The History Poker Blog: Discussion
In a discussion between Pacific islander students, one in college from New Zealand, and the other from American Samoa going to UTA, the American Samoan History came up in discussions, which has also been discussed in higher official conferences over the Trust Regional or Protectorate status of the area.
The American Samoan student contacted TMBW to research and give more information to the public on politics in American Samoa, or at least clear up a few small details since there seems to be some floating misinformation out there. Below is an article over the UN to take American Samoa off the UN Colonies List, however, Eastern Samoa (American Samoa) doesn't have, or ever had, a Colony status and politically American Samoa is often referred to simple as having a "special relationship" with The United States.
Testimony at United Nations Decolonization Committee
by Fili Sagapolutele
PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (The Samoa News, August 18, 2016) – During a Senate committee hearing this week some senators insisted that using the word “colony” does not apply at all when its used to label American Samoa, which has a special relationship with the United States and that the term "colony” should be removed from any United Nations documents.
As Samoa News reported several times, Tapa’au attended the seminar to observe whether or not there are decolonization strategies worth considering by the territory, after Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale presented American Samoa’s official position at last year’s Caribbean seminar. At the Senate committee hearing, Tapa’au informed Senators that he attended the Pacific seminar to find out issues that would be beneficial to American Samoa.
On June 22nd, the UN committee passed a resolution on the question of American Samoa, with regard to the implementation on the granting of Independence to colonial countries and peoples.
Tapa’au explained that the UN committee must understand American Samoa’s special political status with the United States of America, and it’s differences compared to other Trust Territories. Tuaolo then explained more on the specific characteristics, Tapa’au then said that to his understanding, that there are more issues than just the protection of land, natural resources, and culture. The History as to the development of the region played a large role in the beginning relationships.
Editor "Eastern Samoa signed a Treaty and agreement in 1839 reinforced again in the 1870s, supervised the second time over by Samoan Council and The President of the United States Ulysses S. Grant. Also details have been worked on overtime. These types of political matters are not well known to the wider public. On average, citizens of the west can say they know of only 3 major events in history, other than that, even their own heritage or origins in most cases is a mystery. They can not be expected to understand Samoan or Asia Pacific or Pacific Islander History."
Another concern of Tuaolo and other Senators is the UN committee’s action, that would affect the Senate, who’s 18-members are traditional leaders selected by County leaders. Tapa’au emphasized that nothing the UN committee resolution or other issues deals with the US. Senate.
Tuaolo asked if Tapa’au told the UN committee that American Samoa is not a colony and that additionally, the UN committee should be told not to discuss American Samoa anymore and to “Leave us alone”.
And while he didn’t deliver a speech at the Pacific seminar this year, Tapa’au said officials there had asked him several times about the regions political future and the response was always the same,
Senator Magalei Logovi’i says the word “colony” continues to come up over the years, and that this has also been the case in the previous administrations of former Governors Tauese P.F. Sunia and Togiola Tulafono. Magalei, and they asked if there is a way to make sure that this continued annoyance does not come up again in the future. Tapa’au responded that he posed the same question to the UN committee and he is waiting for an official reply.
He told Senators the US State Department’s answer to the UN committee when it comes to American Samoa is that this is an "Internal issue of the US government and not under the UN committee’ purview". Upon arrival at the Pacific seminar, Tapa’au said he went looking for a US Government representative, but the USA no longer sends representation to these types of meetings because to them the matter is closed, and they agree that American Samoa is “an internal issue”, when it comes to it's political status.
Former Committee Meeting
The US State Department in a Nov. 2, 2006 letter, responding to then Congressman Faleomavaega Eni’s request for the federal government’s official position on American Samoa before the UN committee, states in part that the status of the insular areas, including American Samoa, regarding their political relationship with the Federal Government was an "Internal United States issue", and not one that came under the purview of the Special Committee.
Additionally, the Special Committee had no authority or right to alter in any way the relationship between Samoa and the United States, and those Trust-territories, and no right to Mandate or engage the United States in negotiations of their political status.
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