<home> -- <press releases> -- <October 2 , 2003>

Guam War Claims Review Commission to Hold First Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 2, 2003 – Washington, D.C. –  The Guam War Claims Review Commission will hold its historic first meeting tomorrow in the Office of Insular Affairs of the Department of the Interior. This five person panel includes Retired Chief Justice Benjamin J. Cruz, Speaker Antonio R. Unpingco, the Hon. Robert J. Lagomarsino, Ruth G. Van Cleve, and Mauricio J. Tamargo.

The Commission will be responsible for (a) determining whether there was parity in war claims paid to the residents of Guam under the Guam Meritorious Claims Act as compared with awards made to other similarly affected United States citizens or nationals in territory occupied by the Imperial Japanese military forces during World War II (b) advising on any additional compensation that may be necessary, and (c) submitting a report to the Secretary of the Interior, the Committee on Resources and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the committee on the Judiciary of the Senate.

"Tomorrow will be an historic moment in a process that has been a priority on Guam for many years. Guam Delegates Antonio Won Pat, Ben Blaz, and Robert Underwood have all played important roles in supporting war reparations for Guam and I am proud and honored to continue their legacy in this cause." Bordallo said. "This Commission will help bring closure to a difficult chapter of Guam's history."

Contact: Neil Weare in Washington, D.C., at (202) 225-1188 or Joaquin Perez in Guam at (671) 477-4272.