114 the Contemporary Pacific • 18:1 (2006) Samuel F
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114 the contemporary pacific • 18:1 (2006) fied number of workers still remain It has exhibits covering the pre- on Saipan looking for new employ- invasion civilian Japanese community, ment, payment of back wages, a the invasion itself, and the achieve- ticket home, or a combination of ment of commonwealth status. It these. The federal Office of Insular salutes both Japanese and American Affairs kicked in $100,000 for tempo- combatants, as well as the indigenous rary relief but not for repatriation of people caught in the cross fire. It has these workers. been very well received by veterans, The lieutenant governor, along with tourists, and locals. In addition to the newly appointed economic develop- exhibit itself, there is a small theater ment special adviser Richard Pearce, where visitors are encouraged to formerly the director of the Saipan watch a twenty-minute video on the Garment Manufacturers Association, invasion, and a well-stocked book- lobbied the US Congress to amend store and souvenir shop. tariff regulations applying to garments samuel f mcphetres manufactured in the Marianas. The proposed amendment would require 30 percent of value added to be sourced in the Marianas, rather than Republic of Palau the current 50 percent. According to Palau experienced an especially busy the proponents of this amendment, year from July 2004 through June this would allow the factories to 2005. Major events included Palau’s remain competitive, since they would magnificent performance as host of be allowed to bring in precut fabrics the Ninth Festival of Pacific Arts; the and only add labor to reach the 30 seventh national elections; a local percent value added. airline that flew and then collapsed; A substantial increase in the num- overseas interest in megaprojects; the ber of people receiving food stamps beginning of a constitutional conven- indicated the declining state of the tion; and an international sports fest. economy. In December 2004, there Magical, memorable, best ever, were 6,058 recipients in 2,038 house- fantastic, overwhelming, and unprece- holds. Of these, 52 percent were dented were some of the adjectives Chamorro, 20 percent Carolinian, used to describe the Ninth Festival and 14 percent Filipino, with all other of Pacific Arts, locally known as groups accounting for the rest. All of “Bestibal,” which was held 22–31 them, of course, had to be US citizens July 2004. Representatives of twenty- or Green Card holders. seven Pacific Island countries and A brand new visitors center opened territories as well as three Asian in the American Memorial Park, just nations engaged in nonstop feasting, across the street from the Garapan dancing, singing, storytelling, art and tourist district. Designed and operated literature demonstrations, musical by the National Park Service, it pro- performances, symposia, films, and vides a highly professional, visitor- concerts. It was an amazing cultural friendly, interactive experience of exchange that enlivened Palau and Saipan during the invasion of 1944. made Palauans proud as hosts. As political reviews • micronesia 115 President Tommy E Remengesau Jr ous, down-to-earth Chin, who took remarked, “The nation has come 71 percent of the vote (6,919 votes) together. This is the true nature of to her 29 percent (2,812 votes). Chin Palauan culture when it comes to began his campaign early, about two national events and national respon- years before the election, while Pieran- sibility.” tozzi was questioning whether she President Remengesau easily won should challenge Remengesau or reelection in November. For second concentrate on reelection to the vice spot in the executive, assertive and presidency. The 2004 race was the ambitious one-term Vice President third time in seven national elections Sandra Sumang Pierantozzi was that the winning vice-presidential defeated by retired US Army officer candidate gained a greater number of Camsek Elias Chin. Both winners votes than the victorious presidential campaigned hard. During the race, it candidate. It was the first time that was rumored that money from both an incumbent vice president failed to Taiwan and the People’s Republic of regain office. China was going to the presidential In the race for the 25 National candidates, Remengesau and Polycarp Congress seats, Palauan voters refused Basilius. Although disavowed by the to put women in either the Senate (9 two candidates, the claims are consis- seats) or the House of Delegates (16 tent with reports about Taiwanese seats). The niece of former President money going to presidential candi- Kuniwo Nakamura, Imelda Naka- dates in the Marshall Islands and mura-Franz, was the top woman Kiribati (Norris 2004, 20). On the finisher with 3,102 votes in the Senate vice-presidential front, Chin did not race, but that was more than 1,100 hold any fundraisers but relied on his votes behind the ninth-place man. personal finances and some donations, However, at thirty-five years of age, as did Pierantozzi. Nakamura-Franz should be a viable The presidential race involved a future contender. Surprisingly, four wealthy, experienced politician com- incumbent senators were replaced by ing out of retirement to challenge a business and social leaders: Alan Seid, youthful incumbent. Basilius used Alfonso Diaz, Santy Asanuma, and the Internet, media, and money, but medical doctor Caleb Otto. The began his campaign late, whereas members of the House of Delegates Remengesau had superb grassroots represent rather small constituencies organizing, a clear message, and raw —oddly called “states”—that range energy. Remengesau won by a sizable from 349 to 4,583 registered voters. margin, taking 66 percent of the vote Generally, competition for office in (6,494 votes) to Basilius’s 34 percent the states is a matter of who has the (3,268 votes). Pierantozzi, despite the larger number of relatives. This means advantage of being the incumbent, there is little turnover in House mem- allowed uncertainty, tardiness, and bership from election to election. In overconfidence to weaken her chances 2004, just one incumbent lost, of regaining office. She was soundly another won by just one vote, a third defeated by the very energetic, seri- by just eight votes, and a fourth by 116 the contemporary pacific • 18:1 (2006) nine. In three states, the incumbent sons who left their ballots blank on ran unopposed, reflecting the villages’ this question. This was also the case desire to avoid divisive competition. with all the initiatives and indicates As in the past six national elections some confusion on the part of a (the first of which was held in 1980), sizable minority of Palau’s voters. voter turnout was high, some 76 per- Both before and after the national cent for 2004. Besides choosing candi- election, the National Congress and dates, voters had six constitutional Remengesau found other issues to dis- issues to tackle. Five issues had been agree on. The first debate concerned strategically maneuvered onto the important details in the oil bill, which ballot by President Remengesau Remengesau argued must attend to through a voter petition drive that the environmental and socioeconomic garnered the required 25 percent, impact of oil-well drilling and include and a sixth was placed there by the a spill mitigation plan, insurance, and National Congress. This had elements limitations on a proposed national of shrewd politicking. The voters gave energy authority. He said he was Remengesau most of what he sought opposed to any “super agency” that by approving four of the five constitu- would take on regulatory functions tional initiatives: dual citizenship, a for which it had no legal basis, capac- three-term limit for members of the ity, or expertise (TBN, 10–17 Sept National Congress, a requirement 2004, 15). On the last day of 2004, that the presidential and vice-presi- the National Congress passed a joint dential candidates run on a joint resolution supporting oil exploration ticket, and a requirement that con- north of Kayangel Atoll in the so- gressional members be given a uni- called Palau North Block. The dead- form fee in compensation for each line to drill an exploratory well is day they attend an official session. 15 May 2006. The only company Remengesau’s initiative calling for a interested in prospecting is Palau one-house legislature failed by a few Pacific Energy Inc, whose real corpo- votes when five of Palau’s sixteen rate identity remains unknown. states turned it down by narrow Second, the constitutional amend- margins (for example, Angaur went ment requiring uniform compensation 150-yes to 152-no and Ngaremlengui for members of the National Con- voted 205-yes to 210-no). In addition, gress passed, but the congress and Palau’s electorate approved a con- Remengesau took months to get stitutional convention (ConCon) to agreement on this issue. The pay issue review the 1979 document. Not to be was highly controversial, and, accord- outmaneuvered by the president, the ing to former House Speaker Antonio National Congress placed the call for Bells, Remengesau was the most a ConCon on the ballot. Remengesau appropriate person to introduce the opposed this effort, claiming it would legislation. In the exchange of propos- be politically and socially destabiliz- als, the president turned down retire- ing. The convention issue was ment pay for congress members, but approved by 53 percent of the voters, in mid-March he finally signed uni- although this count included 844 per- form compensation legislation allow- political reviews • micronesia 117 ing them to be paid a maximum of top bill author with twenty-two of his $50,000, or $500 for each of the one bills becoming law. The best the hundred required sessions during National Congress could do was six 2005. each by delegates Tony Bells and Kerai Third, as this issue was being Mariur, and Senator Yukiwo Dengokl.