SONFRONTA TION
LOOMS
Negotiations have continued for over
C years on a “Compact of Free Association”
dich will give the Pentagon evervthing it
‘;ires in the way of bases including ex-
“usive responsibility for the security and
-ense of the islands for 1UuG years.
The
‘xpact will require only a majcrity of
ates for approval, but one subsidiary agrec-
ut allowing the introduction of nuclear
.capons and other hazardous materials will
cguire approval by 75 percent of the voters
cause it modifies their constitution. A
1.€ tine rental payment of just $5.5 million
“er 15 years plus scanty aid for development
-=
being offered to entice the voters.
PRNTAGON PLANS FOR BELAU ARF FOURFOLD.
‘rst is the naval port in Malakal Harbor
ich is expected to be a forward base for
.© new Trident missile firinz submarines.
e Strategic location, the ready access to
ep water anc, most important, an isolated
vt small population to deal with make Belau
ideal place for Tridents to hide.
But
ne islanders are concerned ebout the high
oimé rate and moral decay which surrounds
‘}itary installations.
They also worry
at dredging a new entrance through the
ixrier reef which protects a dazzling array
. sca life would upset the delicate under‘ster balance so critical to their survival.
Second is 30,000 acres of Babeldaob,
née largest island, for jungle warfare
raining.
That is 27% of Belau's land area.
lief is that this would be a CIA project
v train counter-insurgency troops of Asian
‘etators whc provide a favorable climate
at American business; similar to the
school of the Americas" in Panama where
necial forces of repressive South American
-pones are drilled.
Third is joint use of the airports on
sbeldaob and southernmost Angaur.
The
-beldaob airstrip will likely be a base for
apanese anti-submarine warfare (45W) plane:
‘ich the Pentagon could allow under the
.pact.
Such use was mentioned in a 193%
- Collece description of the joint U.S.san Micronesian Pacific Defense Force
‘TCPAC) and Japan has ASW reponsibility
er that alliance.
Japan is currentiy
img 45 P-2C Orion subchasers from Lock-
Continued from Page 3
need and has
only half of
very well be
arrangements.
MICPAC bases
“
announced basing location for
them. The other half could
planned for Belau under MICPAC
Target date for determining
is 1982.
Fourth and last are two weapons storage
Sites on Babeldaob totalling 2,000 acres to
Stockpile the nuclear, chemical-biological
and conventional munitions needed to support
the bases.
A plebiscite to accept or reject the
Compact could take place next year. Ina
previous constitutional election $100,000
was provided by the Trust Territory High
Commissioner as routine operating expenses
to help pro-military supporters conduct
political education.
On one occasion three
shots were fired into the “People's Committee" office but no one was hurt. Still the
people remained firm in their resolve for a
Nuclear free constitution.
There are ominous signs of more violence
to come.
Last February che "Galaxy-10" --
registered in Panama -- sailed
into Belau with
a crew of four.
Local fishermen suspected
smuggling and alerted the police who obtained
a search warrant for dope.
Instead, accorGing to reports from Belau, they found M-16
rifles, ammunition and hand grenades along
with surveillance equipment and $1 million
in U.S. currency. U.S. officials removec
the boat and its crew and nothing has been
heard since. Speculation on this is frightenins.
Belauans are adamant that their land
remain an undisturbed sanctuary but Pentagon
In the past, the
interests are strong.
United States has not demonstrated much
patience with small governments that oppose
[1 Salvador is a striking
its policy.
example. Will that be the fate of tiny
Belau? The only hope for the Belauan people
is a massive tide of public opinion supporting their determination to remain free.
(Robert Aldridge is a widely published
defense analyst who recently visited the
Republic of Belau.
He workéd for 16 years
with Lockheed as an acrospace engineer deve-
loping nuclear warhead missiles.)