A/RES/63/108 A–B
3.
Welcomes the efforts made by the territorial Government to address costof-living issues in various economic sectors;
VI
Guam
Taking note of the working paper prepared by the Secretariat on Guam 13 and
other relevant information,
Aware that under United States law the relations between the territorial
Government and the federal Government in all matters that are not the programme
responsibility of another federal department or agency are under the general
administrative supervision of the Secretary of the Interior, 14
Recalling that, in a referendum held in 1987, the registered and eligible voters
of Guam endorsed a draft Guam Commonwealth Act that would establish a new
framework for relations between the Territory and the administering Power, providing
for a greater measure of internal self-government for Guam and recognition of the
right of the Chamorro people of Guam to self-determination for the Territory,
Recalling also the previously expressed requests by the elected representatives
and non-governmental organizations of the Territory that Guam not be removed
from the list of the Non-Self-Governing Territories with which the Special
Committee is concerned, pending the self-determination of the Chamorro people
and taking into account their legitimate rights and interests,
Aware that negotiations between the administering Power and the territorial
Government on the draft Guam Commonwealth Act ended in 1997 and that Guam
has subsequently established a non-binding plebiscite process for a self-determination
vote by the eligible Chamorro voters,
Cognizant that the administering Power continues to implement its programme
of transferring surplus federal land to the Government of Guam,
Noting that the people of the Territory have called for reform in the
programme of the administering Power with respect to the thorough, unconditional
and expeditious transfer of land property to the people of Guam,
Aware of deep concerns expressed by civil society and others, including at the
2008 Pacific regional seminar, regarding the potential social and other impacts of
the impending transfer of additional military personnel of the administering Power
to the Territory,
Aware also of the austerity and fiscal measures undertaken by the territorial
Government since 2007, when the Governor declared a financial “state of
emergency”,
Conscious that immigration into Guam has resulted in the indigenous Chamorros
becoming a minority in their homeland,
1.
Calls once again upon the administering Power to take into consideration
the expressed will of the Chamorro people as supported by Guam voters in the
referendum of 1987 and as subsequently provided for in Guam law regarding
_______________
13
14
10
A/AC.109/2008/15.
United States Congress, Organic Act of Guam, 1950, as amended.