Guam governor asks CNMI’s forgiveness for vote vs unity

Guam Gov. Felix P. Camacho has asked the Commonwealth’s people for forgiveness for Guam’s vote against reintegration with the CNMI back in 1969.

“As the governor of Guam and on behalf of my people, I ask for forgiveness for the rejection that happened in 1969. This is not the first time that I’ve asked for it, it is actually the second time,” Camacho said.

The governor of Guam said that a couple of years ago, while on island to participate in the National Day of Prayer, he had asked for forgiveness from the people of the CNMI for what had happened. He said he believes it’s “absolutely necessary because we just cannot let the bitterness transcend from one generation to another.”

The people of Guam voted against reintegration with the CNMI on Nov. 4, 1969. One theory behind the rejection is that it came as a pay back to the Northern Marianas Chamorros for their assistance to Japanese forces during the occupation of Guam. Another theory is that the reunification issue “simply lost its significance when compared to the pending election of the first governor of Guam, which was scheduled to take place the following year.”

In 1970, the late Carlos Garcia Camacho, who is Camacho’s father, became the first governor of Guam to be elected by its people. Before that he was an incumbent governor appointed by then U.S. President Richard Nixon.

According to Camacho, “never once in my lifetime, did my father nor my mother spoke on the issue of war and how it related to the vote in 1969. Never did they bring up resentment against the people of Saipan. In fact, it’s only during my lifetime when I became governor did it really become apparent.”

He said he wishes his father is still around to tell him what had happened, and what was going on with the people on the two separate islands at the time.

According to history, the vote against reintegration did not put the issue to rest. On March 10, 1970, the Northern Marianas Legislature passed another resolution asking the United Nations to give the Northern Marianas the right to reintegrate with Guam.

On Feb. 19, 1971, an additional resolution was passed informing the United Nations that the Marina Islands District would secede from the rest of Micronesia, with or without U.N. approval and by force of arms if necessary, unless the Northern Marianas were given the authority to negotiate their political status directly with the United States.

During the pre-dawn hours of the following day, the Halls of Congress of Micronesia building on Saipan was set on fire.

Camacho said the most fundamental aspect to reunification is forgiveness.

“Forgiveness is a choice. Not an option. And as a people, we need to make this choice. When we forgive we are not just doing it for the other person, we’re doing it for ourselves. When we hold on to ‘unforgiveness’ and hold on to grudges, all we’re doing is building walls of separation,” Camacho said.

He added that many people who hold on to grudges think they are only protecting themselves. “But truly they are not. They are simply shutting people out of their lives—they become isolated alone, warped, and imprisoned by their own bitterness,” said Camacho.

He advised: “You must tear down the walls, you must forgive the people who hurt you, so you can get out of prison. You’ll never be free until you do so and let go of those wrongs they’ve done to you.”

According to press secretary Charles Reyes, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial “enjoys a very close working relationship with Governor Felix Camacho and respects his views.”