‘No US military reps in Tinian events’

Due to an apparent disagreement, no representatives from the U.S. military, particularly the Guam-based Commander Naval Forces Marianas will be attending today’s 60th commemoration of the Atomic Mission to Japan on Tinian.

Phillip M. Long, who heads the Tinian Mayor’s Office organizing committee, yesterday confirmed that, “COMNAVMAR is not supporting the event.”

“It disappoints all the veterans that are here,” said Long.

He said that while COMNAVMAR agreed to allow the Tinian government to use the military-controlled Northfield, a World War II runway used to launch the B-29 planes that dropped the atomic bombs in Japan 60 years ago, it sent no representatives to the commemoration rites.

“They didn’t send us someone to speak. The rear admiral is not here. The rear admiral’s representative is not here. The color guard is not here. The band is not here,” said Long.

He claimed that he has no idea why COMNAVMAR would ignore the event.

Long also declined to say if it has something to do with the local government’s decision to bring atomic bombing survivors during the event.

Critics earlier said that holding exhibit about the effects of the bombing and having the survivors speak on the horrors of the bombs would embarrass the U.S. side.

“I don’t really know what’s their (COMNAVMAR) issue. They’ve never given us the opportunity to explain what the event is so I don’t know how they are making their decision on not attending the event,” said Long.

Saipan Tribune had contacted COMNAVMAR office on Guam yesterday for comments but no resource person was available.

Local sources said that COMNAVMAR had initially decided to close Northfield from the event but reconsidered following negotiations with some local officials.

Long said yesterday that Gov. Juan N. Babauta would also skip the Northfield event this morning “because of COMNAVMAR.”

He did not elaborate.

Press secretary Peter A. Callaghan said the governor will be able to attend the Tinian events in the evening.

Callaghan said the governor has confirmed his attendance to the annual Tournament of Champions funding event today since months ago.

The group donates hundreds of thousands of dollars to the CNMI through its annual funding raising event.

“He made a commitment months ago that he would participate in that. It’s a two-day event but he will only take part in one day so he could go to Tinian in the afternoon. He will meet with U.S. veterans and Japanese,” said Callaghan.

Callaghan also said that COMNAVMAR office relayed its regrets that the newly assigned admiral could not make it to Tinian.

“I spoke to his [admiral] executive officer who said COMNAVMAR has another commitment and ‘he regrets that he could not be here but he is with us in spirit’,” said Callaghan.

Meantime, Long said that his office formally invited COMNAVMAR office for Tinian events in “June 2004.”

Earlier, Enola Gay pilot Gen. Paul W. Tibbets and his crew canceled their plan to attend Tinian’s peace ceremonies.

The team, who flew to Saipan and Tinian in 2004 for the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Saipan and Tinian, was previously reported to have agreed to grace this year’s Tinian activities.

The Tinian government said the Enola Gay crew would not be able to come mainly for “health reasons.”

“All of the crew of the Enola Gay would not be able to come. Actually Gen. Tibbets was very willing to come. It’s just that his doctors stopped his visit. I believe Mr. Jeppson who is in his 80s was also stopped by his doctor because of his condition,” said Council executive director James M. Mendiola in an earlier interview.

An e-mail from Tibbets’ family that reached the CNMI said “the surviving Enola Gay crew and family members have informed me they all respectfully decline the invitation to attend the 60th anniversary activities.”

Both Long and Mendiola have admitted that they received heavy criticisms for their plan to bring in atomic bombing victims during the event.

But they said that the intention is never to stir up bad feelings among U.S. veterans.

“We’ve come into a lot of criticisms this year because we’re featuring the Japanese Hibakusha and not the survivors, for example, of the Bataan Death March, comfort women, etc. We went to a lot of controversies. But what we say is these people are here to share their experiences so that people can realize what happened. These are the only victims of the bomb ever in the history of the world,” Mendiola said.

Two Hibakusha from Hiroshima—85-year-old Keijiro Matsushima and 75-year-old Fumiaki Kajiya—and one from Nagasaki—85-year-old Kiyoshi Nishida—are on island to participate in the commemoration.

They have gone to Saipan and Rota to share their experiences with the local residents.

The 10th Tinian Municipal Council spearheads the Japanese commemoration event while the Tinian Mayor’s Office handles the U.S. Veterans activities.