Let`s get Bonaire on the UN list of Non-Self-Governing Territories
Our Vision
On Friday, November 27, 2020, the Foundation We Want Bonaire Back officially launched its undertaking: the re-enlistment of Bonaire on the UN list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. This project will be commissioned to an executive committee consisting of different organizations. During a virtual press conference at Captain's Don Habitat, president of the foundation Mr James Finies presented the results of the investigation titled “Bonaire Assessment of Self-Governance 2020” that forms the basis for the project. Further, Mr Finies presented the members of the executive committee. These are Mr Aljano Emerenciana of 1 Union di Pueblo, Mrs Suzy Thode of Union Revolution Boneriano, Mr Robby Beukenboom of Frente Sosial Progresivo, Mrs Davika Bisessar of Bonaire Human Rights Organization, Mr Sedney Marten, citizen, and Mr James Finies of Foundation We Want Bonaire Back. A declaration was signed by all to officialize the cooperation. Assessment of Self-Governance The report “Assessment of self-governance in conformity with internationally-recognized standards: Country Bonaire” is the most important tool on our trajectory to get on the list of the United Nations. Dr Carlyle Corbin, founder and principal analyst of the Global Dependency Studies Project that carried out the investigation for Bonaire explained the indicators that they used and highlighted the principal conclusions. Corbin: ”The assessment is an independent tool to investigate the power relation between a political jurisdiction and another country. The intention of the assessment is to determine that the government agreements between the political entities meet international standards of full political equality, necessary for full self-government under international law.” To realize the assessment, we have worked on this for two long years, as the people, also in Curacao and Aruba, donated $1, $2,$10, $100 and more in numerous fundraisings, radio-tons, barbeques, raffles, and donation drives.,. All contributed to raising the USD 30,000.00 to make this assessment financially possible. This recent development further received support from different persons outside of Bonaire. By video, they gave their message of support. Mr Nel Janga of Club Boneriano in Curacao said that he is concerned with the situation of Bonaire and that it is not what the island has chosen as a relation. Mr Ben Whiteman, of Pueblo Soberano and ex-prime-Minister of Curacao, put forth the problem that he calls “the democratic deficit”. This implies that Holland always has the majority in taking decisions. The only way is if you walk the path via an independent organ and in this case since Holland is one of the co-founders that should be the United Nations. If nothing happens, the future of the Bonerians will be very dark. Bonaire will become a paradise for Dutch-Europeans, and the Bonerians will be allowed to serve them Ex-minister of Justice of Aruba and vice-president of COPPPAL, Mr Rudy Croes, indicated that the situation of Bonaire fills him with sadness. “All people are guilty that it got so far”, he said, “It is a shame that we have permitted Holland to abuse our brothers in Bonaire and it is a good step the Foundation We Want Bonaire Back want to re-list Bonaire on the list of non-self-governing territories of the United Nations.” With this letter, we hope to keep you informed about our struggle for a democratic and autonomous Bonaire, free of the colonial activities by the Netherlands and we ask for your support in our struggle.
For more information view The Dependency Studies Project.
James Finies historic presentation United Nations C24
James Finies June 22 2016 made a historic presentation and publicly addressed the Special Committee of Decolonization C24 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York denounced the Dutch violation of the right to self-determination of the Bonaire peoples.
What is a Non-Self-Governing Territory?
Under Chapter XI of the Charter of the United Nations, the Non-Self-Governing Territories are defined as "territories whose people have not yet attained a full measure of self-government”. The General Assembly, by its resolution 66 (I) of 14 December 1946, noted a list of 72 Territories to which Chapter XI of the Charter applied. In 1963, the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (also known as the "Special Committee on Decolonization" or the "C-24") approved a preliminary list of Territories to which the Declaration applied (A/5446/Rev.1, annex I). Today, 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories, as listed below, remain on the agenda of the C-24. Member States which have or assume responsibilities for the administration of such Territories are called administering Powers.
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