McNinch was invited to present a paper at the Caribbean Regional Seminar, concerning the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism from May 31 to June 2.
Pangelinan, Speaker Judi Won Pat and Ed Benavente of the “Colonized Chamoru Coalition” wrote to Francisco Carrion-Mena of Equador, chair of the Committee of 24 on Decolonization, regarding McNinch’s role at the seminar, all stating that McNinch does not represent the people of Guam and their quest for political self-determination.
“Despite the legally settled doctrines that recognize and affirm that the right of self-determination is a right belonging to the native peoples of the non-self governing territories, Mr. McNinch advocates otherwise, which is detrimental to the exercise of self-determination on Guam,” wrote Pangelinan.
Won Pat described McNinch in her letter as “a self-proclaimed political expert on this important subject.”
Pangelinan wrote that he was unaware of McNinch’s “expertise” and would not endorse his representation of the people of Guam.
Pangelinan further wrote that McNinch “has continually advanced the position that decolonization can be accomplished outside of the norms of international law and the processes recognized and supported by all parties that have signed on to the declarations of the United Nations, including our Administration Authority, the United States.”
McNinch, in his presentation, said “the native Chamorro people had several concerns related to land ownership and control, war reparations, and the right to determine Guam’s future, given that there was no Chamorro voting registry.”
But Pangelinan said a Chamorro voting registry does exist.
For the purpose of “decolonization,” he added. “Chamorro” is not defined as a race, but rather a “condition” or “status.”
