Deliberating decolonization.

Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be held by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

- Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 21

The Special Committee on decolonization conducted a Seminar in the Pacific region from 16 to 18 June as requested by the General Assembly. The Government of the Republic of the Fiji Islands generously agreed to host the event, which was held in Nadi, with the participation of some 45 representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, United Nations Members States, including the administering Powers, intergovernmental organizations and programmes, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and experts. The majority of participants in the Seminar were from the Pacific region. Its main objective was to assess the situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories, particularly their constitutional evolution towards self-determination by the year 2000 - the target date set by the General Assembly in 1991; identify areas in which the international community could increase its participation in programmes of assistance; and adopt a comprehensive and integrated approach to ensure the political and sustainable development of the Territories concerned.

The agenda for the meeting included, inter alia, the enhancement of the attainment of the right to, and options of, self-determination; economic and social developments in the small-island Territories and their impact on the realization of the right to self-determination; the constraints they face and the available development options, environmental issues and human resources development; international and regional cooperation and the role of the specialized agencies, international organizations and regional organizations in the economic and social development of the Territories; and the impact of international conferences on Non-Self-Governing Territories.

In addressing the various subjects in the agenda, participants made several important points, amongst them:

First, the process of decolonization was not over, emphasis should be given on putting in place unique remedies to protect the inalienable rights of the people of Non-Self-Governing Territories. given the unique character of each of these.

Second, as long as there were Territories that were not self-governing, the inalienable rights of the people must be guaranteed by an independent broker. Thus, the United Nations and its Special Committee on decolonization must continue to function in that capacity until the chapter on colonialism in the history of the world is closed once and for all.

Third, Member States should make efforts, when submitting recommendations to the General Assembly, to consider and reflect the views of the people of Non-Self-Governing Territories and their legitimate interests.

Fourth, the Special Committee should consider broadly the issue of self-determination broadly and not only look at the political independence but also at matters relating to cultural identity, language and tradition. The situation of the indigenous populations in some Territories, which had become minorities in their own homeland, was discussed, particularly in connection with the immigration policies of the administering Power.

Fifth, access by Non-Self-Governing Territories to relevant United Nations programmes in the economic and social sphere, including those emanating from the plans of action of United Nations international conferences, is in furtherance of capacity-building and consistent with necessary preparations for the assumption of full internal self-government.

These points are by no means exhaustive; the debate covered in detail the situation in each Territory and identified individual, as well as problems common to all of them.

Several Non-Self-Governing Territories indicated that they expected the Special Committee to do more than what it had done so far, suggesting that the decolonization process should be expanded to deal with the devastating effects of nuclearization, militarism and economic globalization on the colonized peoples and their social environment, and emphasized the importance they attached to every opportunity they had to enter into direct contact with the United Nations. Several participants suggested that the problems of the Territories should be dealt with at various fora within the United Nations system. They felt that the decolonization agenda should be integrated into all aspects of the United Nations work in the economic and social fields, as well as in the area of human rights. One of their proposals was to convene an international conference on decolonization on the occasion of the end of the Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.

At several points during the open and frank discussion that followed each presentation, Special Committee members were asked about the work of the United Nations on decolonization. We were asked pointed questions about seeking consensus last year on a resolution which some participants believed did not fully reflect the views of the people of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, and was instead perceived as in fact diluting the provisions of previous resolutions adopted by the General Assembly. At the same time, all participants agreed that in order to make any progress towards the eradication of colonialism, the full cooperation of the administering Powers was essential. They agreed that pragmatic and realistic solutions to their problems and needs were imperative, even though in some cases they took issue with the slow pace of the process of decolonization, and expressed understandable impatience after many years of presenting their case to the Special Committee and the General Assembly.

The Seminar also presented representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories with a unique opportunity to meet with each other and learn from each other's experiences. The differences and similarities, particularly with regard to indigenous minorities, were amply discussed. Academics and journalists who were invited to make presentations revealed an imposing command of the subject matter and provided intriguing analysis of developments in the area of decolonization, specially concerning the Pacific region. Similarly, the NGOs impressed us with their commitment and indefatigable energy. They spoke of the problems faced by Non-Self-Governing Territories and the activities they were carrying out in support of self-determination.

Of the administering Powers, New Zealand and Portugal participated in the discussions; Argentina, Australia, Malaysia and Spain also took part. Several organizations and individuals contacted the United Nations Secretariat after the Special Committee had approved the list of invitees, asking to be allowed to attend the Seminar; however, they could not be accommodated, but their names and other information were placed in a roster for future consideration. It is gratifying to see that so many organizations and individuals are interested in the work of the United Nations on decolonization.

The Seminar was, in all respects, a success and reconfirmed for the Special Committee members the importance of direct contact with representatives of the Territories. At a personal level, I was touched by the sense of hope and confidence in the United Nations which several of the representatives expressed. It was certainly encouraging to verify that the work of the Special Committee was not only followed with great interest, hut was seen as a true expression of support for the cause of decolonization, the one forum where representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories could always have their voices heard, and where their concerns and problems were pre-eminent. I believe that the delegations and participants in the Seminar derived immense benefits from the lively discussions and the ideas set forth for future action, and that these will inspire the work of the Special Committee and the recommendations it will present to the General Assembly at this important juncture of the work of the United Nations on decolonization.

RELATED ARTICLE: Conclusions and Recommendations

The Seminar emphasized that the mandate of the Special Committee on decolonization is a major political programme of the United Nations and, therefore, Member States need to remain vigilant against all attempts to limit, jeopardize or eliminate its activities on the grounds of administrative reforms or by means of financial mechanisms.

The Seminar called on the Special Committee to continue to encourage the resumption of negotiations between Argentina and the United Kingdom, aiming at finding a solution to the question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and taking into consideration the interest of the population of the Territory, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions.

The Seminar recommended that the Special Committee should continue to encourage the ongoing negotiations between the United Kingdom and Spain within the Brussels process, aimed at achieving a solution to the question of Gibraltar, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions.

It also recommended that the Special Committee should encourage Portugal and Indonesia to continue their efforts, under the auspices of the Secretary General, to find a just, comprehensive and internationally acceptable solution to the question of East Timor.

The Seminar recognized the significant developments that had taken place in New Caledonia, mainly the signing of the Noumea Accord on 5 May 1998 between New Caledonia and the French Government, and requested that the United Nations should watch closely and keep under review the process unfolding in New Caledonia as a result of the signing of the Accord.

The Seminar recommended that the Special Committee should call upon the United States, as administering Power, to cooperate with Guam's Commission on Decolonization for the Implementation and Exercise of Chamorro Self-Determination, in order to facilitate Guam's decolonization. It also took note of the invitation by American Samoa for the Special Committee to send a visiting mission.

The Seminar also noted with satisfaction the positive constitutional developments that had occurred in the Territory of Tokelau. The relationship between Tokelau and its administering Power - New Zealand - had been conducive to the increased level of internal self-government and the enactment of the territorial legislation, bringing the people of Tokelau closer to the exercise of the right of self-determination.

Ambassador Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla is Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations and Acting Chairman of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples