Pagan Watch, a violation of your rights and mine

At the cornerstone of freedom lies every American’s First Amendment right to express their opinions. The willful abuse of the same right, however, is an abuse of power—the power of the written word.

In his latest Letter to the Editor, Mr. Peter Perez, the voice of the Pagan Watch, has now resorted in desperation to such abuse, inciting others with allegations against myself, my company, and most damningly, the people who support Azmar International throughout the CNMI. Such allegations are indeed vile and contemptuous. Mr. Perez employs cruel and malicious characterizations and outrageously slanderous lies repeated over and over again as every petty propagandist must in order to be believed. I’ve turned a deaf ear to less malevolent accusations in the past. I am unwilling to do that any longer.

Exactly who is “Pagan Watch?” Just like the website, “Saipan Sucks,” Pagan Watch hides behind an illusion of reality existing primarily in the realm of cyberspace. There are two people this “entity,” Peter Perez, a resident of San Francisco as “the voice” and Cinta Kaipat, a local labor hearing officer, as “president.” Yet Pagan Watch posts no incorporation status, no board of directors, physical address nor telephone number. By contrast, since the late 1980s, my name, address, and home telephone number have been on file at your Representative’s office in Washington DC, at HPO since 1998, and my resumé, including those of Azmar’s senior members and its legal counsel (to whom all proper complaints can be addressed), on file since 2002 at MPLA and the local corporation commission.

Mr. Perez, like so many self-appointed guardians of the common good, find it easier to create their own “facts” than seek out the truth. Case in point: Neither Mr. Perez, nor any member of Pagan Watch or its affiliate Chamorro.com (“a public service of Chamorros in San Francisco”) has to date, spoken, written, or in any way communicated with me or any person in any way associated with Azmar. Following my attendance at this year’s June 25th MPLA board meeting, I handed out dozens of business cards with my hotel room number written on the back, indicating where I could be easily reached. I was on-island for 16 day. Only one man bothered to contact me. Only one man…a man who spoke out against Azmar weeks before on June 25, had the depth of character and true commitment to his people to invite me to his home and with family and friends, sit down with me and understand Azmar’s “Pagan Island Resettlement and Pozollan Extraction Project.” That man was Pete Castro. At the following MPLA board meeting on Aug. 13, Mr. Castro spoke in favor of Azmar. (Pete’s wife is Cinta Kaipat’s sister). Together with Peter Aldan, a man I’ve never met but who I understand is also a member of a family from Pagan, these are gentlemen of the utmost character who have neither asked nor received anything from me. I fail to see how Mr. Perez and Ms. Kaipat can claim they speak for all the displaced Northern Islanders?

Who else cares enough about the people of the CNMI to actually do their homework and find the truth? Senators Mendiola and Crisostomo certainly do. Officially tasked with the responsibility by the CNMI legislature, Joseph Mendiola undertook the challenge of heading the investigation into Azmar International with a measured dose of zeal and skepticism, bringing with him to Arizona not once but twice Sen. Luis Crisostomo, chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development, a man steeped in high-end business and finance. I’ll never forget my first meeting with these two gentlemen. I felt like I’d been sent to the principal’s office. Luis, in particular, sat at the far end of my conference table, arms crossed, stubbornly determined to punch holes in all that was said. Following several opportunities to talk and debate the specific points with Azmar’s Jeffrey Finley, Greg Whitehorn, Amjad Abullhallah, our support team of experts, myself and yes, several Chamorro brothers who will be the senior on-island management staff (if and when Azmar ever receives a permit), we were able to not only satisfy the questions and concerns of these two very stubborn senators, but win their friendship as well. These are two noble men of the highest possible character and integrity of which all indigenous peoples in the NMI should be very proud of. Again, neither of these men have asked nor received anything from me. To imply otherwise is demonstrative of the type of treachery Pagan Watch employs.

Of these attacks led by Mr. Perez and Ms. Kaipat against your elected officials who have taken the time to put Azmar under the miscroscope, the most vile and contemptuous are those targeting Senator Adriano. To publicly ridicule a man who has given so much for so long to his people for standing up for what he knows is in the best interest of all is nothing less than the act of sniveling coward. I have never met nor have I ever in my life even spoken with Senator Adriano.

Most reasonable people know that it is easy to tear something down. Building something of quality and integrity that lasts over the years, that’s another thing altogether. You’re right, Mr. Perez. To build something like that doesn’t take a character like me. It takes a character like me surrounded by men and women of vision, competence and maturity, all willing to lend a hand. Who else tool a good hard look at Azmar and liked what they saw?

Feb. 19, 2004: Gov. Juan N. Babauta wrote to then MPLA director Hofschneider, “I have reviewed Azmar’s proposal and I find it to be consistent with my plans for diversifying our economy and providing basic infrastructure for the eventual resettlement of the Northern Islands.”

Feb. 19, 2004: Fermin M. Atalig, then Secretary of Commerce wrote, “We feel that Azmar International Inc has the potential in fulfilling our duty of stimulating economic growth and diversification.”

July 29, 2003: acting MPLA Commissioner Vincent T. Castro wrote, “The MPLA remains committed to what we discussed in our teleconference of Feb. 6, where we tentatively agreed that a long term lease of 20 years be considered instead of a 24-month Temporary Authorization permit.”

Sept. 17, 2002: Valentin Taisakan, Mayor of the Northern Mariana Islands wrote: “I am delighted to inform you that the Northern Islands Municipality is in support of your proposed project and look forward to its expedient implementation.”

All of these people are wrong, Mr. Perez, and you and Cinta are right, is that correct? When you were growing up, do you remember the kids in the schoolyard who spread lies about you in an attempt to make themselves more popular? Which ones hid behind the fence throwing stones only to point the finger at you for the atrocities they committed? What deeply disturbed people like these never understand Mr. Perez, is the fact that they are not only hurting those they target, but themselves by destroying the reputation and quality of life in their own neighborhood. One of the key lessons I took from those years, Mr. Perez, is this: If you don’t respect your elders, at the very least you should listen now and again to what they have to say. It tends to save a young fool from looking like an old one.

Kenneth James Moore
Azmar International