INTERNATIONAL PROGRESS
ORGANIZATION
Monitoring Group
Coordinator: Dr. Hans Köchler
National Self-determination Versus Superpower Hegemony and
Continued Colonization
(I) BACKGROUND
For a long time, the great western powers (mainly, France and
the United States) considered the Pacific – in particular, the South
Pacific – their "private lake." Still, they control colonies,
maintain military bases, and even operate nuclear test sites (as in
the case of France), in the area. They interfere into the internal
affairs of small independent islands of the Pacific, destabi1izing
their political order and continuing a policy of domination for
their own strategic purposes.
The recent right-wing coup in Fiji has come as a great
setback to the causes of non-alignment and a nuclear-free South
Pacific. There are also signs that the U.S. is seeking to
destabilize other states in the region (such as Kiribati and
Vanuatu, which is following courageous, independent policies). The
volatile situation in the area in the aftermath of the coup in Fiji
has great similarities with earlier events in Latin America and the
Caribbean.
The developments require careful attention and analysis by
experts in international law and international relations so as to
define a common post-colonial strategy in the Pacific.
(II) SCOPE
(1) De-colonization:
(a) In
spite of numerous resolutions of the United Nations, several
territories in the Pacific are still under the rule of powers from
distant continents.
(b)
Certain other territories have a semi-colonia1 status with
limited sovereignty.
(c)
Territories that already have achieved sovereign status are being
subjected to increasing superpower pressure (in particular from the
U.S.) and are thus being drawn into the East-West rivalry, which is
contrary to their national and wider regional interests.
(2)
Security and environment (esp. in regard to denuclearization):
The
situation described above has negative effects on the level of
regional security because tension is “imported” into an originally
peaceful area. It further affects the quality of life of the
indigenous people if one takes into consideration the dangerous
environmental pollution that is caused by continued nuclear testing.
It goes without saying that the use of the Pacific by outside powers
(for the operation of military bases, nuclear testing, etc.) is in
open contradiction to the principle of self-determination and
violates fundamental human rights of the people of the Pacific.
(3)
Conditions to establish and/or strengthen national independence:
The
project will examine:
a) The conditions for complete and total decolonization in terms of
international law (in conformity with United Nations resolutions);
(b) ways of strengthening the national status of the peoples of the
Pacific on the political, cultural and economic levels;
(c) in this connection, the notion of “power vacuum" should be
examined as to its particular relevance in a vast region of small island
territories;
(d) the factual conditions for national sovereignty (not only in
the strict legal sense) will be analyzed and the importance of
inter-Pacific cooperation will be examined;
(e) finally, possibilities of strengthening political sovereignty
by direct participation of the citizens in national decision-making
(i.e. direct democracy) will be explored.
(III) Geographical scope
The
entire region of the South Pacific (plus certain neighbouring
territories North of the equator) will be covered. The categories of
countries referred to above under item 1 are specified as follows:
(a)
Colonies in the factual sense:
New
Caledonia (including Loyalty Islands et al.), French Polynesia
(including Iles de la Societé [Tahiti et al.], Mururoa Atoll, Marquesas
Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago, Gambier Islands, Tubuai Islands, Rapa),
Wallis and Futuna (French); Pitcairn (UK); Guam
("Organized Unincorporated Territory"), Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, Midway Islands, American Samoa ("Unorganized
Unincorporated Territory"), Wake, Baker-, Howland-, Jarvis-Islands (USA);
Christmas Island, Territory of Cocos Islands, Territory of Norfolk
Islands, Coral Sea Island Territory (Australia).
(b)
Territories with limited sovereignty (United Nations trusteeship):
U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Republic
of Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia)
(USA); Cook Islands, Niue ("Savage Island"), Tokelau Islands
(New Zealand).
(c) Sovereign states of the Pacific:
Solomon Islands; Independent State of Western Samoa
(Malotuto'atasi o
Samoa i Sisifo); Kingdom of Tonga (Pule'anga Tonga); Dominion
of Fiji (Matanitu Ko Viti); Republic of Kiribati (Ribaberikin Kiribati);
Republic of Vanuatu (Ripablik blang Vanuatu); Republic of Nauru.
18 October 1987