Army signs Native Hawaiian covenant
Posted: Mar 24, 2010 6:02 PM Updated: Mar 24, 2010 6:02 PM
WAIKIKI (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Native Hawaiian community and the military have often been at odds over the use of land across the islands. But Wednesday, representatives from both signed a promise to work together.
It’s called the Native Hawaiian Covenant, a simple one-page statement along with six goals designed to heal the hard feelings between the two groups.
The Royal Order of Kamehameha started the ceremony with an offering at the Kukalepa Memorial at Fort DeRussy. The memorial stands in honor of maoli killed in battles. After the playing of the Star Spangled Banner and Hawaii Ponoi, members of the army and the Native Hawaiian Community stepped forward to sign the covenant.
It states the army will work to protect and preserve the fragile environment of the islands, as well as keep a dialogue open with Native Hawaiians while meeting the military’s missions.
One development is already planned at Makua Valley. The leeward Oahu training ground has been the center of several battles from groups who say military action there is destroying cultural sites and living species
“Through funding obtained from Senator Daniel Inouye’s office, we are creating a visitor’s center at the Makua Military reservation that will provide a location to describe the history of the valley and the rare cultural artifacts and unique plants and animal life located in that beautiful valley,” said Maj. Gen. Michael Terry, the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Hawaii. “We encourage people to visit Makua and fully support cultural access events and activities there.”
“It is the responsibility of the army and other other branches of service to safeguard us from unwarranted aggression,” said Neil Hannahs, a Kamehameha Schools Land Manager and member of the Native Hawaiian Advisory Council formed for this covenant. “The Kanaka Maoli advisory council recognizes these circumstances, and strives through this covenant to respect the importance of host culture needs and values while also recognizing the contribution of the military’s presence in ensuring our security and freedom.”
The covenant ceremony ended with hula, and the planting of an ulu to symbolize a new beginning.
Here is the complete text of the Native Hawaiian Covenant:
US Army-Hawaii’s Covenant with Native Hawaiians
We recognize that…
…The Native Hawaiians are nâ kanaka ôîwi Hawaii…the aboriginal peoples of Hawai’i.
…Native Hawaiian’ cultural and historical experiences are shaped by the land and surrounding ocean…that as the Army maintains and uses the land of Hawai’i, it is mindful to protect and preserve this fragile environment and ensure that what remains is a meaningful legacy for future generations.
We are committed to:
Providing sustainable installation support and services for Joint War fighters, our Army Families, and the military community that meets current and future mission requirements, safeguards human health, improves quality of life and enhances the natural environment;
Providing proactive dialogue with Native Hawaiians to ensure the meaningful exchange of information and to enable sound, informed decisions by the Army that respects the legacy of the Native people of Hawai’i while meeting the mission and goals of the Army;
Building a partnership between the Native Hawaiian community and the US Army, a relationship that promotes mutual cooperation, understanding and enhances the standing of each within the community;
We are committed to a mutually beneficial relationship between Native Hawaiians and the US Army, Hawai’i by:
- Enhancing education and understanding of Native Hawaiian issues, culture, and values to Army Soldiers and Families
- Enhancing education and understanding of Army values, culture and actions to the Native Hawaiian community
- Leveraging opportunities for proactive dialogue between the Army and Native Hawaiians
Showing posts with label Civilian vs. Military. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Civilian vs. Military. Show all posts
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Monday, June 09, 2008
Military Buildup a Boon and a Test
Posted: June 9, 2008
Military Buildup Seen as Boom, Test for Tiny Island of Guam
PBS Newshour
In the next six years, the population of the U.S. Territory of Guam is expected to explode by 25 percent as the American military redploys thousands of its forces from Japan to the tiny Pacific Ocean island. The more than $15 billion project is expected to fuel the economy, but also threatens to strain its infrastructure and threaten its tourism industry. Catherine Norton reports for the Online NewsHour.
CATHERINE NORTON: As the closest American region to many of Asia's international flash-points, the U.S. Territory of Guam has been for decades home to some of the country's most critical military installations.
The island has held that role since World War II when hundreds of U.S. Marines stormed the beaches, to take back from the Japanese government this strategically important piece of real estate.
Japanese rule over the island had been at times brutal and its liberation on July 21, 1944 at the hands of the United States military, is something most Chamorro people would be forever grateful.
With diplomatic challenges in North Korea and China, the importance of the Navy and Air Force presence on Guam has only grown. But, as that role grows, so does the need for the military to control some of most prime real estate on the 32-mile long island.
As the military importance of Guam has increased, it has run into the fast-growing economy of the island, leading to tension between the island's residents and the military. Guam's leaders, seeking to bolster the island's tourist trade, pushed for greater independence from U.S. control, and sought to gain back ownership of prime real-estate occupied by military forces.
Mike Ady, a veteran and Guam businessman, said this was a strategy that in many ways back-fired.
MIKE ADY: When you basically tell them "We don't need you. You are not a welcome partner in our community." And our government just said, "We are making so much money on the Japanese economy that we don't need you." Well, what are you going to do? The military is going to say well obviously they don't need us. So fine, they close Naval Air Station, they close the Ship Repair Facility, they downsized all the Navy and then what happened, in my opinion, is the Chamber of Commerce -- the Armed Forces Committee was developed at the point of time -- a lot of business men from Guam got on an airplane and flew to Yukuska, (Japan) to the see the Admiral there and said "Admiral, we're sorry. We want you. You're our friends, you're our companions. Please come back." On bended knee. And that, they started bringing in the (USS) Kitty Hawk and having them do port calls here and leave here and as you see building up and building up.
CATHERINE NORTON: With the island much more amenable to continued military presence and the U.S. Department of Defense reassessing how to deploy its forces, growth of the military bases on Guam seemed likely.
After months of research and closed-door meetings, the Department of Defense announced in 2006 it would relocate 8,000 U.S. Marines from Okinawa, Japan to Guam.
The 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force is anticipated to join 14,000 Military members already on Guam, and with them they are expected to bring 12,000 dependants. In addition, the other branches of the Armed Forces -- Navy, Air Force and Army -- are expected to increase its personnel on the island. Once settled, the total population is projected to rise to 40,000 Military members and their families, compared with the island's 170,000 inhabitants.
The move will bolster the island's tax base and fuel some parts of the economy. But some residents are worried about the impact the move will have on their island home.
Joey Duenas, who makes his living off the land buying and selling real estate, says it makes for uneasy neighbors.
JOEY DUENAS: There's the island of Guam and all of us who call it home and the military is like our neighbor, so it's like two neighbors and they are side by side like two houses and you kind of what to know what your neighbor is doing.
CATHERINE NORTON: Although many residents are skeptical at how open the military will be about its planning, the Defense Department has tapped Retired Marine Corps Major General David Bice to coordinate the massive operation. Working primarily from his Washington D.C. office, Bice's team on Guam is focused on working with the local population.
MAJOR GENERAL DAVID BICE: We're developing and identifying the construction projects that we expect to be started in 2010 both for the U.S. funding as well as for the Japanese direct cash funding as well. We are developing engineering studies, developing the project lists and the funding requirements for that. And then we will be presenting them through our normal budgetary process, both within the Department of Defense and it goes through the normal staffing and budgetary process and then it goes to the federal government.
CATHERINE NORTON: The project is huge, carrying a $15 billion price-tag that will be covered by the U.S. and Japanese government. Of those numbers, almost $6 billion will be new money spent on construction and direct investments, a figure that has many Guamanians believing they now have a world of economic and employment opportunities available to them.
Local entrepreneurs are leaving nothing to chance in their efforts to gain from this surge. Mike Ady, who owns and operates an office furniture and business systems company, says it is an opportunity, only if Guam businesses seize it.
MIKE ADY: My concern with these local businesses is they think that this is a lottery, that we won the lottery, it is not. The business is there, but they will not come to you, you have to go to them and if you do not have your ducks in a row and don't prepare yourself -- get your bond in, get your CCR registration, get your financial statements all in order -- the gun is going to go off and if you don't have all of these things ready, it is going to pass you right by.
CATHERINE NORTON: But no matter how much of the work is done by local businesses, some business people are sure the work will outpace the local resources. Cliff Guzman works for a local business that operates a multi-million dollar housing contract for Navy Guam.
CLIFF GUZMAN: Let's face it the fact of the matter is we have limited resources on Guam. So no matter how you cut that up, we are still going have limited resources, we're still going to have to depend on foreign workers to come in here or foreign companies bringing in their expertise. The key there is to join local business with some these other businesses from off-island so that some of those skill sets remain on Guam long after this buildup is over because a lot of the companies interested in the buildup are coming out here to support the building part or work for the planning part, but they are not here necessarily to run the operation once the buildings are built and the Marines are here.
CATHERINE NORTON: Making room for 20,000 new neighbors on a tiny island already with a population of 170,000 residents, will be an insurmountable task with huge implications. The Government of Guam is taking the lead to prepare areas outside of the military fences, to review the needs and to find the cash for improvements.
TONY LAMORENA: The reality is its not just going to be a military buildup, it will be a buildup on the civilian side as large or maybe a little smaller than the military buildup. With $15 billion being spent on the military installation and increasing military personnel and their families to 40,000, it is obvious there will be new businesses being established, new homes are going to be built and we are going to see an in-migration of -- we are anticipating 20,000 people including family members looking for work. So the impact on the local community is going to be just as great as it is going to be inside the base.
CATHERINE NORTON: Tony Lamorena oversees the Civilian Military Task Force -- the local business leaders spearheading buildup efforts on behalf of the community. Lamorena says they expect a corresponding buildup of off base structures, infrastructure, roadways and homes and possibly schools, much of that building will only happen once the Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS, is signed.
TONY LAMORENA: The military is looking at bringing in 15,000 construction workers. We're anticipating the civilian side will need 10,000 construction workers. We're seeing it now where new condominium and housing developments are now being proposed and are being heard by the Guam land use commission. And yet we are still two and a half years from the EIS being approved and 2 and a half years from the major construction taking place.
CATHERINE NORTON: The community understands their island home is an important Military stronghold in Asia, but many question the economic as well as environmental and social costs.
Already the military has said it will need additional land for firing ranges and surface weapons testing areas. In addition, a deep pier may be needed to accommodate another aircraft carrier in Guam's Apra Harbor. The EIS has said the construction will impact the island's marine life and coral, but to what extent and how it will be mitigated has yet to be analyzed and published.
Once complete and approved in 2009, a Final Master Plan is expected to follow in the early part of 2010.
Guam's economy is already starting to show signs of growth from the buildup. An economic report published by First Hawaiian Bank shows a big part of the recent improvement in the Guam economy can be traced to this anticipation, with the largest growth in direct military contracts. The Pentagon's Joint Guam Program Office projects total spending to amount to between $2.0 and $2.5 billion annually, up from the historic average of about $500 million.
But business leaders say this massive growth will likely tax an already straining infrastructure.
TONY LAMORENA: Public works is in the process now of developing a comprehensive master plan for improving our roadways. The port authority just completed their master plan which calls for $195 million to improve their infrastructure. Right now the military has stated that their going to be bringing in an average of about 74,023 containers during the construction phase and then a sustainable level of 50,000 thereafter. So we're also expecting on the civilian side doubling, possibly even tripling.
CATHERINE NORTON: It is a worry the military shares.
MAJOR GENERAL DAVID BICE: We're cognizant of the financial, economic challenges facing the government of Guam and the people of Guam and that gives us impetus in terms of the inter-agency taskforce to take a look at the role the federal government can be doing both in directly supporting Department of Defense -- you know this is not just pure DOD effort, but because DOD relies on other federal agencies either for the environment studies that were doing or indirectly through Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, Department of Justice -- all those activities that have an indirect support to Department of Defense.
But also too, we are looking at what role the Department, excuse me, the federal government will be playing to support GovGuam.
CATHERINE NORTON: By the year 2014 the island will have grown in population by 25 percent. How that will impact the other major component of the economy -- tourism -- will be a delicate balancing act.
CLIFF GUZMAN: Tourism is right now our number one industry and so that connection has to be balanced because we can't look at this military buildup as one economic linchpin replacing another economic linchpin because there has billions of dollars invested in our tourism industry so balancing that is a very important piece of this.
CATHERINE NORTON: When 90 percent of Guam's tourists come from Japan, some are concerned that relocating U.S. Marines to Guam will tarnish the island's reputation as a pristine and safe family destination.
So while economically a 15-billion dollar Military buildup may bode well for Guam, its impact to Guam's billion dollar tourism industry must be weighed against other economic opportunities.
CLIFF GUZMAN: The concern is whether or not an influx of some 30,000 people onto the island is going to have an effect -- a detrimental effect on those visitors from Japan or Taiwan or the Philippines who come out here to visit. And so the cultural aspect is so important. If we don't try to preserve what we can then -- you know the sun, sand and sea is not going to be enough, it will never be enough because people are looking for an experience beyond just the beach.
CATHERINE NORTON: It is that effort to balance a massive military buildup on a beautiful tourist-dependent island that will be the focus of many of Guam's leaders. This military buildup will reshape the economy and the lives of most Guamanians. The push now among those residents and their leaders is to ensure it is a change for the better.
Reporting for the Online NewsHour, in cooperation with Guam Public Radio KPRG, I am Catherine Norton.
Editor's Note: This story was produced in partnership with the National Minority Consortia.
Military Buildup Seen as Boom, Test for Tiny Island of Guam
PBS Newshour
In the next six years, the population of the U.S. Territory of Guam is expected to explode by 25 percent as the American military redploys thousands of its forces from Japan to the tiny Pacific Ocean island. The more than $15 billion project is expected to fuel the economy, but also threatens to strain its infrastructure and threaten its tourism industry. Catherine Norton reports for the Online NewsHour.
CATHERINE NORTON: As the closest American region to many of Asia's international flash-points, the U.S. Territory of Guam has been for decades home to some of the country's most critical military installations.
The island has held that role since World War II when hundreds of U.S. Marines stormed the beaches, to take back from the Japanese government this strategically important piece of real estate.
Japanese rule over the island had been at times brutal and its liberation on July 21, 1944 at the hands of the United States military, is something most Chamorro people would be forever grateful.
With diplomatic challenges in North Korea and China, the importance of the Navy and Air Force presence on Guam has only grown. But, as that role grows, so does the need for the military to control some of most prime real estate on the 32-mile long island.
As the military importance of Guam has increased, it has run into the fast-growing economy of the island, leading to tension between the island's residents and the military. Guam's leaders, seeking to bolster the island's tourist trade, pushed for greater independence from U.S. control, and sought to gain back ownership of prime real-estate occupied by military forces.
Mike Ady, a veteran and Guam businessman, said this was a strategy that in many ways back-fired.
MIKE ADY: When you basically tell them "We don't need you. You are not a welcome partner in our community." And our government just said, "We are making so much money on the Japanese economy that we don't need you." Well, what are you going to do? The military is going to say well obviously they don't need us. So fine, they close Naval Air Station, they close the Ship Repair Facility, they downsized all the Navy and then what happened, in my opinion, is the Chamber of Commerce -- the Armed Forces Committee was developed at the point of time -- a lot of business men from Guam got on an airplane and flew to Yukuska, (Japan) to the see the Admiral there and said "Admiral, we're sorry. We want you. You're our friends, you're our companions. Please come back." On bended knee. And that, they started bringing in the (USS) Kitty Hawk and having them do port calls here and leave here and as you see building up and building up.
CATHERINE NORTON: With the island much more amenable to continued military presence and the U.S. Department of Defense reassessing how to deploy its forces, growth of the military bases on Guam seemed likely.
After months of research and closed-door meetings, the Department of Defense announced in 2006 it would relocate 8,000 U.S. Marines from Okinawa, Japan to Guam.
The 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force is anticipated to join 14,000 Military members already on Guam, and with them they are expected to bring 12,000 dependants. In addition, the other branches of the Armed Forces -- Navy, Air Force and Army -- are expected to increase its personnel on the island. Once settled, the total population is projected to rise to 40,000 Military members and their families, compared with the island's 170,000 inhabitants.
The move will bolster the island's tax base and fuel some parts of the economy. But some residents are worried about the impact the move will have on their island home.
Joey Duenas, who makes his living off the land buying and selling real estate, says it makes for uneasy neighbors.
JOEY DUENAS: There's the island of Guam and all of us who call it home and the military is like our neighbor, so it's like two neighbors and they are side by side like two houses and you kind of what to know what your neighbor is doing.
CATHERINE NORTON: Although many residents are skeptical at how open the military will be about its planning, the Defense Department has tapped Retired Marine Corps Major General David Bice to coordinate the massive operation. Working primarily from his Washington D.C. office, Bice's team on Guam is focused on working with the local population.
MAJOR GENERAL DAVID BICE: We're developing and identifying the construction projects that we expect to be started in 2010 both for the U.S. funding as well as for the Japanese direct cash funding as well. We are developing engineering studies, developing the project lists and the funding requirements for that. And then we will be presenting them through our normal budgetary process, both within the Department of Defense and it goes through the normal staffing and budgetary process and then it goes to the federal government.
CATHERINE NORTON: The project is huge, carrying a $15 billion price-tag that will be covered by the U.S. and Japanese government. Of those numbers, almost $6 billion will be new money spent on construction and direct investments, a figure that has many Guamanians believing they now have a world of economic and employment opportunities available to them.
Local entrepreneurs are leaving nothing to chance in their efforts to gain from this surge. Mike Ady, who owns and operates an office furniture and business systems company, says it is an opportunity, only if Guam businesses seize it.
MIKE ADY: My concern with these local businesses is they think that this is a lottery, that we won the lottery, it is not. The business is there, but they will not come to you, you have to go to them and if you do not have your ducks in a row and don't prepare yourself -- get your bond in, get your CCR registration, get your financial statements all in order -- the gun is going to go off and if you don't have all of these things ready, it is going to pass you right by.
CATHERINE NORTON: But no matter how much of the work is done by local businesses, some business people are sure the work will outpace the local resources. Cliff Guzman works for a local business that operates a multi-million dollar housing contract for Navy Guam.
CLIFF GUZMAN: Let's face it the fact of the matter is we have limited resources on Guam. So no matter how you cut that up, we are still going have limited resources, we're still going to have to depend on foreign workers to come in here or foreign companies bringing in their expertise. The key there is to join local business with some these other businesses from off-island so that some of those skill sets remain on Guam long after this buildup is over because a lot of the companies interested in the buildup are coming out here to support the building part or work for the planning part, but they are not here necessarily to run the operation once the buildings are built and the Marines are here.
CATHERINE NORTON: Making room for 20,000 new neighbors on a tiny island already with a population of 170,000 residents, will be an insurmountable task with huge implications. The Government of Guam is taking the lead to prepare areas outside of the military fences, to review the needs and to find the cash for improvements.
TONY LAMORENA: The reality is its not just going to be a military buildup, it will be a buildup on the civilian side as large or maybe a little smaller than the military buildup. With $15 billion being spent on the military installation and increasing military personnel and their families to 40,000, it is obvious there will be new businesses being established, new homes are going to be built and we are going to see an in-migration of -- we are anticipating 20,000 people including family members looking for work. So the impact on the local community is going to be just as great as it is going to be inside the base.
CATHERINE NORTON: Tony Lamorena oversees the Civilian Military Task Force -- the local business leaders spearheading buildup efforts on behalf of the community. Lamorena says they expect a corresponding buildup of off base structures, infrastructure, roadways and homes and possibly schools, much of that building will only happen once the Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS, is signed.
TONY LAMORENA: The military is looking at bringing in 15,000 construction workers. We're anticipating the civilian side will need 10,000 construction workers. We're seeing it now where new condominium and housing developments are now being proposed and are being heard by the Guam land use commission. And yet we are still two and a half years from the EIS being approved and 2 and a half years from the major construction taking place.
CATHERINE NORTON: The community understands their island home is an important Military stronghold in Asia, but many question the economic as well as environmental and social costs.
Already the military has said it will need additional land for firing ranges and surface weapons testing areas. In addition, a deep pier may be needed to accommodate another aircraft carrier in Guam's Apra Harbor. The EIS has said the construction will impact the island's marine life and coral, but to what extent and how it will be mitigated has yet to be analyzed and published.
Once complete and approved in 2009, a Final Master Plan is expected to follow in the early part of 2010.
Guam's economy is already starting to show signs of growth from the buildup. An economic report published by First Hawaiian Bank shows a big part of the recent improvement in the Guam economy can be traced to this anticipation, with the largest growth in direct military contracts. The Pentagon's Joint Guam Program Office projects total spending to amount to between $2.0 and $2.5 billion annually, up from the historic average of about $500 million.
But business leaders say this massive growth will likely tax an already straining infrastructure.
TONY LAMORENA: Public works is in the process now of developing a comprehensive master plan for improving our roadways. The port authority just completed their master plan which calls for $195 million to improve their infrastructure. Right now the military has stated that their going to be bringing in an average of about 74,023 containers during the construction phase and then a sustainable level of 50,000 thereafter. So we're also expecting on the civilian side doubling, possibly even tripling.
CATHERINE NORTON: It is a worry the military shares.
MAJOR GENERAL DAVID BICE: We're cognizant of the financial, economic challenges facing the government of Guam and the people of Guam and that gives us impetus in terms of the inter-agency taskforce to take a look at the role the federal government can be doing both in directly supporting Department of Defense -- you know this is not just pure DOD effort, but because DOD relies on other federal agencies either for the environment studies that were doing or indirectly through Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, Department of Justice -- all those activities that have an indirect support to Department of Defense.
But also too, we are looking at what role the Department, excuse me, the federal government will be playing to support GovGuam.
CATHERINE NORTON: By the year 2014 the island will have grown in population by 25 percent. How that will impact the other major component of the economy -- tourism -- will be a delicate balancing act.
CLIFF GUZMAN: Tourism is right now our number one industry and so that connection has to be balanced because we can't look at this military buildup as one economic linchpin replacing another economic linchpin because there has billions of dollars invested in our tourism industry so balancing that is a very important piece of this.
CATHERINE NORTON: When 90 percent of Guam's tourists come from Japan, some are concerned that relocating U.S. Marines to Guam will tarnish the island's reputation as a pristine and safe family destination.
So while economically a 15-billion dollar Military buildup may bode well for Guam, its impact to Guam's billion dollar tourism industry must be weighed against other economic opportunities.
CLIFF GUZMAN: The concern is whether or not an influx of some 30,000 people onto the island is going to have an effect -- a detrimental effect on those visitors from Japan or Taiwan or the Philippines who come out here to visit. And so the cultural aspect is so important. If we don't try to preserve what we can then -- you know the sun, sand and sea is not going to be enough, it will never be enough because people are looking for an experience beyond just the beach.
CATHERINE NORTON: It is that effort to balance a massive military buildup on a beautiful tourist-dependent island that will be the focus of many of Guam's leaders. This military buildup will reshape the economy and the lives of most Guamanians. The push now among those residents and their leaders is to ensure it is a change for the better.
Reporting for the Online NewsHour, in cooperation with Guam Public Radio KPRG, I am Catherine Norton.
Editor's Note: This story was produced in partnership with the National Minority Consortia.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Local bigwigs in flap after U.S. military jeep does U-turn in school parking lot
Mainichi Daily News
URUMA, Okinawa -- Local education officials are complaining after a U.S. military jeep used a parking lot at a school for disabled students to do a U-turn, local officials said.
The Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education plans to file a protest with the U.S. forces over the incident as early as Friday.
According to officials, the medium-sized two-seater jeep drove onto the premises of the Okinawa prefectural high school for the mentally disabled in Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture, at around 2 p.m. on Thursday.
The jeep made a U-turn in a parking lot about 30 meters away from the main gate and left the premises about 1 1/2 minutes later.
Around 70 teachers were in the school at the time. There were no students due to spring break.
This was not the first case of intrusion by U.S. military vehicles into schools in Okinawa. A U.S. Marines armored vehicle entered the same high school on July 18 last year, while another U.S. military truck entered the Okinawa Prefectural Maehara High School on Aug. 6 last year. Both schools are about 1 kilometer away from each other.
"When we filed a protest against the intrusions last year, the U.S. military said they would take thorough measures to stop it from happening again. Here comes an intrusion again, right after prefectural citizens held a rally protesting the incidents (triggered by U.S. servicemen)," said Morikazu Nakamura, superintendent of the prefectural board of education.
(Mainichi Japan) March 28, 2008
Mainichi Daily News
URUMA, Okinawa -- Local education officials are complaining after a U.S. military jeep used a parking lot at a school for disabled students to do a U-turn, local officials said.
The Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education plans to file a protest with the U.S. forces over the incident as early as Friday.
According to officials, the medium-sized two-seater jeep drove onto the premises of the Okinawa prefectural high school for the mentally disabled in Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture, at around 2 p.m. on Thursday.
The jeep made a U-turn in a parking lot about 30 meters away from the main gate and left the premises about 1 1/2 minutes later.
Around 70 teachers were in the school at the time. There were no students due to spring break.
This was not the first case of intrusion by U.S. military vehicles into schools in Okinawa. A U.S. Marines armored vehicle entered the same high school on July 18 last year, while another U.S. military truck entered the Okinawa Prefectural Maehara High School on Aug. 6 last year. Both schools are about 1 kilometer away from each other.
"When we filed a protest against the intrusions last year, the U.S. military said they would take thorough measures to stop it from happening again. Here comes an intrusion again, right after prefectural citizens held a rally protesting the incidents (triggered by U.S. servicemen)," said Morikazu Nakamura, superintendent of the prefectural board of education.
(Mainichi Japan) March 28, 2008
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Guam Left Out of the Loop on Military Planning
'Guam left out of the loop on military buildup planning'
Thursday February 7, 2008
By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff
GUAM is groping for detailed information about the military buildup. Coordination between the civilian and the military communities doesn't exist and a two-way communication doesn't occur. The source of funding for infrastructure developments is unknown.
These are among the several complaints that Sen. Judith Guthertz, D-Mangilao, relayed to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, in a response to a set of questions provided by GAO analyst Jamilah Moon.
Guthertz said the senators' meetings with Navy officials in the past had been "a one-way communication event."
"Since then, there have been absolutely no meetings between the senators and the military installation commander," Guthertz said.
Guthertz complains about the limited role of the civilian components of the Civilian-Military Committee.
"The military has its own planning committees and it is developing its master plan but there is no government of Guam representation on those committees," Guthertz said.
"The civilians are operating in the dark and in a planning mode only," she added.
Guthertz is also protesting the military's refusal to coordinate infrastructure needs with the civilian community.
"The military is supposedly developing, without civilian participation or observation, its next iteration of the master plan. When they did brief the civilians on the state of their master plan, it was all labeled as 'pre-decisional' and not suitable for any planning by the civilian community of government," she said.
The senator said she was frustrated by the military's refusal to provide Guam with pertinent data related to the military expansion plan.
But what frustrates her more, she added, is the "lack of assertiveness" on the part of the local government to demand these data and to acquire federal funding.
The senator said due to the limitations of the information that the military provides to the civilian population, Guam can't finalize its plans.
"Various plans have been developed but they are all tentative, awaiting data from the military," Guthertz said.
Thursday February 7, 2008
By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff
GUAM is groping for detailed information about the military buildup. Coordination between the civilian and the military communities doesn't exist and a two-way communication doesn't occur. The source of funding for infrastructure developments is unknown.
These are among the several complaints that Sen. Judith Guthertz, D-Mangilao, relayed to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, in a response to a set of questions provided by GAO analyst Jamilah Moon.
Guthertz said the senators' meetings with Navy officials in the past had been "a one-way communication event."
"Since then, there have been absolutely no meetings between the senators and the military installation commander," Guthertz said.
Guthertz complains about the limited role of the civilian components of the Civilian-Military Committee.
"The military has its own planning committees and it is developing its master plan but there is no government of Guam representation on those committees," Guthertz said.
"The civilians are operating in the dark and in a planning mode only," she added.
Guthertz is also protesting the military's refusal to coordinate infrastructure needs with the civilian community.
"The military is supposedly developing, without civilian participation or observation, its next iteration of the master plan. When they did brief the civilians on the state of their master plan, it was all labeled as 'pre-decisional' and not suitable for any planning by the civilian community of government," she said.
The senator said she was frustrated by the military's refusal to provide Guam with pertinent data related to the military expansion plan.
But what frustrates her more, she added, is the "lack of assertiveness" on the part of the local government to demand these data and to acquire federal funding.
The senator said due to the limitations of the information that the military provides to the civilian population, Guam can't finalize its plans.
"Various plans have been developed but they are all tentative, awaiting data from the military," Guthertz said.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Task Force Outlook on Troop Expansion
Civilian/Military Task Force presents outlook on troop expansion
by Clynt Ridgell, KUAM News
Friday, January 25, 2008
During the Civilian/Military Task Force's briefing for the 29th Guam Legislature today two major points were made clear: first that Guam needs money for the buildup of troops locally, and secondly that the island simply needs more information on the Pentagon's plans. It was made evident during the presentation that Guam must do its best to obtain the financial assistance necessary to prepare for the dramatic increase in population that will result from the military buildup.
Governor Felix Camacho says this is something he's been working on and something he will continue to push for. "We as a territory need to make our case," the chief executive announced. "We've already missed the opportunity for appropriations for Fiscal Year 2009, we need to target Fiscal Year 2010 if we're going to get any types of appropriations."
To help Guam get the money it needs the Task Force has been working on a needs assessment to be presented to the General Accountability Office (the investigative arm of Congress) that will be her by the 31st of the month. However, to properly produce an accurate needs assessment the Government of Guam needs to know more details about the military's plans, like how many people will end up here, where will they be housed at, and what kind of infrastructure the military will need to support them and their increased facilities.
J. Peter Roberto is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Health and Social Services and stated, "One of the things we've worked with the Joint Guam Program Office is we've tried to get information of their statistics of military personnel coming in, so we can factor that in."
And such was a recurring theme of today's presentations overall. More information is needed from the military so that Guam can properly asses its needs and can start making plans of its own. This need for more information was even reflected in a report written by the GAO on Guam's military buildup. All the subcommittees gave basic reports with limited information; one of the most detailed subcommittee reports was given by education chairman David Okada, in which he estimated that Guam will need 6-9 new schools. But even he admits that more information from the Department of Defense is needed.
Senator B.J. Cruz (D) was not satisfied with most of the reports, saying many of them contained more fluff than actual substance. Tony Lamorena advised lawmakers that today's presentations had to be shortened summaries because each subcommittee chair would need at least an hour to report their needs assessments.
Roberto also explained the difficulty in producing more specific presentations without more specific information, saying, "I think the subcommittee agrees...that the questions that we've asked the military for numbers so that we can do a projected plan. We are still not getting the information we want."
In the end it was clear that the CMTF has made a lot of headway in certain areas like establishing communications with various federal agencies but still have a long way to go in getting more information from the DoD.
by Clynt Ridgell, KUAM News
Friday, January 25, 2008
During the Civilian/Military Task Force's briefing for the 29th Guam Legislature today two major points were made clear: first that Guam needs money for the buildup of troops locally, and secondly that the island simply needs more information on the Pentagon's plans. It was made evident during the presentation that Guam must do its best to obtain the financial assistance necessary to prepare for the dramatic increase in population that will result from the military buildup.
Governor Felix Camacho says this is something he's been working on and something he will continue to push for. "We as a territory need to make our case," the chief executive announced. "We've already missed the opportunity for appropriations for Fiscal Year 2009, we need to target Fiscal Year 2010 if we're going to get any types of appropriations."
To help Guam get the money it needs the Task Force has been working on a needs assessment to be presented to the General Accountability Office (the investigative arm of Congress) that will be her by the 31st of the month. However, to properly produce an accurate needs assessment the Government of Guam needs to know more details about the military's plans, like how many people will end up here, where will they be housed at, and what kind of infrastructure the military will need to support them and their increased facilities.
J. Peter Roberto is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Health and Social Services and stated, "One of the things we've worked with the Joint Guam Program Office is we've tried to get information of their statistics of military personnel coming in, so we can factor that in."
And such was a recurring theme of today's presentations overall. More information is needed from the military so that Guam can properly asses its needs and can start making plans of its own. This need for more information was even reflected in a report written by the GAO on Guam's military buildup. All the subcommittees gave basic reports with limited information; one of the most detailed subcommittee reports was given by education chairman David Okada, in which he estimated that Guam will need 6-9 new schools. But even he admits that more information from the Department of Defense is needed.
Senator B.J. Cruz (D) was not satisfied with most of the reports, saying many of them contained more fluff than actual substance. Tony Lamorena advised lawmakers that today's presentations had to be shortened summaries because each subcommittee chair would need at least an hour to report their needs assessments.
Roberto also explained the difficulty in producing more specific presentations without more specific information, saying, "I think the subcommittee agrees...that the questions that we've asked the military for numbers so that we can do a projected plan. We are still not getting the information we want."
In the end it was clear that the CMTF has made a lot of headway in certain areas like establishing communications with various federal agencies but still have a long way to go in getting more information from the DoD.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
No Water Rate Decrease for Military on Guam
Navy cuts water rates for civilians on Guam
By Jennifer H. Svan
Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Sunday, November 11, 2007
But last month’s price increase still in effect for its DOD customers
After nearly doubling the price of water for its southern Guam customers on Oct. 1 in a move that drew sharp criticism from island officials, the Navy has partially reversed course.
Navy officials said Friday that water rates would be reduced to $3.25 per 1,000 gallons, down from $4.05 per 1,000 gallons.
But the price break would extended only to its civilian customers: Guam Waterworks Authority and Guam Power Authority, said Navy Lt. Donnell Evans, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas spokesman, in a written response to Stars and Stripes.
The rate for its Defense Department customers — including Naval Base Guam and tenant commands — would remain at the current $4.05 per 1,000 gallons “to recover DOD share of past losses,” Evans wrote.
“The Navy will defer recovery of losses on water sale to GWA and GPA over the next five years.”
In a news release from her Washington, D.C., office, Guam’s Rep. Madeleine Bordallo welcomed the Navy’s announcement.
She said the price reduction was to go into effect immediately and was retroactive to Oct. 1.
“We appreciate the partial relief, and we will work to address the broader water issues on Guam in light of the planned military buildup,” Bordallo was quoted as saying.
Nearly 40,000 new military personnel and family members could move to Guam in coming years as part of the Pentagon’s overall plans to build up troop strength and operations on the island.
Some 8,000 Marines and their families and civilian support workers are to be relocated from Okinawa to Guam in the plan.
The Navy publicly announced in September that its rates for fiscal year 2008 would jump from $2.09 per 1,000 gallons to $4.05, and that rates would increase to $4.16 in fiscal 2009.
Some island officials then said the steep increase was too sudden and should have been phased in to be fair.
Simon Sanchez, chairman of the Consolidated Commission on Utilities, a governing board of elected officials for GWA and GPA, worried at the time that opponents of further military expansion might use the Navy’s decision as proof the Defense Department wasn’t a good partner with whom to do business.
Navy officials had said the increase was needed to cover ongoing operating and maintenance costs, and that the Navy had been running its Fena Reservoir water plant at a significant loss.
Evans said Friday that after a review of the cost components and discussions with the Navy and Office of Secretary of Defense comptrollers, it was determined that plant operations could break even at the new rate of $3.25.
“We’re taking this opportunity to foster better communication and coordination between Navy and the Government of Guam on utilities infrastructure, both now and in the future,” Evans wrote. “Navy will work more closely with local authorities during the planning stages in coordinating future planned rate adjustments.”
GWA spokeswoman Heidi Ballendorf said Friday the company is pleased with the Navy’s water rate decrease and is making progress in reducing its dependency on Navy water.
Sanchez could not be reached for comment Friday.
Stars and Stripes reporter Teri Weaver contributed to this report.
By Jennifer H. Svan
Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Sunday, November 11, 2007
But last month’s price increase still in effect for its DOD customers
After nearly doubling the price of water for its southern Guam customers on Oct. 1 in a move that drew sharp criticism from island officials, the Navy has partially reversed course.
Navy officials said Friday that water rates would be reduced to $3.25 per 1,000 gallons, down from $4.05 per 1,000 gallons.
But the price break would extended only to its civilian customers: Guam Waterworks Authority and Guam Power Authority, said Navy Lt. Donnell Evans, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas spokesman, in a written response to Stars and Stripes.
The rate for its Defense Department customers — including Naval Base Guam and tenant commands — would remain at the current $4.05 per 1,000 gallons “to recover DOD share of past losses,” Evans wrote.
“The Navy will defer recovery of losses on water sale to GWA and GPA over the next five years.”
In a news release from her Washington, D.C., office, Guam’s Rep. Madeleine Bordallo welcomed the Navy’s announcement.
She said the price reduction was to go into effect immediately and was retroactive to Oct. 1.
“We appreciate the partial relief, and we will work to address the broader water issues on Guam in light of the planned military buildup,” Bordallo was quoted as saying.
Nearly 40,000 new military personnel and family members could move to Guam in coming years as part of the Pentagon’s overall plans to build up troop strength and operations on the island.
Some 8,000 Marines and their families and civilian support workers are to be relocated from Okinawa to Guam in the plan.
The Navy publicly announced in September that its rates for fiscal year 2008 would jump from $2.09 per 1,000 gallons to $4.05, and that rates would increase to $4.16 in fiscal 2009.
Some island officials then said the steep increase was too sudden and should have been phased in to be fair.
Simon Sanchez, chairman of the Consolidated Commission on Utilities, a governing board of elected officials for GWA and GPA, worried at the time that opponents of further military expansion might use the Navy’s decision as proof the Defense Department wasn’t a good partner with whom to do business.
Navy officials had said the increase was needed to cover ongoing operating and maintenance costs, and that the Navy had been running its Fena Reservoir water plant at a significant loss.
Evans said Friday that after a review of the cost components and discussions with the Navy and Office of Secretary of Defense comptrollers, it was determined that plant operations could break even at the new rate of $3.25.
“We’re taking this opportunity to foster better communication and coordination between Navy and the Government of Guam on utilities infrastructure, both now and in the future,” Evans wrote. “Navy will work more closely with local authorities during the planning stages in coordinating future planned rate adjustments.”
GWA spokeswoman Heidi Ballendorf said Friday the company is pleased with the Navy’s water rate decrease and is making progress in reducing its dependency on Navy water.
Sanchez could not be reached for comment Friday.
Stars and Stripes reporter Teri Weaver contributed to this report.
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