Topic: Determining the Legitimacy of Secession Movements and Obligations of Parent States
Country: Panama
Delegate Name: Marlena Gray
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Panama position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
When conflict within a country arises, both the parent state and the seceding state feel their rights should be protected. The Special Political and Decolonization Committee is in charge of protecting these rights. This is important for Committee IV to discuss because we decide who gets what land, what resources, whether or not the secession is legitimate, to determine the obligations of parent states, and implement framework which ensures sustained economic growth and amiable political and economic relations between both parent state and the seceding state in the immediate aftermath of independence. These issues need to be resolved to keep peace.
The topic is not currently an issue within Panama, but would like the UN to protect seceding state’s rights. Panama, being once apart of Columbia, and the Spanish Empire. After its independence from Spain on November 28, 1821, modern-day Panama became a part of the Republic of Gran Colombia which consisted of today's Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, and Ecuador. The separation of Panama from Colombia was formalized on 3 November 1903. On November 18, 1903 the United States Secretary of State John Hay and Philippe-Jean Bunau-Varilla signed the Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty. No Panamanians signed the treaty although Bunau-Varilla was present as the diplomatic representative of Panama. The treaty was later approved by the Panamanian government and the Senate of the United States. In 1846 a treaty between Colombia and United States was signed. In the treaty the United States was obliged to maintain "neutrality" in Panama in exchange for transit rights in the isthmus on behalf of Colombia. In March 1885 Colombia thinned its military presence in Panama by sending troops stationed there to fight rebels in other provinces. These favourable conditions prompted an insurgency in Panama. The United States Navy was sent there to keep order, in spite of invoking its obligations according to the treaty being signed in 1846. Panama has not currently made any efforts to support seceding states internationally, but wants their rights protected by the United Nations. Panama supported the Vienna Convention on Succession of States in respect of Treaties in 1978.
Panama would like to see the United Nations protect the rights of seceding states and of parent states. In addition, Panama would like countries to determine the obligations of parent states, and implement framework which ensures sustained economic growth and amiable political and economic relations between both parent state and the seceding state in the immediate aftermath of independence.
