by Matteo Incerti

Honolulu - The Hawaii Islands start to fight one more time, in a peaceful way for independence from Washington, that invaded and annexed it in a illegal way between 1893 and 1959. In this interwiew Kekula Crawford, one of the top international representatives of the Hawaiian independence movement, explains the reasons of the inhabitants of these group of Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Q: Lately Native Hawaiians and the Independence Organizations celebrated the illegal 100 years of annexation by the U.S.. Do you think this manifestation was successuful?

A: First, this was a centennial commemoration of the illegal annexation. What was manifested was a "celebration of survival." Success is achieved each time our people come together and move closer to their collective goal of freedom and justice. Success is had through the development of clearer understanding of their right to this freedom and the recognition of the illegality of the manipulated annexation process. Greater success will come through the manifestation of what is mobilized after this activity.

Q: What do the native and all inhabitants of Hawaii think of the independence issue?

A: Humanity in general has something called a "heart" and overall, "truth" resonates with the majority of mankind. The inhabitants of Hawai`i hear the call for independence as a "truth" that rings clearer and clearer as we uncover more and more of the abuses experienced through U.S. colonial oppression. This causes them to grow closer to the integrity of the situation. An expanse grows between truth/freedom and neocolonial domination. You eventually stand on one side or the other.

Q: Does the Native Hawaii movement has a Provisional Government ?

A: We live in this provisional world of transition. There are provisional elements all around the movement as our people try their best to organize some semblence of legal mechanisms to cause the return of their country. I would say that we have a collective provisional body which will become a strong political force to be reckoned with this year. That body will seek recognition through our already established treaties with over 20 UN members. This provisional organism and period is necessary to provide a foundation for these things to occur.

Q: On the 30th of July a UN report suggested to return Hawaii to the list [of Non-Self-Governing Territories under Article 73 of the UN Charter] as a "colonized country". This is an important step, but you have to legally fight a lot now. What are your next steps ?

A: I delivered a paper to the UN Special Committee of 24 on Decolonization during the special session of 1996 in Antigua-Barbuda. During this week I met with committee members informally. The opportunity to request reinstatement on the list exists and that is a fact. But the correct step towards independence will perhaps be found through another door. I find the recent news very amusing as it placed a small pebble beneath the typically unoccupied seat of the U.S. in the C24. But legally, the fight is very simple - it is just a matter of our people organizing within a common objective through some sort of federation or political group to make it happen.

The report is a good tool now to be referenced in our work. The final report will not be concluded for another year. Hopefully it will bring forth the treaties with member states and the violations of another nature... very interesting time to live in. My next step is to try and organize once again into a collective.

If the annexation was illegal, then the being placed on the list in the first place was also illegal and an abuse of a country in treaty. An act of war. A crime against peace. A violation of a treaty... the core principle of international law and the law of nations. In this case over 30 of them. Our case is still to be dealt with in its full form and understanding. It is unique and will be a shock to the world community of nations.

Q: Do you think that a kind of "lobbying" with motions and resolutions in all Parliaments and Governments of democratic countries could work to put pressure on the U.S. Government ?

A: Yes, of course. The lobby efforts with other countries is imperative towards our international recognition. Working not only with the other bodies through their parliaments or government bodies but also directly with their cabinents, their legal consul and their foreign relations due to our treaties. And for those new states to the world community, there is a great deal to gain due to our very viable geographical and ecomonic strengths in the Pacific.

Q: The U.S. is against an independent International Tribunal for War Crimes and Genocide and is together in these issue with communist country like China. How do you comment these position?

A: Why should we be surprised that they would not wish to become accountable to their criminal activity beyond what they can control? The UN often is a forum for these countries to develop a sense of transparency and it isn't enough. In the domestic realities of each, these crimes are violent and disturbing. I venture that both risk their entire government if they were to become accountable to the world community of humanity. Studying the Nuremburg principles gives one the idea that there is a legal mechanism to hold individuals accountable to their actions, accountable to pulling the trigger and ordering that the trigger be pulled.

This could be lifesaving to the future children of our planet... everyone needs to keep working at it. Just because they oppose doesn't mean change cannot be had. Eventually. If you keep believing.

Q: A lot of U.S. people say Hawaii would be a too little of a state to be independent... what you reply ?

A: I think otherwise...

ALOHA!

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