The United States is ruling American Samoa as a colony without taking into consideration input from territorial leaders, and American Samoa should look at taking this issue up with the United Nations, which looks after the interests of the people of the remaining non self-governing territories of the world.

These were some of the statements made by senators last Friday, after learning that the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council had recommended an amendment to the Large Vessel Prohibited Area (LVPA), which is reserved only for local alia, vessels less than 50 feet long.

The recommendation, which now goes to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce for approval, would allow federally permitted American Samoa longline vessels to operate in waters seaward of 12 nautical miles (nm) around the islands of Tutuila, Manu’a and Swains. The action would be subject to annual review by the Council.

At last Friday’s Senate session, Sen. Mauga Tasi Asuega was the first to voice his disappointment over the decision by the Council, saying that the Fono has stood firm in support of the governor, who asked the Council to maintain the current 50-mile LVPA.

(The governor had also asked the Council to delay a vote on the proposal and give American Samoa a chance to reach a consensus decision, but the Council said they have already twice postponed a vote.)

Mauga recalled a statement made before Tuimanu’a signed the deed of cession for his people, ceding the Manu'a island group to the U.S. in which the then-King of Manu’a noted with concern that the time would come when the U.S. would control and rule his people in a harsh manner and without respect.

The senator says this has happened now and pointed out that the U.S. President has used his authority through executive orders to control oceans in the Pacific without asking people of the Pacific, including American Samoa, for their say in such matters.

He says the U.S.is ruling American Samoa as a colony, and not just the ocean and the land, but the environment.

He questioned why the federal government is treating American Samoa in this manner and called on senators, who are traditional leaders, to stand firm on the issue to protect and maintain the 50 miles of the LVPA. They said that American Samoa should not back down on its stand.

Sen. Galeai M. Tu’ufuli thanked Mauga for his remarks, adding that this is not an easy issue and “we are in the big leagues now.” He says American Samoa must prepare itself for such a battle, and that the U.S. “does not have absolute authority” over American Samoa.

The Manu’a senator said the next stop for American Samoa to resolve all these many issues with the U.S’s strong-arm ruling is through the United Nations — the world body will look at non-self governing territories around the globe.

He says this issue is not for the government to deal with, but the entire community, the people of American Samoa, who need to have their voices heard. He says it's time for local leaders and American Samoa to stand together and take this matter to the UN regarding the treatment of the people of these islands.

He called on all traditional leaders, and other ranking village and council individuals to come together to discuss these issues further, including the next move by American Samoa.

Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie quoted a Samoan proverb “E pu lava le va’a o Ti’a ia Ti’a”, and noted that business interests have caused major differences on this issue, in which only a few businesses benefit.

He pointed out that American Samoa’s ocean and land was to be protected by the federal government, which has instead dictated to American Samoa where to fish and which areas are restricted for American Samoans.

Gaoetote said that at this point everyone is going after things for their own benefit and have forgotten the entire community. Additionally, the Senate made known its position on the LVPA through a Senate Concurrent Resolution to keep the current 50 miles restriction. The Senate approved its resolution last Thursday and it is now with the House for their endorsement.

At last week’s Council meeting it was announced that among the letters of support to temporarily open up the LVPA for the locally based U.S. longline vessels, one of the letters came from Sen. Afoa Moega Lutu, who said this is the right thing to do.

“While it is important that we continue fighting for the protection and wise management of our ocean resources, it is also equally important to fight for our commercial fishing fleet, after all, it is the American Samoa longline fleet,” said his letter.

BACKGROUND — UN COMMITTEE ON DECOLONIZATION

Each year the United Nations’ committee on decolonization holds regional seminars, which are rotated between the Pacific and the Caribbean. Over the years American Samoa, during these seminars, has stressed that it is not a colony of the United States and has asked to be delisted from the list of 17 remaining non-self governing territories.

Last year’s regional seminar was hosted by Fiji for the Pacific seminar and this year will be in the Caribbean, hosted in Managua, Nicaragua from May 19-21.