Time to recall

I have been intimately following the Pagan mining issue with a sense of urgency and deep concern for our islands to the north that our ancestors once freely journeyed to in fast, magnificent, flying proas of the time. I could only imagine the laughter and shouts of joy from the children aboard those fast-sailing handcrafted vessels as the islands majestically appeared before their curious eyes.

Last Sunday, during the 20th Annual Saipan International Fishing Tournament, I piloted my fishing vessel Nanami II heading north, bearing 000 degrees.

After several hours of trolling, Farallon de Mendinilla, a low-lying island, appeared at the starboard bow at 030 degrees. In the distance directly north, the two towers of Anatahan stood beckoning us forward. It was very hard to resist the island calling, like a grandmother with gentle and kind open arms beckoning a child to come forth and be comforted. Nevertheless, I saw the other half of the island appeared white and bare like a quarry or wasteland.

The large white, bare and desert-like part of the beautiful low-lying island is the result of years of bombing exercises conducted by our naval, air and marine forces without anything being extracted—taken away as would be done in mining. I thought to myself, if the beautiful small island of Pagan were mined it certainly would appear devastated. Of course, it could be replanted successfully but only with proper and timely management and control measures overseen by experts and years to heal.

There were so much being exchanged between the proponents and opponents of Azmar that I find it hard to hold back the avalanche of evidence I have carefully gathered for quite sometime now.

Strategically speaking, it would be to the proponent’s advantage to cause division and execute fierce and overwhelming tactics to defeat opponents swiftly and with the least losses. Even sweeter in victory is when we turn the natives against each other and confuse the facts with the natives’ assistance. How destructive it is when our own people turn against us for a small gain. How bitter it is when “outsider opportunists, aided and abetted by local agents, both blinded by the prospect of big profits and eager to convince public servants and their constituents of the benefits for the common good,” as Dr. Vicente M. Diaz so eloquently wrote.

To add insult to injury, proponents of strip-mining on Pagan accuse our people as being “emotional and unreasonable.” It is a very convenient and desperate defensive move. I urge our people, Chamorro and Refalawasch, especially those gifted and the likes of Dr. Vicente M. Diaz, to arm yourself with pen and paper and symbolically poke into the eyes of many unwilling to discern the machination and power of deception.

A very special thank you to Speaker Benigno R. Fitial and the members of the leadership, including the minority whip, for unanimously passing the lower house’s legislation that is now gathering dust in the Senate to allow for an assessment, initial studies to be conducted before any mining is done simply to discover and prevent potential adverse effects on Pagan and hopefully bring the most benefits to the people.

We need to take a stand and not yield to intimidation. This is easily achieved by arming ourselves with facts, the truth. Ken Moore spoke about the truth and that is exactly what he is going receive.

Let the facts speak. We support mining. Outsider opportunists with the help of our own local people created many obstacles themselves. The difficulties ahead are of their own making. I couldn’t help but think of a quote from the movie Cold Mountain: “They created the weather. Stood in the rain and complained. It’s raining!”

The present and future generations of NMI descents would know that we did not succumb to threats and intimidations by Azmar’s lawyers and supporters.

We will continue to exercise our First Amendment rights to express our views and discoveries based on facts, reputable evidences and witnesses. I admire your tenacity Kenneth Moore. Feel free to contact me through Speaker Benigno Fitial’s office. You can leave your number or email address.

I look forward to hearing from you directly.

Ray Mafnas
Matansa