Human Security Agenda and Colonial Status (The Jakarta Post, 3 june 2008)

Human security agenda and colonial status

As we near the end of the second international decade for the eradication of colonialism, global politics remain focused on intra-state conflicts. Analysts argue that in many parts of the world, the primary objective of the Special Committee on Decolonization has not yet been achieved.

In this light the Special Committee should take a serious look at the prevailing problems and whether current goals are realistic. We are forced to look at new priorities for the next two years before the third decade begins.

There are at least 16 countries which remain under the protection of an administering power or have colonial status. Most are located in the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean. The majority are small countries in terms of size, population and economic capability. However, it is their basic right to become nation-states.

It is still relevant that we underline the words of former UN secretary general Kofi Annan: “… We should pledge our solidarity with each other in the fight against colonialism and in the struggle for economic and social development.” This implies that the main responsibility of the administering power is to facilitate the involvement of the administered territory in the decolonization process, and not to delay progress toward self-determination.

The other main responsibility is to facilitate the overall development of the territory and its people. Economic and social development is the main challenge facing non-self governing territories (NSGT).

Many NSGT are now facing environmental problems due to their geographical location. NSGT are often small island developing states, facing serious challenges on how to achieve sustainable development, given population shortages, size and location, transportation and communication problems, environmental issues, natural disasters, dependence on imports, lack of natural resources and poor access to world markets.

More specifically, NSGTs have insufficient capacity to attain economic and social independence, even after they gain political independence. The lack of the former is frequently cited as a reason to delay the latter. It is the obligation of the administering power to strengthen the capacities of the NSGT in fulfillment of the human security agenda.

We have to bear in mind that the effort to “put people first” should be the main concern in the planning of the decolonization process. It means that adopting a bottom-up, local or grassroots approach to the security of NSGT is a must. This would be in line with the human security approach endorsed by UNDP that the administering power of a territory should ensure the meeting of basic human needs in the economic, health, food, environmental, personal, community and political dimensions of security.

The process of decolonization itself, to some extent — as many of us are aware — may create instability. It is imperative for the administering power to recognize that development is a precondition for security and that balanced economic development will help mitigate the potential incidence of conflict within the NGST during and after the self-determination process.

By putting the priority on human security in the process of self-determination, we can, at least, make sure the transitional process will go more smoothly. This is quite important since the transition may produce unstable and insecure conditions for local people, which may also lead to the threat or use of violence.

The human security agenda is therefore a strong foundation for innovative and focused policy initiatives for the further development of the NSGT especially in the post colonial era.

In order to avoid unnecessary instability before, during and after the process of decolonization, it is imperative for parties and stakeholders to work together under the policy coordination committee. It means that the ability to strengthen local civil society institutions should be endorsed in preparing the process.

The priority of human security in the transitional process not only needs to be addressed, but needs to be integrated into any meaningful development cooperation strategy involving all the stakeholders. When this goes wrong, it is of course the responsibility of the administering power and the committee to protect the interests of the people of NSGT.

Most issues on the human security agenda actually involve efforts to strengthen the role and resources of state institutions. Therefore activities around human security should be focused on the national level and involve state institutions.

This process should also involve the people. In this context, the administering power and the committee can help strengthen capacity building of the new state institutions and particularly in the civic society to help reshape the most appropriate relationship between the new state and its citizens.

By putting the human security agenda first and foremost as the main priority in the decolonization process we may not only help to ensure the absence of violent conflict or war but more positively can produce the basic conditions for a positive peace based on economic and social justice for the people of the NSGT. This is especially important for the people of newly born states.

To conclude, we are now facing the final years of the second decade for the eradication of colonialism. Numerous challenges remain with regard to the achievement of self-government of NSGT and the work of the special committee remains as relevant as ever. A climate of greater cooperation is still needed to achieve these objectives. This will take the world one step closer to the day when all forms of colonialism will be eradicated forever.

The writer is a professor in international relations, Parahyangan Catholic University, Bandung, West Java.