DOCSLIB.ORG

Hardship in the Federated States of Micronesia

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Hardship in the Federated States of Micronesia Priorities of the People HARDSHIP IN THE FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA September 2004 Asian Development Bank © Asian Development Bank 2004 All rights reserved This publication was prepared by consultants for the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in it do not necessarily rep- resent the views of ADB or those of its member governments. ADB does not guar- antee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any consequences of their use. Asian Development Bank P.O. Box 789, 0980 Manila, Philippines Website: www.adb.org Contents Introduction 1 Is Hardship Really a Problem in the FSM? 2 What is Hardship? 4 Who is Facing Hardship? 5 What Causes Hardship? 6 What Can be Done? 15 © Asian Development Bank 2004 All rights reserved This publication was prepared by consultants for the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in it do not necessarily rep- resent the views of ADB or those of its member governments. ADB does not guar- antee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any consequences of their use. Asian Development Bank P.O. Box 789, 0980 Manila, Philippines Website: www.adb.org Contents Introduction 1 Is Hardship Really a Problem in the FSM? 2 What is Hardship? 4 Who is Facing Hardship? 5 What Causes Hardship? 6 What Can be Done? 15 Introduction ardship and poverty in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) have not been viewed as important H national concerns until recent trends made them both Thirty percent daily issues at the household level. One of these trends is the poor performance of the economy. From 1995 to 1999 the average of households growth rate was a negative 3.9% per year. Since 2000 there has been some modest recovery with annual growth averaging 3.6% per year, were under the but there is a growing gap between rich and poor, and increasing numbers of landless or land-poor people. basic needs The 1998 Household Income and Expenditure Survey indi- cates that about 30% of households in the country had incomes poverty line below the estimated basic needs poverty line of US$768 per person per year. The highest level of hardship and income poverty was recorded in Chuuk at 32.9%, and Pohnpei at 29.5%. These house- holds were likely to experience some degree of financial hardship on a daily or weekly basis. To better understand the needs and views of those facing hardship in the FSM and develop programs to alleviate it, the government undertook a “Participatory Assessment of Hardship” People find it difficult to meet from late 2003 to early 2004. People from all sectors of society, their families’ needs 1 including the poor, were asked to describe poverty and hardship from their point of view and suggest priority actions to address their Widow with Eight Children, 50 Years Old concerns. Interviews were held at the household level, and focus group discussions and workshops were held with communities and “I am the second daughter of a big family’s home was very small for us, we Discussions at the national level. family of 10. My parents raised us in a decided to build a small lean-to for Three communities from each of the participating states small thatched roofed house. We used ourselves. were held with (Chuuk, Yap, and Pohnpei) were selected for the study to represent to sleep together with our mother and “We could not find jobs so we also ended up doing a little gardening, just both rural and urban areas, and various levels of access to services. A father under a big mosquito net. We always ate taro with grated copra. Most enough to feed our family. We have 8 people in 9 team made up of government and nongovernment representatives of the time we only ate two meals a day children who also grew up to live a hard consulted with about 350 people throughout the study, which because the preparation of the taro took life. We never had enough of anything, communities concluded with state-level workshops and a national workshop in several hours to cook. During breadfruit so most of our children also dropped out Pohnpei to validate the findings. The assessment was funded by season, we ate three meals a day. of school. My sons learned how to spear the Asian Development Bank (ADB). “My oldest sister, my oldest brother, fish and helped their father fish for our and I finished 6th grade. The rest of my food. Sometimes they sold them at the sisters and our second brother didn't market on Weno, if they were lucky we even finish elementary school due to our got about $50 from their catch. Then my mother’s death. She was in labor with husband died and my sons started going Is Hardship Really a our youngest brother when she bled to somewhere by themselves. I lost control death and didn’t survive. of them. None of them are able to help “Ever since she died, our lives me keep our family united. Problem in the FSM? became more miserable. Our father “I decided to start a small farm. The couldn’t take care of us. We older kids hardest part is finding transportation to had to quit school to take care of the bring the produce to sell in the capital. uring the participatory assessment, all communities younger ones. Our oldest sister got Sometimes I walk from my village to acknowledged that hardship is being experienced by married immediately after she turned 15 another village just to look for a boat. many families throughout the country. In the rural areas and moved away with her husband. Sometimes I can’t find one and then my D That left me with my oldest brother to produce gets wasted and rotten. and the outer islands, people find it difficult to earn the cash work harder with our dad. Our dad used Nowadays, my children go to our needed to meet the living expenses of their families. In the urban to make copra to earn a little money for relatives to eat whenever we don’t have areas, families with low incomes and limited access to subsistence our food, kerosene, soap, and clothes. food. After some time, my relatives agriculture find it extremely hard to maintain a satisfactory stan- We never had enough of anything. began to get tired of us. I wish very dard of living. “Then I met a young man who was much to have a bigger home and a boat People said they are facing an increasing need to pay cash for in high school and we got married. He for my children, to live in a good home and take my produce to the capital every store goods, food, utility bills, transport, education, and to make didn’t finish his education, but we wanted to get married. Because my time we have crops to sell.” contributions to community/social events and their church. Often traditional gifts are no longer enough, cash donations or purchased gifts are also expected. Frequently, even traditional gifts must be The personal stories in this booklet show that there are a purchased by households that no longer have the time or skills to growing number of people, particularly the jobless, youth and the make them. elderly, who are becoming worse off. Many youth find it difficult to The migration of people to state capitals and overseas is de- get the sort of jobs to which they now aspire; a traditional village populating some of the outer island and rural parts of the country. and subsistence agriculture lifestyle is no longer desirable. Condi- Those who remain tend to be the more dependent members of tions of financial hardship, while not widespread, are nevertheless society. At the same time, the increasing urban population is gener- leading to increased social and domestic tensions, rising crime, ating social tensions and increasing the numbers of those without increasing drug abuse and a deteriorating quality of life for those land. most affected. 2 3 including the poor, were asked to describe poverty and hardship from their point of view and suggest priority actions to address their Widow with Eight Children, 50 Years Old concerns. Interviews were held at the household level, and focus group discussions and workshops were held with communities and “I am the second daughter of a big family’s home was very small for us, we Discussions at the national level. family of 10. My parents raised us in a decided to build a small lean-to for Three communities from each of the participating states small thatched roofed house. We used ourselves. were held with (Chuuk, Yap, and Pohnpei) were selected for the study to represent to sleep together with our mother and “We could not find jobs so we also ended up doing a little gardening, just both rural and urban areas, and various levels of access to services. A father under a big mosquito net. We always ate taro with grated copra. Most enough to feed our family. We have 8 people in 9 team made up of government and nongovernment representatives of the time we only ate two meals a day children who also grew up to live a hard consulted with about 350 people throughout the study, which because the preparation of the taro took life. We never had enough of anything, communities concluded with state-level workshops and a national workshop in several hours to cook.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals of Pakin Atoll, Eastern Caroline Islands
    Micronesica 29(1): 37-48 , 1996 Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals of Pakin Atoll, Eastern Caroline Islands DONALD W. BUDEN Division Mathematics of and Science, College of Micronesia, P. 0 . Box 159 Kolonia, Polmpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941. Abstract-Fifteen species of reptiles, 18 birds, and five mammals are recorded from Pakin Atoll. None is endemic to Pakin and all of the residents tend to be widely distributed throughout Micronesia. Intro­ duced species include four mammals (Rattus exulans, Canis fami/iaris, Fe/is catus, Sus scrofa), the Red Junglefowl (Gallus gal/us) among birds, and at least one lizard (Varanus indicus). Of the 17 indigenous birds, ten are presumed or documented breeding residents, including four land birds, a heron, and five terns. The Micronesian Honeyeater (My=omela rubratra) is the most common land bird, followed closely by the Micro­ nesian Starling (Aplonis opaca). The vegetation is mainly Cocos forest, considerably modified by periodic cutting of the undergrowth, deliber­ ately set fires, and the rooting of pigs. Most of the present vertebrate species do not appear to be seriously endangered by present levels of human activity. But the Micronesian Pigeon (Ducula oceanica) is less numerous on the settled islands, probably reflecting increased hunting pressure, and sea turtles (especially Chelonia mydas) and their eggs are harvested indiscriminately . Introduction Terrestrial vertebrates have been poorly studied on many of the remote atolls of Micronesia, and distributional records are lacking or scanty for many islands. The present study documents the occurrence and relative abundance of reptiles, birds, and mammals on Pakin Atoll for the first time.
    [Show full text]
  • General Assembly Distr.: General 7 August 2015
    United Nations A/HRC/WG.6/23/FSM/1 General Assembly Distr.: General 7 August 2015 Original: English Human Rights Council Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review Twenty-third session 2–13 November 2015 National report submitted in accordance with paragraph 5 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 16/21* Federated States of Micronesia * The present document has been reproduced as received. Its content does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations. GE.15-13374(E) *1513374* A/HRC/WG.6/23/FSM/1 Acronyms AIDS Auto Immune Deficiency Syndrome CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women CPBR Child Protection Baseline Report CRPD Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability EpiNet Epidemiology Network FHSS Family Health and Safety Study FSM Federated States of Micronesia HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus IAC Inter-Agency Conference ILO International Labor Organization IOM International Organization for Migration MedEvac Medical Evacuation NWC National Women’s Conference OHCHR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights SDP Strategic Development Plan UNCAC United Nations Conventions Against Corruption UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFPA United Nations Population Fund VAW Violent Against Women WHO World Health Organization 2 A/HRC/WG.6/23/FSM/1 Background 1. The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is comprised of four major island groups totaling 607 islands in the North Pacific Ocean and forming four states in the federation: Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. 2. The FSM was colonized by Spain, Germany, and Japan in the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, and was administered as a United Nations strategic trusteeship by the United States of America after World War II.
    [Show full text]
  • IOM Micronesia
    IOM Micronesia Federated States of Micronesia Republic of the Marshall Islands Republic of Palau Newsletter, July 2018 - April 2019 IOM staff Nathan Glancy inspects a damaged house in Chuuk during the JDA. Credit: USAID, 2019 Typhoon Wutip Destruction Typhoon Wutip passed over Pohnpei, Chuuk, and Yap States, FSM between 19 and 22 February with winds of 75–80 mph and gusts of up to 100 mph. Wutip hit the outer islands of Chuuk State, including the ‘Northwest’ islands (Houk, Poluwat, Polap, Tamatam and Onoun) and the ‘Lower and ‘Middle’ Mortlocks islands, as well as the outer islands of Yap (Elato, Fechailap, Lamotrek, Piig and Satawal) before continuing southwest of Guam and slowly dissipating by the end of February. FSM President, H.E. Peter M. Christian issued a Declaration of Disaster on March 11 and requested international assistance to respond to the damage caused by the typhoon. Consistent with the USAID/FEMA Operational Blueprint for Disaster Relief and Reconstruction in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), a Joint Damage Assessment (JDA) was carried out by representatives of USAID, OFDA, FEMA and the Government of FSM from 18 March to 4 April, with assistance from IOM. The JDA assessed whether Wutip damage qualifies for a US Presidential Disaster Declaration. The JDA found Wutip had caused damage to the infrastructure and agricultural production of 30 islands, The path of Typhoon Wutip Feb 19-22, 2019. Credit: US JDA, 2019. leaving 11,575 persons food insecure. Response to Typhoon Wutip IOM, with the support of USAID/OFDA, has responded with continued distributions of relief items stored in IOM warehouses such as tarps, rope and reverse osmosis (RO) units to affected communities on the outer islands of Chuuk, Yap and Pohnpei states.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessing Pohnpei Land Use Plan and Implementation Strategy
    ASSESSING POHNPEI LAND USE PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY by Carrie A. Hall Internship Report Submitted To Marine Resource Management Program College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon 97331 1997 in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Acknowledgments I would like to thank the University of Micronesia and South Pacific Program for providing me the opportunity to work on Pohnpei and be part of this exciting project. I would also like to express my appreciation for all those I worked with on Pohnpei and who contributed to this project, especially my counterparts Emensio Emperiam and Charles Aiken and fellow technical assistants for all for their help, support, and making my stay in Pohnpei wonderful. A special thanks also, to my advisor Jim Good and graduate committee members Bruce DeYoung and Flaxen Conway for their help and advice with the writing of this internship report. Lastly, I would like to thank my family for their support and all my friends who made my time in Corvallis enjoyable. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION . 1 BACKGROUND 3 Physical Setting 3 History . 7 Social Setting 9 Population 9 Schooling 9 Family . 10 Religion 10 Social Setting 10 Political Setting 11 Economic Setting 12 LAND USE PLANNING AND ZONING IN POHNPEI 14 Previous Planning Attempts 14 Why Past Attempts May Have Failed and a Possible Remedy 15 Why Past Attempts May Have Failed . 15 Why Community Involvement is Needed 16 Types of Community Involvement . 17 A Possible Remedy . 19 Current Situation . 21 Organization and Initial Structure For Planning.
    [Show full text]
  • Polynesian Voyaging Society COPYRIGHT APPROVALS
    OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS DRAFT AND PENDING ANY OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS PHOTO Polynesian Voyaging Society COPYRIGHT APPROVALS. Paia Kāne Program Improvement Section Office of Hawaiian Affairs 560 North Nimitz Highway, Suite 200 Honolulu, HI 96817 www.oha.org OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS DRAFT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PENDING ANY Contents Over 40 years ago, a small group of visionaries, Herb Kane, Tommy Holmes, and Ben Finney, founded the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS), thus putting their dreams PHOTOinto motion begin- Executive Summary 2 ning with the Höküle`a , a double-hull canoe which eventually evolved into an internationally recognized symbol of Hawaiian culture and a reconnection to ancestral landsCOPYRIGHT via sailing voyages Introduction 4 to Polynesia. Purpose 4 The Polynesian Voyaging Society reintroduced the lost art of wayfinding byAPPROVALS. embarking on a series of long distance voyages starting with the construction of double hull ocean voyaging Scope 4 canoes. In 1975, the Höküle`a was built followed a few years later by the Hawai`iloa, and the Hikianalia in 2012. Polynesian Voyaging Society 5 Höküle`a as drawn worldwide attention since its voyage of rediscovery in 1976, retracing the routes of settlement used by Polynesian ancestors. Today, Höküle`a and its sister ship, Hikiana- OHA Sponsorship 5 lia, have chosen to not only promote Hawaiian culture, but to draw attention to the modern day problems that plague our Island Earth. Prelude to WWV 6 Their 2013 worldwide voyage is named Mälama Honua (Care for the Earth) and will cover a Funding 7 four-year span beginning with a training voyage around the Hawaiian Islands called Mälama Hawai`i with scheduled stops at 32 locations.
    [Show full text]
  • The Sons of Palulap: Navigating Without Instruments in Oceania
    RESOURCE FILE 1 of 2 Unit 1 - The Oceans: Historical Perspectives The Sons of Palulap: Navigating Without Instruments in Oceania Darkness fell as the rain of another line squall hissed across the tropical Pacific. The stars were smudged out. Our navigator, Piailug, ordered us to drop the sail of our 30-foot outrigger canoe, Suntory. White Horse, our partner canoe, followed suit, and we settled down to endure the chilly, wet night. Piailug estimated that we were just inside the etak of birds, the fishing grounds for seabirds from the island of Pikelot, our destination. There we drifted, waiting for morning, when the birds would fly out from their nesting sites and thus indicate the way to the island. Two days before, our little fishing expedition had left Satawal, one of the most remote of Micronesia's Caroline Islands. Our purpose was to catch sea turtles, fish, and octopus for the 600 hungry Satawalese. We were led by Mau Piailug, one of the last of the palu. These Micronesian navigators pilot hand-hewn canoes without charts or instruments, guided only by the sea's signs of land: stars, birds, and patterns of waves. Thousands of years ago Piailug's distant cousins, the Polynesians, probably used similar navigational techniques on their epic voyages of discovery to the Marquesas, Tahiti, Hawaii, Easter Island, and New Zealand. The Polynesians spread throughout the Pacific from the west in small sailing canoes like that shown opposite. (Map courtesy of Bernice P. Bishop Museum. Photo by author/The Navigators). RESOURCE FILE - Meanwhile in the Pacific - Where Did the Polynesians Come From? - Part 2 79 FOR SEA—Institute of Marine Science ©2000 J.
    [Show full text]
  • Rethinking the Relationship Between Christianity and Colonialism: Nan’Yo Dendo Dan, the Japanese Christian Mission to Micronesia from 1920 to 1942 Eun Ja Lee（李 恩子）
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Kwansei Gakuin University Repository 123 Rethinking the Relationship between Christianity and Colonialism: Nan’yo Dendo Dan, the Japanese Christian Mission to Micronesia from 1920 to 1942 Eun Ja Lee（李 恩子） This article is a revised version of a paper presented at the Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences in June 2012. Introduction The subject of this article arose from a request made to me by a friend in Hawaii, a Christian activist and former missionary in Asia now based in Hilo. My friend had been asked by a pastor in Chuuk about research relating to the Japanese missionaries in Micronesia between 1920 and 1942, known as the Nan’yo Dendo Dan. In fact, there are very few studies of Christianity in the area, and even fewer focusing on Nan’yo Dendo Dan. Of those that exist, almost none are in English, which inspired me to visit Chuuk, formerly known as Truk, in December last year. Some substantial studies of Micronesia were undertaken in the 1930s by Yanaihara Tadao and Paul Clyde, and almost half a century later Mark Peattie’s book N a n’ y ō: the Rise and Fall of the Japanese in Micronesia 1885-1945, became a standard text in area studies.1 In the past twenty years, in Japan, the study of Micronesia has increased as a part of immigrant studies, the study of economic relations, anthropological studies and colonial studies, but is still relatively limited.2 However, in order to get a full picture of 1 Tomatsu Haruo, Japanese Empire and the Mandate Control:International Politics on Micronesia 1914-1947, Nagoya: University of Nagoya,2011, p.7.
    [Show full text]
  • (SPREP) Compile and Review Invasive Alien Species Infor
    Report for the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Compile and Review Invasive Alien Species Information for the Federated States of Micronesia and its constituent states Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap March 2015 Shyama Pagad Biodiversity Data Management Ltd. Programme Officer, IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group 1 Table of Contents Glossary and Definitions ....................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Key Information Sources ....................................................................................................................... 6 SECTION 1 .............................................................................................................................................. 8 Alien and Invasive Species in FSM and constituent States of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap ...... 8 Results of information review .............................................................................................................. 8 SECTION 2 ............................................................................................................................................ 10 Pathways of introduction and spread of invasive alien species ....................................................... 10 SECTION 3 ...........................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Renewable Energy Development Project
    Project Number: 49450-023 November 2019 Pacific Renewable Energy Investment Facility Federated States of Micronesia: Renewable Energy Development Project This document is being disclosed to the public in accordance with ADB’s Access to Information Policy. CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS The currency unit of the Federated States of Micronesia is the United States dollar. ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank BESS – battery energy storage system COFA – Compact of Free Association DOFA – Department of Finance and Administration DORD – Department of Resources and Development EIRR – economic internal rate of return FMR – Financial Management Regulations FSM – Federated States of Micronesia GDP – gross domestic product GHG – greenhouse gas GWh – gigawatt-hour KUA – Kosrae Utilities Authority kW – kilowatt kWh – kilowatt-hour MW – megawatt O&M – operation and maintenance PAM – project administration manual PIC – project implementation consultant PUC – Pohnpei Utilities Corporation TA – technical assistance YSPSC – Yap State Public Service Corporation NOTE In this report, “$” refers to United States dollars unless otherwise stated. Vice-President Ahmed M. Saeed, Operations 2 Director General Ma. Carmela D. Locsin, Pacific Department (PARD) Director Olly Norojono, Energy Division, PARD Team leader J. Michael Trainor, Energy Specialist, PARD Team members Tahmeen Ahmad, Financial Management Specialist, Procurement, Portfolio, and Financial Management Department (PPFD) Taniela Faletau, Safeguards Specialist, PARD Eric Gagnon, Principal Procurement Specialist,
    [Show full text]
  • El Niño and Its Impacts on Federated States of Micronesia – Pohnpei And
    El Niño and its Impacts on Federated States of Micronesia – Pohnpei and Kosrae What is El Niño? The El Niño – Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a recurring climate pattern involving changes in the temperature of waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean and the patterns of sea level pressure, lower- and upper-level winds, and tropical rainfall across the Pacific basin. On periods ranging from about two to seven years, the surface waters across a large swath of the tropical Pacific Ocean warm or cool by anywhere from 1°C to 3°C, compared to normal. This irregular oscillation between warm and cool patterns, referred to as the ENSO cycle, directly affects rainfall distribution in the tropics and can have a strong influence on weather across the Pacific basin. El Niño and La Niña are the extreme phases of the ENSO cycle; between these two phases is a third phase called ENSO-neutral. ENSO-neutral: Under normal conditions strong El Niño in FSM trade winds blow from the east along the equator, pushing warm water into the western Pacific Ocean. Rainfall Less more at first, but then much less; longer and drier dry-season Trade Winds Less weaker, with occasional westerly winds Tropical Cyclones More increased risk, as more storms form closer to the islands El Niño conditions occur when abnormally warm Sea Level Less waters build in tropical region of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean and are usually associated with lower at first, then gradually recovering a weakening of the easterly trade winds, sometimes even reversing to westerlies.
    [Show full text]
  • Micronesia 2020 Human Rights Report
    MICRONESIA 2020 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Federated States of Micronesia is a constitutional republic composed of four states: Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. Individual states enjoy significant autonomy, and their traditional leaders retain considerable influence, especially in Pohnpei and Yap. In March 2019 national elections were held for the 14-seat unicameral Congress; 10 senators were elected in single-seat constituencies to two- year terms, and four (one per state) to four-year terms. Following the election, the Congress selected the new president, David W. Panuelo. Observers considered the election generally free and fair, and the transfer of power was uneventful. The national police are responsible for enforcing national laws, and the Department of Justice oversees them. The four state police forces are responsible for law enforcement in their respective states and are under the jurisdiction of the director of public safety for each state. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over national and state police forces. Members of the security forces were not reported to have committed abuses. There were no reports of significant human rights abuses. The government sometimes took steps to identify, investigate, prosecute, and punish officials, but impunity was a problem, particularly for corruption. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings There were no reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. In October 2019 Rachelle Bergeron, a U.S. citizen who was the acting attorney general for Yap State, was murdered in front of her home; observers believed it may have been related to her work as acting attorney general.
    [Show full text]
  • Japanese Southward Expansion in the South Seas and Its Relations with Japanese Settlers in Papua and New Guinea, 1919-1940
    South Pacific Study Vol. 17, No. 1, 1996 29 Japanese Southward Expansion in the South Seas and its Relations with Japanese Settlers in Papua and New Guinea, 1919-1940 1) Hiromitsu IWAMOTO Abstract Japanese policies toward nan'yo (the South Seas) developed rapidly in the inter-war period (1919-1940). After the invasion in China in the early 1930s, trade-oriented nanshin (southward advancement) policies gradually gained aggressiveness, as the military began to influence making foreign policies. Behind this change, nanshin-ron (southward advancement theory) advocates provided ideological justification for the Japanese territorial expansion in the South Seas. In these circumstances, Japanese settlers in Papua and New Guinea were put in a peculiar position: the emergence of militaristic Japan probably stimulated their patriotism but it also endangered their presence because they were in the colony of Australia－the nation that traditionally feared invasion from the north. However, as the Australian government continued to restrict Japanese migration, numerically their presence became marginal. But, unproportional to their population, economically they prospered and consolidated their status as 'masters'(although not quite equal to their white counterparts) in the Australian colonial apparatus. In this paper, I shall analyse how this unique presence of the Japanese settlers developed, examining its relations with the Japanese expansion in the South Seas and the Australian policies that tried to counter the expansion. Key words: inter-war period, Japanese settlers, Papua and New Guinea, nanshin, Australia Introduction The Australian civil administration was established in 1921 and inherited policies estab- lished during the military period. The administration continued to restrict Japanese migra- tion to New Guinea and also trading for several years.
    [Show full text]