy, president of the Guam Chamber of Commerce. “This whole process has to involve our people to get involved and interact.”
When asked about opposition to the draft report, Leddy said the Chamber supports the buildup but maintains his organization is equally concerned about possible adverse affects on the environment and community the massive buildup could have.
“We’re the voice of the businesses, but our members all live in Guam, too. So, we’re looking out for the best interests of our businesses and the community at large and so we’re looking at everything, the Chamber president said.
Leon Guerrero said his family owns property across the street from Camp Covington, Next to Naval Magazine, and near the Sasa River along Route 1, Kellis Leon Guerrero, 48, of Agat, wanted to know how the plans would impact their land.
“They said I wasn’t going to be affected and they have no plans for that area,” the property owner said. “No eminent domain on my part.” As for the buildup, he said he is in favor of the move.
“Guam needs it,” Leon Guerrero said. “With the tourism industry going the way it is right now. The economies of the world especially with the countries we deal with, Japan and Korea, we need funding to build that void and the military buildup will fill the void.”
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