In a telephone interview last night, former Rep. Tina Sablan, one of the organizers of Friends of Marpi, said they are “definitely considering” a TRO.
Attorney David Banes, who launched the online petition against the Marpi poles, brought up the idea two weeks ago, saying it was one of the legal actions that could be taken.
Sablan said Banes has been discussing the idea with the Attorney General’s Office.
Sacred site
Meanwhile, the House Committee on Natural Resources will look into the controversial installation of power poles in Marpi as soon as it discusses it with the administration’s Capital Improvement Project Office, Rep. Joseph M. Palacios said.
Palacios, R-Saipan and chairman of the committee, said he supports the cause to preserve what he describes as Saipan’s “sacred site.”
“We all know that the Marpi area is considered a sacred ground. It has a lot of history behind it. There are lots of war deaths there and memorials honoring those who lost lives during the war,” Palacios said in an interview on Friday.
He said agencies involved in the project should make changes to their plan.
What the Friends of Marpi are fighting for is something his committee can address, he added.
“I need to check with those behind this project. Who knows what else are they planning to do in future,” he said.
Sadog Tasi resident Suzy Kindel, in an email, said her degree and career was in tourism and that she specialized in tourism development.
“Therefore, I have a great interest in our primary tourist attraction: Marpi, a national historical landmark. This area must be preserved and development must be curtailed if Saipan wants to continue to benefit from its number one industry: tourism. This historical site is a popular destination for both tourists and residents to sightsee, bike, hike, swim, walk and run.
“The installation of poles in Marpi to provide power to a cemetery is yet another step towards destroying our key natural attraction. Previous actions include developing the landfill/dump in view of all visitors to the top of Suicide, the unused shrine building in Banzai, and a temple with a house.
“Although I question the need for any power, there are viable alternatives for providing electricity to the cemetery. This power pole project must be stopped now before incurring the cost of adding the wires.”
