(323-324.3246) WISE Amsterdam - The Compact is an economic and political pact the United States has been for years trying to force on the tiny Pacific state. Among other things, the pact would give the US military access to Belau, allowing it to use Belau for jungle warfare training, military airfields and possibly a Trident submarine base, in return for financial aid. (Such aid could be terminated, however, at any time by the USeven while it retains its bases in Belau.) But the Belau Constitution contains anti-nuclear provisions which put it in conflict with the compact and US intentions. (Belau's was the world's first nuclear-free constitution.) As long as those provisions are in place, a 75% majority is needed for compact approval.
The upcoming referendum would be on the same version of the Compact as the last vote, but with the addition of subsidiary agreements which were agreed to in Guam earlier this year. As there is the strong possibility that the Compact will not reach the 75% vote required, there are people who, in trying to get around the requirement, are seeking another referendum to amend the Constitution first. If they can force a referendum to change the Constitution so that a simple majority vote is required, then the referendum on the Compact itself can follow, and be passed with just 51% of the vote. This move comes in spite of a joint resolution which was passed earlier this year, in January, by President Etpison, the OEK and the House of Chiefs and which said that there will be no attempt to change Belau's constitution in order to facilitate the passing of the Compact.
Interestingly enough, the World Anti-Communist League (WACL) held a Conference in Belau in October of this year. No doubt the timing of the conference was aimed at raising the "communist" threat in order to increase the number of Belauans endorsing the Compact. One curious thing about the Conference was that a local Belauan organizing committee was required for the conference to take place in Belau. And somehow, Roman Bedor and Bernie Kelderrnans, each of whom has been out of the country, returned to Belau to find their names on the list of members making up that local organizing committee. Both Bedor and Keldermans have long been compact opponents. Their father, Rubak Bedor, a Belauan male elder who was also active in opposing the compact, was murdered during a wave violence against pro-constitutionalists that swept Belau in September 1987. (WISE News Communique 281.2831.)
It is important to mention that there is a US General Accounting Report that lists key points of events in Belau in the past few years. Among its findings are the following:
- The government of Belau spent at least US$ 1.7 million for Compact considerations between 1983 and 1987. Although required to be impartial, the expenditures favored approval of the Compact.
- Public resources were used to campaign in favor of Compact approval, but were not available to those campaigning against it.
- An aide to President Sali sanctioned violence against Compact challengers in broadcast statements.
- Plaintiffs in the lawsuit challenging Sail's claim of Compact approval were intimidated through the use of violence, including murder, into withdrawing the suit.
- The Interior Department under Reagan did not exercise the responsibility it has for Belau under law because it constantly anticipated that the Compact would soon be implemented.
There are many other points about law enforcement in Belau, alleged corruption and financial mismanagement during the Sali administration (August 1985-August 1988), etc.
Sources:
- Pacific News Bulletin, Nov. 1989
- Women Working for a Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific (WWNFIP).
Contact: Pacific Concerns Resource Centre, P0 Box 489, Petersham NSW 2049, Australia
WWNFIP, 9 Beech Range, Levenshulme, Manchester M19 2EV, UK, tel: 44-61- 225-2014.
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