American Samoa and United Nations 2005 - The repeated message that American Samoa is NOT a Colony of the United States: Samoan-US. Relations review

American Samoa asks again to be removed from U.N. Colonies list

The United Nations and Decolonization

Non-Self-Governing Territories Listed by the General Assembly in 2002

Special Committee Working Paper on American Samoa

Sunday, May 29, 2005

American Samoa's Government delivered another message to United Nations Representatives in 2005 demanding to be removed from the U.N.'s list of World colonies. Commerce Department Deputy Director Lelei Peau was participating in a Regional seminar held from May 17-19 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines by the U.N. Decolonization Committee.

The U.N. has promoted Decolonization since its founding particularly since its Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples was adopted in 1960. In 1945, about one-third of the World's population lived in dependent, non-self governing Territories. Today the U.N. lists 16 remaining colonies with fewer than 2 million total people.

American Samoa is asking to be removed from that list again and again on the grounds that it wishes to remain a freely associated Trust region or in some political terms 'territory' of the United States. Its position has remained unchanged since the American Samoan Lieutenant Governor first asked to be removed from the list in 1993.

"The position of the people of American Samoa, and its duly elected legislative representatives and government officials is that the current status of the Territory and the United States government is the desired relationship we wish to have," said Governor Togiola T. A. Tulafono last year. His message was delivered to the U.N. Decolonization Committee in their regional seminar held in the Pacific island country of Papua New Guinea.

"It has been a partnership that has aided both our peoples and the bonds of friendship between us are strong. We ask again that American Samoa be delisted as a 'colony' of the United States," said the Samoan Governor's message.

The United States position expressed to the U.N. General Assembly in 2003, is that its remaining territories are self-governing. These Trust regions (territories) are able to choose whether to be independent states as "equal and sovereign partners" of the United States or can remain integrated within the United States.

Notes: 

This article posted is not the only one of it's kind and there have been other times when the United Nations has been asked, and other pollitical powers told, that Eastern Samoa is it's own and has chosen its path for now, not under force of being a Colony and whether terms like 'Territory' or 'Trust Region' are used, or whatever a website or official website may write, it does not change Samoa's History or it's friendship relationship with the United States at this time. 

Posted in: A.P.I. A. Studies