In his State of the Island address last week, Guam Governor Eddie Calvo announced plans to hold a plebiscite on the island's political future this November. The choices would be Statehood...Free association with the United States...or independence. We have more from Neal Conan in the Pacific News Minute.
First claimed for Spain by Magellan, Guam was taken by US forces in the Spanish American War, and has been unincorporated US territory since 1898. The islands 160,000 residents are US citizens, but unable to vote for president. Their delegate to congress is not allowed to vote and they have no control over the one-third of the island taken up by US Navy and Air Force bases.
The plebiscite proposal immediately hit a couple of hurdles. Four groups that support decolonization said they were outraged, because all registered voters would be allowed to participate, when both the UN and the US agree that the decision should be made by the colonized people, the Chamorros. The governor's office replied that an additional question would ask voters if they qualify as native inhabitants.
Another problem, is that the governor side-stepped a decolonization committee, which he happens to chair. Other members accused him of rushing ahead with a unilateral plan. Governor Calvo replied, "After years of talking and planning the plan, and planning the plan for the plan, I'm finally putting (out) a plan. You may like it or you may not like it, but it is a plan."
Even after a vote, Congress would have to approve any change in Guam's status, and would likely insist that any plan include continued use by the US military.
