Hon Duncan Kerr SC, MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs.
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Dear Mr Kerr,
I am writing to you to express my concerns and to ask that you take action in relation to the appalling plight of the Chamoru, the indigenous people of Guam.
I am sure you are aware that the United States is about the undertake a massive military expansion on Guam, including moving 8,000 Marines there from Okinawa, upgrading its facilities, and deploying more planes, submarines and other materiel. One third of this tiny Pacific island is already occupied by United States military facilities.
The Chamoru people have been treated as second class citizens. Their standard of their educational and health facilities is far below that provided for the military and their families on Guam. Unemployment and poverty are rife among the Chamoru. Segregation is alive and well on this unincorporated territory of the US, as evidenced by the glaring disparities in the quality of life, schools and medical facilities between those on the US military bases and the civilian community outside the gates.
The Chamoru people have long struggled for decolonisation and self-determination at the United Nations, calling on the UN Decolonization and Fourth Committees to intervene in this international situation and calling for an end to the "massive US military build-up [which] hinders the right of Chamorus to decolonisation and violates the human rights of all people from Guam".
Today they fight for their very survival. A representative of the Chamoru Nation told the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues this year that the United States is carrying his people’s “small chance of survival to its final coffin.”
I believe that the new Australian Government has an opportunity to intervene positively in this tragic but avoidable situation and to argue for steps that would accord the Chamoru people their dignity and help them in their internationally-recognized human rights struggle to decolonize their homeland.
Specifically, I would ask that you:
- Ensure that the Australian Government does not support the military build up in Guam.
- Ensure that Australian firms are strongly discouraged from bidding for and taking up contracts for any aspect of the
new military expansion on Guam.
- Ensure that no Australian expertise or personnel become involved in the new military expansion on Guam.
- Ensure that United States military assets from Guam are not accorded access to Australian facilities for training or exercises.
- Support the claims in international forums for decolonisation of Guam.
I look forward to receiving your response.
Yours sincerely,
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