US Military Wants Entire Island for Special Forces Training

The US military has set its eyes on Pagan, an island in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) for special forces training. Sources say, the US military wants the entire island so that it can shell the northern end.

However, the CNMI government has plans to resettle the island. It hopes to draw people to the island by issuing as many as 88 permits for agricultural homesteads. According to various reports, applications for dozens of 5,000 square-meter lots are being accepted.

Marianne Concepcion-Teregeyo, the Acting Department of Public Lands Secretary said this is their first step in getting Pagan resettled. "Pagan is a very special place for many of our residents, and it is only fitting that we issue agricultural homesteads.

The US military said Pagan is a critical element and it is 'not officially occupied'. It stated they were keen on the island because existing military property in Northern Tinian is inadequate for the full range of training the military and its allies require. It has to 'use both islands'. Moreover, the training proposal states that the federal government would seek to acquire a real estate interest for the entire island of Pagan from the CNMI government. "The northern part of Pagan would be used for high-impact bombardment and the southern part would be used by military special forces who would land by sea or by helicopter.

Valentno Taisacan, an administrative officer, said moving people to Pagan will affect the military's plan to take over the island. Taisacan said resettling the island is an ongoing effort.