A media frenzy has besieged the tiny South West Pacific Island of Saipan, long known for labor and immigration abuse. The Japanese reporters are in a furry over the extradition demand for Japanese businessman Kazuyoshi Miura by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to NMI Governor Ben Fitial, an old friend of Jack Abramoff and John Doolittle. Miura is represented by Saipan attorneys Mark Hanson, Bruce Berline, Bill Fitzgerald, and Hollywood defender Mark Geragos.
I read that you have made a demand of the CNMI regarding extradition of Japanese businessman Kazuyoshi Miura. We are happy to know that you are aware of the US Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, or as former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tom Delay called us, "the Petri dish of capitalism".
People here did not know you were aware of our Governor, Ben Fitial, former garment executive and friend of Jack Abramoff and disgraced California Representative, John Doolittle. Are you also aware of our disturbing past and the plight of our enslaved workforce? I will update the situation.
It is a well-documented fact that greedy Saipan garment owners lured indigent third world workers to Saipan with promises of opportunity and a better life in America. They targeted non-English speakers that had never been afforded an education so their future workers would have no ability to communicate the dire situation or represent themselves against ghastly abuse, branding them the unheard. Colluding with a few crooked NMI lawmakers, the garment gangsters monopolized our tiny island’s infrastructure and created labor and immigration laws that denied workers their most important freedom — the ability to quit and/or change employers. Workers were financially controlled with textbook factory town strategy. Behind spiraling wealth, the garment industry here turned full blown organized crime whose power and influence even controlled voting in the U.S. Congress and so arrogant that they openly bragged of their absolutely untouchable status. Financially handcuffed, workers lived in fear, afraid to speak, afraid to quit, and afraid to stand. Mainland Americans living here stood silent; some from proprietary conflicts, some from apathy, but I suspect mostly from fear, especially relating to jobs and contract renewals. America hung her head in shame concerning the plight of abused workers here.
Last week, Governor Fitial and other Saipan lobbyists claimed to have spoken with "friends" in Washington DC to block federalization of CNMI immigration and labor and to freeze the minimum wage here at 3.55 per hour until 2015, although they have refused to confirm who those "friends" are. It is difficult to imagine a US Congressperson supporting a lobby effort from Ben Fitial, the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, or HANMI (hotel association), given their close association with organized crime. Make no mistake Governor, this is the same issue and the same people that were involved with the Abramoff scandal starting 13 years ago.
December 7, 2007, Saipan workers held a Unity March to protest PL-15-108 (nicknamed the Island Slave Law) and the participants nearly equaled the voting populace, unfortunately, many of the marchers are disenfranchised from voting booths and jury boxes. This situation has heightened due to our economic collapse. The Unity March and workers have been completely dismissed by our big business controlled legislature. Workers have little or no representation. A general strike, named A Day of Sacrifice, is headed for Saipan on the near horizon to protest this horrific situation.
We are glad you are aware of the plight of workers in the CNMI. Many in your family are legendary defenders of human rights and for upgrading the standards of workers in America. We respectfully ask you, as Governor of the great state of California, to join us in support of decency and justice here and ask for your help to assure the democratic principles and values of America are upheld on US soil.
Very respectfully,
Ron Hodges
US History teacher
Marianas High School
Island of Saipan