Land wars over Guam’s militarized landscape – “I want my freedom”

Landowner and Chamarro chief Tony Sablan, himself a war veteran, told RNZ Pacific he had fought for 45 years to gain access to his land.
Photo: Eleisha Foon/RNZ

On Guam, the battle for land rights continues ahead of planned long-range missile tests in December.

The Missile Defense Agency now estimates the total number of potentially affected landowners down from hundreds to dozens.

Landowner and Chamarro Nation Chief Tony Sablan, himself a war-disabled veteran, told RNZ Pacific he has been fighting for access to his land for 45 years.

He said he was held at gunpoint by the military over the decades while trying to access his property and his “family lost over 2,000 acres of land in the name of the U.S. government.”

“It would be much easier if they withdrew their nuclear weapons, all their bombs and military forces and left Guam in peace,” he said.

Sablan said further restrictions on his beachfront property – once used as a day resort for Japanese visitors – remained unused.

“It is not being developed further because the military is restricting us in everything,” he said.

“They don't give us water or electricity. They block our streets whenever we want.”

Matthew Snubbs of the Guam Statistics and Planning Office said landowners can afford the disturbances, which are scheduled to occur eight days each year for the next decade.

“These are people with private beaches,” he said.

“We're not dealing with a poor neighborhood here. People aren't being forced out of their homes. The missile tests were essentially conducted in a location that would have the least impact.”

Sablan said that regardless, military expansion will also have an impact on the economy as a whole.

“Absolutely – it will be a deterrent to our economy. It's worrying. All we'll hear is 'bang bang bang, boom boom boom.' That's not a welcoming atmosphere for anyone.”

Santos does not believe that missile tests would deter tourists.

On Guam, the battle for land rights continues ahead of planned long-range missile tests in December.
Photo: Eleisha Foon/RNZ

“The Japanese and Koreans … who make up a large part of our visitor sector, are already used to it.”

RNZ Pacific asked a group of Japanese tourists vacationing in Guam the following question directly: “Will you still come to Guam if there are missile tests there?”

The answer was: “No, it can be dangerous.”

The governor of Guam said that despite opposition from some landowners, complete independence from the military was not an option.

She said Guamanians and Chammorros are not willing to give up their U.S. citizenship and said the people can be both Pacific Islanders and patriotic toward the United States.

Sablan disagreed.

“I want my freedom. I don't want American citizenship.”

“I would definitely give it up just to have respect for my culture, my people and my island.”

Landowner and chief of the Chamarro people Tony Sablan claims his family has lost over 2,000 hectares of land.
Photo: RNZ Pacific / Eleisha Foon