Pacific

US has a moral obligation to grant war reparations: Guam governor

13:32 pm on 11 July 2011

Guam's leaders are renewing pressure on the United States to provide compensation for losses suffered by the people of Guam during the Second World War.

A succession of bids by the US territory's Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo for federal recognition of war claims has met with continual resistance from the Senate.

On Thursday a House subcommitte is holding a war claims hearing as well as accepting written testimony for inclusion in the hearing record.

The deputy press secretary for Guam's governor, Eddie Calvo, says despite dwindling numbers of war survivors the claims issue is still very important for Guam's people.

Phillip Leon Guerrero says compensation doesn't have to be monetary.

"Governor Calvo has always said that this is a moral obligation of the United States and reparations can come in many different forms. There was talk at a recent community form held by Governor Calvo on this issue about maybe instead of trying to look for monetary compensation there could be a more brick and mortar solution, for instance the construction of a memorial hospital, things like that."

The Guam governor's deputy press secretary, Phillip Leon Guerrero.