What did Mr. Babauta expect?
Did he want us the indigenous people of the land to just raise the white flag and say YES to everything that Interior demands?
I don’t think so.
Mr. Babauta needs to understand that the CNMI is in political union with the United States and that our Covenant states clearly that consultations must be made between the U.S. and our government and our people. Did Mr. Babauta and previous assistant secretaries do any of this? NO! Instead they gathered data from foreign temporary guest workers and used it as a basis for their personal agendas.
Since the drafting and passage of U.S. Public Law 110-229 the Department of the Interior sat back and watched our community fall apart.
Public Law 110-229 should have been carefully studied prior to its enactment. It’s never right to mix personal vendettas with policy.
To my fellow indigenous people of the land TAOTAO TANO: it is extremely important that each one of you join the May 29th peaceful rally being organized by members of our local community.
It is time to take a stand against Interior’s vindictive recommendation to the U.S. Congress. Interior failed to fully consult our government and our people. It is time that members of U.S. Congress fully realize and understand that our concerns and that of our future generations must be heard.
Remember that well over three years we have been protesting the intent of certain Interior officials who, we believe, have orchestrated and incorporated the granting of permanent residency or outright citizenship to foreigners in our homeland, which is U.S. soil.
All of you my fellow United States indigenous people of the land must also understand that our Constitution states clearly that we must defend our homeland from any foreign or domestic invasion.
We firmly believe that the federal government, particularly the Department of the Interior in collaboration with the federal ombudsman, promoted such an invasion and intrusion upon its own United States citizens.
Stand up and be counted my fellow TAOTAO TANO for your future and that of our future generations’ social and cultural well-being which is endangered and may result in our becoming a minority in our homeland. We must defend our rights as indigenous people of the land
BIBA TAOTAO MARIANAS!
GREGORIO CRUZ
Taotao Tano
