SystemWatch:
The Special Committee on Decolonization
By Bernard Tanoh-Boutchoué

The Special Committee on decolonization - formally known as the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples - held a seminar from 23 to 25 May 2001 in Havana, Cuba, to review the political, economic and social conditions in the small island Non-Self-Governing Territories. This fitted into the Special Committee’s programme of holding annual seminars. It should be emphasized that this seminar was unique for several reasons; above all, it was the first seminar of the new millennium and the first of the new Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. As such, it took the world one step closer to the day when all forms of colonialism shall be eradicated forever.

UN Photo/John Isaac

The Special Committee is charged with bringing to self-government or independence 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories - American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, East Timor, Falkland/Malvinas Islands, Gibraltar, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, St. Helena, Tokelau, Turks and Caicos, United States Virgin Islands and Western Sahara - most of which are small island States. They are what is left of a list of 72 Territories voluntarily submitted by United Nations Member States as non-self-governing, in accordance with Article 73 of the United Nations Charter. In doing so, the administering Powers accepted as a “sacred trust” to bring these Territories to self-government; they in turn accepted, by virtue of Article 73e, an oversight function for the United Nations in this process.

Over 80 independent States emerged from this list, including most sub-Saharan African States. The Special Committee led the way, formalizing and extending the United Nations oversight function, often against significant resistance on the part of colonial regimes, until one by one these regimes relinquished their claims, allowing a new and more just international political order to emerge from the ashes of colonialism. In the aftermath of this epic, transformative struggle, the Committee’s current work - its responsibility towards the remaining 17 Territories - is sometimes, and wrongly, considered as negligible or anachronistic. While it is true that these Territories enjoy a situation that is vastly different from the ‘tough’ struggles for liberation of the 1960s and 1970s, numerous challenges remain with regard to their achievement of self-government, and the work of the Special Committee remains as relevant as ever.

One of the most important tools of the Special Committee in fulfilling its mandate is its annual regional seminars, held since 1990 in either the Pacific or Caribbean region, generally in May, during the Week of Solidarity with Peoples of All Colonial Territories Fighting for Freedom, Independence and Human Rights. The fact that they take place in the geographical and cultural regions where the Territories are located adds an important contextual dimension to the discussions. The seminars invite members of the Special Committee, other interested Member States, the administering Powers (France, Portugal, United Kingdom, United States), representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories, non-governmental and regional organizations, and specialized agencies, which allow for focused and frank discussions on decolonization and a lively exchange of views on a variety of issues of concern to the peoples of the Territories.

UN Photo

The Declaration of the Second Decade, contained in General Assembly resolution 55/146, represents a renewed commitment of the international community to resolve the remaining colonial situations. This seminar took place within the context of a new approach by the Special Committee to develop work plans with specific targets for the decolonization of the Territories on a case-by-case basis. This approach has been endorsed by the administering Powers in a climate of greater cooperation between them and the Special Committee.

The seminar, therefore, had the strong wind of this commitment behind it and a clearer vision of what needed to be accomplished ahead of it. It was, therefore, no surprise that it was one of the best attended in the recent history of the Special Committee, with 38 Member States, 22 participants from seven Territories, 9 experts and 14 non-governmental organizations. Of the administering Powers, France attended, and for the first time so did the United Kingdom.

It was conducted by Julian R. Hunte, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Saint Lucia, in his capacity as Chairman of the Special Committee. Five broad topics structured the seminar: strategies for the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism; the role of the Special Committee in facilitating the decolonization of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; development strategies for strengthening assistance to the Territories by the United Nations system; recent political economic and social developments in the Territories, particularly in the Caribbean region; and socio-economic conditions in the Non-Self-Governing Territories and their effect on decolonization. The seminar held six meetings and subsequently adopted a series of 55 conclusions and recommendations, which reaffirmed the general principles that guide the decolonization process and addressed specific issues with regard to certain Territories.

In a general statement of principle, it was stated that in the process of decolonization there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination, which is also a fundamental human right. The seminar noted that all available options for self-determination were valid as long as they were in accordance with the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned and in conformity with the clearly defined principles contained in the UN Charter and its relevant resolutions on decolonization. Furthermore, it affirmed that any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and territorial integrity of a country is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. The seminar also reiterated that the United Nations had a valid ongoing role in the decolonization process; that the Special Committee should continue to actively participate in monitoring and observing the evolution of the Non-Self-Governing Territories towards self-determination; and that the views of the peoples of these Territories in respect of their right to self-determination should be ascertained under the supervision of the United Nations.

UN Photo/pcd

The seminar endorsed the new strategy of formulating work programmes for the decolonization of each Territory and took note of the initiation of discussions between the Special Committee and the administering Powers of American Samoa and Pitcairn (United States and United Kingdom, respectively), with a view to developing work programmes for those Territories. It also said that informal negotiations between them should be expedited and should take place with the active involvement of the representatives of the Territories. It urged the administering Powers to cooperate formally with the Special Committee in the implementation of the work programmes. Aware that in certain Territories a dispute over sovereignty exists, placing in contraposition the rights to self-determination and territorial integrity, the seminar noted that in the development of work programmes for individual Territories, the participation of Territories where there is no sovereignty dispute should be emphasized.

The presence of the United Kingdom’s representative as an observer was welcomed, as well as her encouraging statement regarding the Special Committee’s new approach, and her Government’s intention to continue to engage with the Special Committee, with a view to enhancing cooperation. With regard to specific Territories, the seminar recognized the significant developments that had taken place in New Caledonia. Representatives of that Government and the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front had addressed the gathering, taking note of the different points of view expressed regarding compliance with the provisions of the Nouméa Accord. The seminar noted that the United Nations should continue to watch closely the process unfolding in the Territory.

The seminar also called upon the United States to work with Guam’s Commission on Decolonization to continue to recognize and respect the political rights and the cultural and ethnic identity of the Chamorro people of Guam, and to promote political education for the Chamorros on their right to self-determination. It called on the Special Committee to engage the administering Power and the representatives of the Territory, with a view to developing a specific work programme for Guam. The seminar noted with satisfaction the substantial work being carried out by the Government of New Zealand and the representatives of Tokelau to put in place a governance structure that would allow the Territory to maintain its unique identity and respond to the contemporary challenges of the new century, and recognized the cooperation between Tokelau and the administering Power.

UN Photo/MB/vmb

Another question to which attention was devoted was the military exercises being carried out on the island of Vieques, in Puerto Rico, not far from where the seminar was held. Though Puerto Rico is no longer on the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, having been de-listed in 1953 and removed from the agenda of the General Assembly, the Special Committee has nonetheless considered the question as a special item since the early 1970s, in the context of a decision that has been taken annually.

The impact the training manoeuvres had on the local population was noted, and the United States was encouraged, in line with the need to guarantee to the Puerto Rican people their legitimate right to self-determination, to order the halt of military drills on Vieques by its armed forces.

It should be clear from the above that the seminar was able to achieve a significant degree of consensus across a wide range of issues. This indicates that as the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism begins, the international community is firmly united with regard to the main principles of decolonization and is of common purpose with regard to many of the specific steps that need to be taken for each Territory, given their unique characteristics. The level of consensus, however, ought not to conceal the spiritedness of the debates. Many viewpoints were put forward, at times passionately, disagreements were openly expressed and positions defended. This is as it should be in such a forum, and it is of consolation to the Special Committee that the work of decolonization is being conducted in parliamentary ways, as an endeavour of increasing cooperation rather than confrontation. The seminar highlighted the many challenges ahead, but also reassured that these would be faced by the international community in an innovative, practical and pragmatic manner.

Bernard Tanoh-Boutchoué of Côte d’Ivoire, Vice Chairman of the Special Committee on decolonization, is acting Chairman in the absence of Foreign Minister Julian R. Hunte of Saint Lucia.