Micronesia, a ‘pawn’ in air

Pacific Transport

Micronesia, a ‘pawn’ in air war between US and Japan

The people of Micronesia “are apparently being used as pawns in an air war” between Japan and the United States, says the Micronesian liaison office in Washington.

A press release, signed jointly by Washington Liaison Officer Leo Falcam and Northern Mariana Is lands representative Edward Pangelinan, deplored the failure of the United States to stick to its pre vious position that the question of the Saipan-Tokyo route should be considered first in the bilateral talks on aviation problems between the US and Japan which adjourned in Washington on April 8.

The US had adopted this position during bilateral talks in Tokyo last year. However, at this year’s talks, the US yielded to the Japanese de mand that the far-reaching seven point Japanese proposal should be dealt with as a package.

The release said; “It is partic ularly upsetting to the Micronesians that they are being sacrificed to the larger ambitions of the very two countries who have a special re sponsibility for the economic sur vival of Micronesia.

“As a result, Micronesia remains isolated from Japan, its economy languishing, and its tourist potential unrealised.

“The US appears unable or un willing to force the Japanese to live up to their commitments made eight years ago. The Japanese are am bitious for new air routes and show no concern for Micronesia.”

The two Micronesian rep resentatives suggested that in view of President Carter’s emphasis on restoring morality to US foreign policy “the least the US can do is'to insist that the Japanese honour their commitment to a people who over 30 years later still suffer the ravages of World War II”.

The release noted that even though Micronesians need econ omic improvement all they get is “delay” from the US, and that when

Micronesians negotiated with the US on status the talks were bugged by the US side as if they were “deal ing with a hostile enemy”.

In view of the severe impact on the Micronesian economy of the lack of an air service to Japan, the release asked, where is the “new morality” of the Carter admin istration?

Under the 1969 bilateral air transport agreement between the US and Japan, a US-approved carrier would operate the route between Tokyo and Saipan, as would also Japan Air Lines (JAL). President Ford approved Continental-Air Micronesia to operate the route in June, 1976. However, due to objec tions by the Japanese Government, the airline has not yet been able to start service.

The seven-point Japanese pro posal included an offer to Con tinental-Air Micronesia to start the service in June, 1977, on the basis of four flights a week, increasing to seven in October.

But and it was a very big but necessary airport accommodation for the airline’s planes in Tokyo would be made available by the Japanese for only two flights. The other two, and, after October, the other five, would have to find space through the courtesy of Pan American or some other US carrier

The Papuan Chief, the first of three container ships, after launching on March 31, 1977, at the Miho Shipyard, Japan. The Papuan Chief ordered by the Swire Group for charter to the New Guinea Australia line will operate between Papua New Guinea, The Solomon Islands and Australia from early July 1977.

Edward Pangelinan, of the Northern Mar ianas..., he deplores US action over air routes.

currently using the overcrowded Tokyo airport.

Other points made by the Japanese included a freeze on the number of US take-offs and landings at Tokyo at the level of 332 weekly, including the four offered from June to Continental-Air Micronesia.

Vice-president and general man ager of Continental-Air Micronesia, Mr Gene Massing, said the Japanese offer was in effect for two flights a week and was not a viable economic proposition for his airline. Nor did it satisfy the airline’s commitment that when it starts service it would provide flights to all the districts of Micronesia and the Northern Marianas.

“It seems the Japanese govern ment is trying to close the door to us,” said Mr Massing.

Mr Tom Roesch, of the US State Department’s Aviation Division, in a comment reported by Gannett News Service, said that considering Continental-Air Micronesia plann ed to use Boeing 727 jets, with a seating capacity of only 98 passengers, it seemed that the Japanese were pushing the overall issue a bit too hard.

“Not that much capacity is being offered to make the Japanese ner vous,” Roesch said.

Fiji Marine Court

Suspends Chief Officer

A Fiji marine court of inquiry has suspended the certificate of the chief officer of the Taoniu, Thomas Roudon, for 12 months. Roudon was on watch when the Taoniu hit a reef off Wakaya Island in February.

The court found him incompetent.

The court also found that the master, Captain Simon Osborne, was careless because he did not en sure, as master, that he had in his ship up-to-date navigational equip ment before leaving on the voyage.

He had a very old chart which did not show the existence of Makogai lighthouse.

Had Captain Osborne checked the chief officer’s belief of the posi tion of the Taoniu as he recorded on the chart, he would have discovered the error as the position entered by the chief officer was wrongly plot ted. Captain Osborne was rep rimanded. The court took into ac count his long years of service and unblemished record.