Editorials
Monday, April 28, 1997PATIENCE with the Northern Marianas government is running out in Washington. A group of Democratic members of the House of Representatives, including Hawaii's members, is seeking expansion of federal control of the islands to deal with abuses of foreign labor. These reportedly include forced prostitution, drug activity and labor practices likened to slavery. Congress should act
on Northern MarianasRep. George Miller, D-Calif., has introduced a bill to raise the minimum wage in the Northern Marianas to the federal level, institute federal control over immigration and require garment manufacturers to comply with federal labor laws. Hawaii Reps. Neil Abercrombie and Patsy Mink are among the 25 co-sponsors.
The Northern Marianas were formerly part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. They became a U.S. commonwealth in 1976 after the people approved that status in a plebiscite. As a commonwealth, the islands have limited autonomy but are still under U.S. control.
Complaints about employer mistreatment of foreign labor have been heard for years. Two years ago an official of the Interior Department's Office of Territorial and International Affairs told a meeting organized by Hawaii Filipino leaders that the reported violations of human rights in the Northern Marianas "have no place in a place that flies the U.S. flag." The official spoke in Honolulu en route back to Washington from an inspection trip to Saipan, capital of the Northern Marianas.
Miller charges that the human-rights violations continue in the islands despite criticism by Congress and federal agencies. He says, "These workers are not free." His bill has the support of Filipino organizations in Hawaii. Filipinos comprise the largest group of foreign workers in the islands, but there are also workers from China, South Korea and Japan.
A bill to federalize the Northern Marianas' minimum wage passed the Senate last year but died in the House. Miller's bill is worthy of support in view of the inability of the commonwealth government to deal with the problem. These abuses need not and should not be tolerated because the Northern Marianas have commonwealth status.
HAWAII'S Japanese-American community is mobilizing to commemorate the impact of its members on the building of Hawaii, before that history fades away or is forgotten. Organizers are trying to raise funding for a traveling exhibit that will debut at the Bishop Museum in October, then make its way around the world. Its focus is on teaching youngsters about the history of Japanese Americans in Hawaii, from early plantation life to modern-day times, but should instigate young people of all ethnicities to ponder their roots. Historical perspective
HAVING imposed economic sanctions against Burma for its abuses of human rights, the Clinton administration would like some support from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Founded in 1967 to promote regional economic, social and cultural cooperation, ASEAN is comprised of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It is expected to admit Burma, Cambodia and Laos this year. Appeal to ASEAN
Washington feels it can't afford to antagonize China but isn't worried about Burma. The ASEAN countries, small by comparison with the U.S., seem to feel they can't afford to antagonize anybody.
Rupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor
