[News] Chamorro self-determination - "Airmen warned about harassment"

[Anti-Imperialist News]

Article in Marianas Variety 3/11/08 issue:

"Airmen warned against possible harassment

By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff

AN Air Force official advised airmen to report any possible 
harassment by anti-military bases protestors holding rallies across 
from the main gate of Andersen Air Force Base.

"If the protestor attempts to cross the road and enter the base, 
displays vulgar language or rude gestures please report this to the 
T&W contract guards while entering or directly to the SFS 
Investigator x-7098," stated the memo from  USAF MSgt Wesley H. Willand.

Chamorro activist Howard Hemsing, a resident of Yigo, occasionally 
holds a one-man protest rally in front of AAFB bearing a "Yankee Go 
Home" placard.

Hemsing said in an earlier interview that the presence of military 
bases on Guam puts the community in danger, and that he would not let 
up on his campaign against the U.S. troops.

In a brief telephone interview, Willand said anyone who gets harassed 
by protestors may write a full statement of complaint for submission 
to the AAFB guards."

_______________________________

LETTER TO THE EDITOR



In response to the Variety's 3/11/08 article on airmen being warned 
against possible harassment - while I do not always agree with the 
statements or placard displays by fellow activist Senot Howard 
Hemsing (Maga'Lahi Aniti), nor do I espouse his political status 
choice, I will stand to defend his right to do so.



The entire complement of the United States Air Force, Navy, Marines, 
Army - and their associated reservists; Coast Guard; clandestine 
intelligence operatives; transplanted neopolitical subversives; 
nuclear powered ships and attack  submarines - whether crashing into 
our undersea mountains or washing their contaminations into our 
ocean; stealth and other assorted bombers flying overhead and 
crashing onto our lands - whether armed or maybe not with weapons of 
mass destruction or just returning from air shows; the U.S. military 
industrial complex playing a heavy hand, not only toward the 
impending so-called "peacetime" invasion of my homeland, but also 
inviting further invasion and population explosion onto this small 
island under the guise of "business and other economic 
opportunities"... yeah, with all your power and might, USAF MSgt 
Wesley H. Willand, let's start taking notes and making reports about 
harassment.



Take this note Master Sgt:  Learn about the history and relationship 
between the United States and Guam - not just your yes sir, no sir, 
military indoctrination but our federal-territorial 
relationship.  Learn about what my people went through here during 
WWII, and that even today there is still so much the United States 
has, as a sacred trust and obligation, to accomplish and continues to 
fail us.  Try to see past the muzzle of your M16 and frightening 
WMD's, that we are not the enemy as you may perceive.  In fact, you 
have just re-inforced the resistance we are fighting... THAT your 
presence is a detriment to our peace and political destiny, our very 
freedom as indigenous people in our own homeland.



So, go ahead Master Sgt. and tell your people to file their 
complaints to your AAFB guards, for you see, we have no place to go 
do the same, save my voice - and Senot Hemsing's and those of our 
activist brethren - voices and signs, however disturbing they may 
seem to you, but we will not be silenced.  You, sir, must realize you 
are guests in my homeland, and yes, even the very base you are 
occupying is Chamorro land!



Welcome to Guam Master Sgt., the land of the Chamorro people, 
colonized by the United States of America!   By the way, why don't 
you tell your own people to restrict their own one-finger salutes to 
each other.  I carry no weapons and I wish you peace, even as I 
struggle most non-violently for my own.  When you see me next, I 
would just love it if you'd wave back, but, uh, no guns or bad 
language or rude gestures, OK?  Nilibre!



Patty Garrido

Harmon Cliffline (Naton, Guahan)

688-8038



Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

415 863-9977

www.Freedomarchives.org  
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