Chants of “No build-up! No war!” and “Free, free, Palestine!” rang out as activists from Marianas for Palestine, Prutehi Guahan, and Commonwealth670 interrupted a Department of Defense meeting on Saipan. The meeting was part of a series gathering public input on the CNMI Joint Military Training proposal, which includes live-fire ranges, a base camp, communications infrastructure, and a biosecurity facility on Tinian.
They voiced their strong opposition regarding the proposed military training expansion in Tinian, citing further militarization in the Marianas.
Salam Castro Younis, who is of Chamorro-Palestinian descent, says the military expansion is tied to broader global conflicts.
“More militarization isn’t the answer,” Younis said.”We don’t need to lose more land. Diplomacy and peace are the way forward, not more bombs.”
Another Saipan-born activist Anufat Pangelinan echoed those concerns, linking militarization to environmental degradation and climate change.
“We don’t want to be subject to a war we don’t advocate for,” Pangelinan said.
The groups argue that the CJMT could make Tinian a target and increase regional tensions.
