Cing made the statement even as the U.S. Supreme Court already asserted that the commonwealth ceded its right to its submerged lands when it entered into a political union with America in 1976.
The former senator said the disputed 200-mile exclusive economic zone or submerged lands are the indigenous people’s rightful inheritance from their forefathers, thus, they should have full control and not just over a three-mile zone.
Nonetheless, Cing said he is grateful to CNMI Congressman Gregorio “Kilili” Sablan for pushing the passage of H.R. 934 in the U.S. House of Representatives but reiterated that the submerged lands actually belong to the islands.
H.R. 934 empowers the CNMI to have control over a three-mile zone of its submerged lands, the same privilege given to Guam, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Cing, who lost to Sablan in the historic 2008 congressional election, acknowledged the first CNMI delegate had done so much for the islands despite the short period of time that he has been in Washington.
But he said so much must still be accomplished.
For instance, Cing said the hundreds of locals who are currently serving the U.S. military in different battle zones around the world, should be given more protection.
Cing said if the U.S. is successful in giving freedom to people suffering from tyrannical rulers like those in Iraq and Afghanistan, American territories like the CNMI, which are in dismal economic state, should not be forgotten.
“The U.S. should help the CNMI more,” he said.
The U.S. House of Representatives recently unanimously passed H.R. 934. The bill is expected to get the same favorable action from the Senate once it is placed for a vote on the floor.
