New UN chair calls for end to colonialism

| 24/02/2012

1633770_n_vir1_0.jpg(CNS): The newly elected chair of the Special Committee on Decolonization at the United Nations has called for new strategies to ensure the “final disappearance of the archaic concept of colonialism”. Speaking after his election at the committee’s first meeting for 2012 Diego Morejón Pazmino from Ecuador called for frank and sincere dialogue and a focus on economic and environmental considerations. The UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon spoke about “constructive involvement” between the committee, the administering powers and the non-self-governing territories.

The process of decolonization remains incomplete as there are still sixteen Non-Self-Governing Territories, ten of which are British, and 2 million people still colonised. Remaining on the list territories are Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Montserrat, Saint Helena, Turks and Caicos, United States Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, American Samoa, Guam, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Tokelau and Western Sahara.

“The Special Committee is in a position to develop innovative approaches and generate new dynamics,” said Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, on Ban’s behalf.  He added that the populations of the 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories on the United Nations list has suffered and continues to suffer from the financial crisis and climate change.  

The Special Committee elected its officers for the year: Diego Morejón Pazmino ( Ecuador) Chair; Pedro Núñez Mosquera ( Cuba) and Shekou M. Touray ( Sierra Leone) Vice-Chairs; and Bashar Ja’afari ( Syria) Rapporteur.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Category: World News

About the Author ()

Comments (12)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. WREX says:

    Would the British Empire just flex their diplomatic muscles and shut these idiots up.  If they don't have any colonies that's their problem, they should mind their own bussines and respect sovereignty.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Colonialism? Are these people living in some kind of time-warp? The remaining "colonies" are as about as far removed from the colonies of the past as I am from not having to dye my beard, for crying out loud! What utter nonsense.

  3. EYE ON THE ISLAND says:

    It is going to happen when Hillary Clinton leaves office in January. You can make book on it.

  4. Anonymous says:

    A vote, in recent years, in excess of 98% by the population of Gibraltar to stay British just goes to show what tripe this man is saying!

  5. Anonymous says:

    Pitcairn has a population of less than 70, can self governing really work there.

    And Western Sahara that accounts for over 25% of the 2 million listed is the poster child of what can happen from "decolonisation". Spain pulled out in 1975, and was immeadiately annexed by Morrocoand the UN has been powerless in assisting. But why should the UN care what happens as long as the evil colonialists pull out.

  6. Anonymous says:

    We the people of the Cayman Islands can tell them to speak for themselves, but they aren't going to speak for us.  We are a British Territory and we will remain that way.  My family are many generations Caymanian and we have no desire whatsoever to sever our ties with Britain.  And if we wish to remain a territory of the UK, that is our business, not the the UN's.  So thank you very much, but NO THANK YOU.  We are happy to be British and we WANT to remain that way.

  7. Anonymous says:

    So will Ecuador now relinquish control of the Galapagos Islands?

    I don't think so.

    And as for the other four members – Cuba, Sierra Leone and Syria. Hardly the pick of the bunch when it comes to democracy or human rights. In fact Cuba and Syria have no more right to be members of the UN than South Africa, based on the prevailing rules and excuses at the time, did under the apartheid regime. 

    UN hypocrisy strikes again.  

  8. Anonymous says:

    All you have to do is look at where the committee officers are from to see that this has nothing to do with so-called colonialism in the places named, most of which are tiny islands, many of which were uninhabited before the "colonizers" arrived. Every single officer is from a hell-hole in one part of the world or another. This committee's usefulness expired sometime in the 70's but the diplomatic gravy train is always difficult to stop.

    • Married to a Caymanian says:

      I agree and the last thing I want to see is our local politicians lining their pockets and another banana republic!  Sorry, but if the last decade has shown the Caymanian people ANYTHING it is that we should not leave the crown.

      Our stability lies with the UK backing period.  Anyone that thinks otherwise can sinply look at Jamaica's economy and their success when they went independent.  

      Don't rock the boat! and tell the UN to go back to sleep.

    • Anonymous says:

      You're right, my guess, their offices are in Stratsbourg…who wants to colonise the whole of Europe.

      Look at what they've done to Great Britian.

      My take on this , they envey most of these small colonies that are enjoying a high GDP. just leave us alone, and try to take care of your own people.

      We were doing damn great with our lives, before the European human rights act came in. The Emanciipation of Slavery was done back in 1862. Criminals were dealt with accordinaly. Immigration were not forced on nations.

      • Anonymous says:

        Actually the Declaration of Emancipation in the British Empire was made in 1833, long before it was abolished in the U.S. in 1862.