KOROR, Palau — In Hollywood's version of Palau's human rights story, the wise, courageous and omniscient American hero (played by Gregory Peck way back when) would have enlightened terrified islanders to overcome their cowardly fear and prejudice, and do the right thing: Be just, be kind, be compassionate and welcome 14 immigrants to start a new life in Palau. In reality, the American is the small-minded coward trembling in his flip-flops and pulling his hair out over an irrational and paranoid fear that tourists are as ignorant, cynical, immoral and corrupt as he is. From politicians to pastors, wise and compassionate natives are trying to help terrified American dive shop owner, Sam Scott, to overcome his fear, his prejudice and his loathing of 14 Chinese Uighurs cleared of terrorism charges, released from Guantanamo and on their way to Palau. Frightened of the Uighurs and paranoid about imagined threats to Sam's Tours, a small dive shop business, Sam has been fomenting hate amongst hotel and tour business owners saying the Uighurs threaten Palau's image as a tourist-friendly "paradise" where happy-go-lucky natives paddle off into a Muslim-free sunset. Sam, who ironically said nothing when Palau ruined its eco-friendly image by partnering with Japan to block marine sanctuaries and aggressively push for an end to the ban on commercial whaling, claims that tourists – he doesn't say how many – have been canceling their reservations with Sam's Tours because they also fear and hate the Uighurs. "I've received e-mails that said specifically, 'We are canceling and looking elsewhere because of the Uighurs,'" Sam told reporters. For dive shop owner Sam, who touts his tours at annual dive trade shows, life is a simple equation defined by confirmed tourist reservations; more reservations are good, fewer reservations are bad, cancelled reservations are worse than a case of dengue fever, another worrisome aspect of a holiday in Palau that apparently doesn't fit well with the "paradise" theme. Wiser heads prevail For at least one local diver, the equation is much more complicated. For Johnson Toribiong, the president of Palau who earned a law degree from the University of Washington and helped write Palau's constitution, the world is defined by higher principles: by justice, morality, human rights and freedom. "We were advised if (the Uighurs) returned to their homeland they would be tortured or even killed," Toribiong says. "Our acceptance of the request was to advance the course of justice. These people were caught between a rock and a hard place. It's not only just, it's morally right." Toribiong, who often free dives on Palau's reefs in his free time, said that some people are ignorant about the Uighurs but emphasized that community leaders, including powerful village chiefs, unanimously back the decision. "It's not only just, it's morally right," says Johnson Toribiong, Palau's president, who blames ignorance for hostility against the Chinese Uighurs. While dive shop owner, Sam Scott, foments fear and hate, wiser heads in the tourism industry believe Palau's support of justice and human rights will boost the island nation's image among travelers around the world. | | Trembling in his flip-flops and pulling his hair out: mouth-foaming, ignorant, anti-Uighur American dive shop owner, Sam Scott of Sam's Tours. Palau president, Johnson Toribiong, and local community leaders say fear of the Chinese Uighurs stems from ignorance, and contrary to Scott's anti-Muslim, fear-mongering rhetoric, they believe the decision to accept the Uighurs will boost Palau's international image and benefit its struggling tourism industry. Put another dollar in Unconvinced and visibly alarmed, Sam says Palau is a place to put another dollar in, not by promoting human rights and justice, but by promoting fairy tale images designed to seduce tourists. "Palau's image is important to us in the tourist industry," says Sam. "I think we are making a mistake here...leave well enough alone," he added. New start But Palau Baptist Church Pastor Terrence McClure echoed the President's comments saying that it is important for everyone in Palau to prepare for the arrival of the Uighurs and make them welcome. "Palau is a place to find a new beginning," McClure says, "a place for a new start." |
