Editorials
Monday, June 8, 1998

Assisting Micronesian
immigrants in Hawaii

THE United States captured the islands of Micronesia from Japan in World War II and administered them as the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Now the United Nations trusteeship has ended and the islands -- as the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau -- are semi-autonomous, under "free association" compacts with Washington.

Efforts to promote economic development on the islands have been largely unsuccessful. Government programs, paid for with federal funds, have been the main source of employment. But federal money is dwindling.

As the Star-Bulletin's Susan Kreifels reports, Hawaii is feeling the effects in the form of Micronesian immigrants seeking to escape poverty for a better life. The federal Department of the Interior estimates there are nearly 6,000 Micronesian immigrants in Hawaii and local officials think the estimate is low.

Governor Cayetano has told the Interior Department that there is a "startling rate of poverty" among the Micronesian immigrants, almost 40 percent below the poverty level. The governor wrote that, "We simply cannot absorb the extra costs of providing the social services and medical and financial assistance needed by such poor migrants," and asked for federal assistance.

The problem could become worse if federal funds for Micronesia are cut off in three years as scheduled. With the end of the Cold War the islands lost much of their strategic importance and with it the interest of Washington policymakers.

The Asian Development Bank has given the Federated States of Micronesia an $18 million loan but has required the government to trim its bureaucracy, leaving 1,000 employees jobless. Much the same has happened in the Marshalls.

State Rep. Gene Ward, a United Nations business consultant, warns that Hawaii will have massive migration from Micronesia "if we let these islands die on the vine." But he adds, "As we help stabilize their economies, we stabilize ours."

Hawaii is much larger in population and more advanced economically than the Micronesian islands and ought to help its Pacific island neighbors if possible. As Ward notes, such efforts would also benefit Hawaii. But with the state wrestling with its own economic problems, the prospects for substantial official aid are bleak.

There may be opportunities that the private sector could explore. Tourism is largely undeveloped in the islands and probably has the greatest potential. Fishing is another possibility.

Hawaii probably will have to continue seeking federal assistance to cope with the needs of Micronesian immigrants here. Hawaii's congressional delegation should also push for continued federal funding for the Micronesian states. But getting Washington's attention for this problem might be difficult.

No more open market

AT a time when businesses want to attract more foot traffic to their turf, Restaurant Row will be evicting one of its biggest magnets. At the end of the month, the popular open market operation -- offering everything from fresh vegetables, fruits and flowers to island crafts on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the courtyard -- is slated to be terminated.

The retail/office center's court-appointed receiver, Wendell Brooks, won't explain his decision to disappointed shoppers, tenants and about 25 vendors. But members of all these constituencies predict that Restaurant Row will become a ghost town during the day if the open market is discontinued. Market manager Art Frechette said vendors have collected about 1,000 signatures on a petition protesting the cancelation.

How bizarre that the row would nix an activity that draws shoppers to the area, that benefits employees who work there and that generates more activity for restaurants, shops and theaters there. Before shutting down the open market, Brooks should take a survey of tenants to get additional feedback on this decision.

Visit to Tiananmen

PRESIDENT Clinton intends to visit Beijing's Tiananmen Square on his trip to China this month despite a resolution passed by the House urging him to reconsider. He really has no choice.

The nonbinding resolution suggested that the president avoid Tiananmen, the symbol of the 1989 crackdown in which hundreds of pro-democracy demonstrators died, until China pledges that such atrocities will never happen again and agrees to release prisoners held for their political and religious beliefs. The measure passed 305-116.

Nobody expects the Chinese Communists to make such a pledge in the near future, if ever. However, the place where Clinton will be welcomed is adjacent to Tiananmen, outside the Great Hall of the People. He can't very well back out.

Presidential spokesman Mike McCurry, reaffirming Clinton's plans, added that, "The historical reality of what happened in June of 1989 in and around Tiananmen Square will surely be acknowledged in some fashion during the president's trip."

We're not so sure. The Chinese want to use the visit to demonstrate that the United States has closed the book on Tiananmen. Clinton will have to walk a fine line between playing the agreeable guest and acting as an apologist for the massacre.

The president also has to contend with critics who say he shouldn't go to China until congressional and Justice Department investigations are concluded. Those include the House inquiry into whether China illegally made campaign contributions, and one into allegedly improper transfers of U.S. missile technology to Beijing.

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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