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Humanities is sponsoring the pro- dent Remengesau’s offering Palau’s duction of an electronic encyclopedia existing facilities as additional staging as part of a nationwide National areas for military operations. Endowment for the Humanities pro- In other international affairs, ject. It involves scholars from around Mr Remengesau hosted the second the world and will take four to five Micronesian Presidents’ Summit in years to complete. A second elec- late July. Joined by President Leo tronic /Internet project is the Micro- Falcam of the Federated States of nesian Journal of Humanities and Micronesia and President Kessai Note Social Sciences, which is sponsored of the Marshall Islands, the chief by the Northern Marianas College executives of the freely associated . Two editions states discussed a host of issues and of the journal have been published so released a joint communiqué at the far, providing outlets for scholars on end of their talks. The statement topics related to the Marianas, Micro- called for the continuation of open nesia, and Oceania; future issues will immigration to the United States and appear twice a year. requested technical assistance from The future prospects for the com- the United States in the area of secu- monwealth remain uncertain. The rity and anti-terrorism measures. World Trade Organization treaty A few weeks later, Remengesau led becomes operative at the end of a delegation to the Thirty-third Pacific 2004, probably resulting in the loss Island Forum meeting in Fiji. He pre- of a large number (but not all) of the sented two major proposals. The first estimated 33–35 garment factories called on the assembled nations to operating on Saipan. Increasing ease travel entry requirements for each security concerns related to world other’s citizens. The second initiative terrorism could result in dramatic called for greater support and prog- and drastic changes in the way the ress in adopting renewable energy commonwealth operates. Positive sources such as solar, hydro, wind, developments in tourism will depend and ocean thermal energy conversion. on revitalization of the industry Remengesau stated that his islands’ throughout the Pacific. total dependence on foreign sources samuel f mcphetres for fossil fuels diverted funds from much needed development projects. President Remengesau took on an activist role at the World Summit on Palau Sustainable Development that met in Reflecting their close ties with the South Africa in August and September United States, citizens of the Republic 2002. In a forum of 140 nations, he of Palau held a public ceremony to pushed his environmental agenda by pay tribute to the seven astronauts calling for greater support for expan- lost when space shuttle Columbia sion of renewable energy methodolo- disintegrated on its homeward jour- gies and expanded financing for sus- ney. In response to the Iraq war, the tainable development programs. He republic joined President Bush’s also persuaded the Association of Coalition of the Willing, with Presi- Small Island States, a subgroup in the 138 the contemporary pacific • spring 2004 summit, to include in its communiqué with Katsunuma City, Japan, for the key planks regarding the need for aging of the city’s popular wines in diversification in tourism and trans- Palau’s pristine lagoon waters. With portation sectors as primary elements preorders of some 15,000 bottles, this in sustainable development. At the could be the world’s cleanest source summit, both the European Union and of foreign exchange. Japan made commitments of funding The Swiss and New Zealand for renewable energy initiatives and ambassadors presented their creden- capacity building for sustainable tials early in the New Year. Also, development. Remengesau left South Remengesau appointed and the Senate Africa pleased that the summit’s “Plan approved Santos Olikong and Anita of Implementation” contained a chap- Suta as Palau’s ambassadors to Japan ter on the sustainable development and the Republic of the Philippines issues of the Small Island Developing respectively. Palau now has accredited States. This chapter focused attention ambassadors to the United Nations, on the serious problem of island vul- the United States, the Republic of nerability to global climate change China (Taiwan), Japan, and the and sea-level rise. Philippines. In March 2003, Remengesau met Remengesau was also busy signing with three other chief executives of agreements and memberships, includ- western Micronesia: Felix Camacho, ing a telecommunications agreement governor of Guam; Robert Ruecho, with Guam and Yap to connect the governor of Yap State; and Juan three jurisdictions by means of a Babauta, governor of the Common- fiber-optic cable estimated to cost wealth of the Mariana Islands. Meet- $60 million. He signed the UN World ing at Palau’s magnificent Dolphins Heritage Convention that provides Pacific Park, the men agreed to coop- technical assistance for the identifica- erate by having state groups examine tion and preservation of heritage sites. and report on nine key issues, includ- With Palau already a member of the ing regional tourism, a regional air- World Bank and the International line, health care, solid waste manage- Monetary Fund, Remengesau was, ment, fossil fuel costs, expanded at the end of the review period, work- shipping capacity, renewable energy, ing with the National Congress to find telecommunications, and improved funds to support Palau’s membership schools. in the Asian Development Bank. Such President Remengesau headed a membership will provide Palau with a delegation of Palauan leaders to the stronger voice in regional matters and Japan–South Pacific Summit in May. more effective diplomatic relations After the formalities, the delegation with Japan, the major donor to the visited several areas in Okinawa and bank. explored the possibilities of using President Remengesau’s biggest Japanese expertise for black-pearl international headache for the year farming and the eradication of insect was relieved in late April when some pests in Palau. Soon after this visit, 216 garment workers, mostly young Remengesau signed an agreement Chinese women, climbed aboard two political reviews • micronesia 139

Xiamen aircraft returning to the Peo- Congress, the Olbiil Era Kelulau ple’s Republic of China. In a scandal (oek) provided President Remengesau of major proportions, the owners of his greatest heartburn. During the Palau’s only garment factory, Orien- year, a majority of congressmen and tex, disappeared without a trace in the some former congressmen were under New Year, leaving the workers with- fire from the special prosecutor for out return air passage, with loss of illegal use of travel funds. In response, pay due to illegal wage deductions, the National Congress attempted to and owed at least five months back clip the special prosecutor’s wings by wages. The women had marched in eliminating the office and then recon- protest to Palau’s labor office and to stituting it under the ineffectual Ethics the president’s office, and they finally Commission. This move was con- took over Crystal Palace, a bar-restau- tained in a rider to the 2003 budget rant, before being physically removed law and thus put pressure on Remen- and placed under house arrest. The gesau. He vetoed the bill, but the workers’ protests got the diplomatic National Congress overrode his veto. wheels turning as a delegation from After hours of discussion over several the embassy of the People’s Republic days, Remengesau and the oek lead- of China in Pohnpei flew to Palau ership worked out a compromise. and quickly sorted out the matter The president would sign the budget with the president and his staff. act and in the New Year the National Charges against the protesters were Congress would remove the objec- dropped and the government filed a tionable rider provisions. This agree- civil case against the factory’s owners, ment was put in writing. Later in the as did the women. The women wept year, the congressmen, under a bar- and sang as they boarded the Chinese rage of public complaint, began sign- commercial aircraft for their flight ing settlement agreements with the home (TBN, 25 Apr–2 May 2003, 2). special prosecutor. It was a win-win Mr Remengesau’s minister of jus- arrangement: in exchange for full tice, Michael Rosenthal, met with payment owed on travel expenditures, Australian defense officials, who charges of wrongdoing and intent agreed to continue support for the to prosecute would be dropped. republic’s patrol boat program The public coffers received nearly a through 2027. Named after Palau’s quarter of a million dollars from the first president, the pss Haruo I congressmen. Remeliik will be outfitted with But the special prosecutor’s “drag upgraded equipment and undergo a net” (as it was termed by Palau’s local total refit in Australia. media) began catching state governors Finally, Mr Remengesau signed and legislators, and even traditional documents to admit Palau to full chiefs, with charges of misspending. membership in the International The special prosecutor even began a Whaling Commission and appointed new round of charges against the former President Kuniwo Nakamura entire National Congress. Recognizing as Palau’s first whale commissioner. some panic, a Senate committee In local affairs, Palau’s National offered a biased provision in a supple- 140 the contemporary pacific • spring 2004 mental budget bill. This attempted to road,” meaning that the cooperation justify the abuse of travel funds by he had requested from the National means of a presumption that such Congress since the beginning of his spending had been done in good faith presidency had not materialized, and since 1981 when the Palau Constitu- therefore a national vision had not tion came into force. Fortunately, a been established: “We can take the majority of Senate leaders recognized course that some of our regional the provision as self-serving and omit- neighbors have taken and wait until ted it from the bill (PH, 10–12 Jun, a financial crisis forces us into 10). This example illustrates how unplanned reactions. Or, we can Palau’s political leaders are struggling develop a vision of our future and to achieve transparency in their work. put into place those initiatives and Concerning transparency and good mechanisms that will permit that governance, President Remengesau vision to become reality” (TBN, and the oek leadership were in 2–9 May 2003, 15). disagreement regarding the need to Vice President Sandra Pierantozzi, amend Palau’s Financial Institutions who also carries the Minister of Act—legislation setting high standards Health portfolio, continued her inter- for Palau’s banking industry. This leg- national speaking engagements, much islation had been put on the books so to the credit of the Republic of Palau. that the republic could establish good She spoke at the United Nations twice standing with the international bank- during the year and to many other ing community. Prior to the legisla- important groups. Pierantozzi also tion, several of Palau’s banks had been headed the 2003 Joint Committee accused of illegal money-laundering meeting that negotiated with a mili- activities by the Bank of New York tary team led by Rear Admiral Patrick and the Deutsche Bank. The issue of Dunne. This meeting resulted in an amending or not amending the bank- agreement for the US military to sup- ing act had not been resolved at the ply additional assistance to Palau in end of the review period. the areas of security, health matters, On 1 May 2003, Mr Remengesau counterterrorism training, excess delivered his third State of the Repub- equipment, and navigational aids. In lic address. The president was pleased June the vice president signed the UN to report that twenty-eight capital anti-tobacco treaty in Geneva, stating improvement projects had been com- that the treaty gives Palau a weapon pleted, including the splendid new to fight the debilitating habit. The Palau International Airport terminal vice president was the main plenary building. Other projects were being speaker at the silver anniversary con- worked on, including the fifty-three- ference of the Western Association of mile compact road, the National Cap- Educational Opportunity Personnel itol complex in Melekeok State, the held in Honolulu. She spoke to over new Palau National Museum build- 500 assembled educators and students ing, and a Cultural and Performing from the states of Arizona, California, Arts Center. However, Remengesau Hawai‘i, Nevada, the Territory of declared Palau to be “still at a cross- Guam, American Sämoa, Palau, the political reviews • micronesia 141

Commonwealth of the Northern Mar- the Koror jail, built for 50 inmates, is iana Islands, and the Republic of the overcrowded with some 103 individu- Marshall Islands, who are involved in als. This has led the National Con- trio programs (the US Department gress to draft legislation calling for of Education programs designed to the deportation of alien drug convicts help improve the educational success after they have paid their often sub- of high school students and college stantial fines. However, the infamous freshmen). In her speech, Pierantozzi Eddie Liu, who had been jailed for shared her educational experiences fifty years and slapped with a fine of as a person from a low-income family $200,000, couldn’t wait. He escaped and a first-generation college student. in January from both the Koror jail The saga of Camsek Chin versus and Palau. In response, the attorney the oek Senate finally ended, with the general’s office made international judiciary providing no relief for Chin contacts, and Liu was caught in the (for background, see Shuster 2001, port of Canton. However, he has not 206–207; 2002, 170–171). Subse- yet been extradited to Palau—and quently, the Senate passed a resolu- may never be, because Palau and the tion (5 yes to 3 no) reconfirming its People’s Republic of China do not position that Chin was ineligible for have diplomatic relations or an extra- Senate membership because he had dition treaty. not been a resident of Palau for five Some of Palau’s state governors years prior to the 7 November 2000 (current as well as former) have come election as required by the Constitu- under fire from the special prosecutor, tion of Palau. A special election was who has filed charges against many of held in early April to fill the vacant them for unlawful compensation and Senate seat, and former Senator improper expenditures of public funds Lucius Malsol won in a six-person for frequent restaurant parties. The race, taking 25 percent of the vote. governor of Koror, John Gibbons, Amazingly, write-in candidate Chin was charged with violations of Palau’s finished second, with 22 percent of Code of Ethics regarding his support the vote. for a metal recycling plant to be built Prostitution and illegal drugs were on his land lease. He was ordered problems for Palau during the year by Palau’s Supreme Court to pay a under review. Prostitution rings at the $4,000 fine. Also, former Ngardmau Palau Cinema and Palau Hotel were State Governor Albert Ngirmekur was broken up with arrests of twelve indi- found guilty of misconduct in public viduals, including ten women, eight office and embezzlement and was of whom were Chinese. Palau’s laws sentenced to six months in jail and regarding the trafficking in illegal a $13,000 fine. drugs have very stiff penalties; both By the end of the period under foreigners and Palauans have been review, Palau’s special prosecutor had caught and sentenced to long prison not finished his work on a public land terms and sizable fines for trafficking case in Airai State, the location of in “ice” (methamphetamine hydro- Palau’s international airport. This case chloride). With so many convictions, involves a Japanese company, Resort 142 the contemporary pacific • spring 2004

Trust International, which hoped to new terminal, on one wall of which build a golf course in Airai and paid Wyland painted a gorgeous 250-foot $1.5 million to the Airai State Public mural, which (according to the artist) Land Authority to move the project depicts the prestige, attractiveness, and forward. However, some of the state’s life that is the essence of Palau. Tour- elected leaders made payments of ists will immediately be greeted by the nearly half a million dollars to them- grand seascape. selves and a traditional chief. The spe- Koror State officials opened a cial prosecutor contends that this was beautiful new state capitol building done in violation of Palau law. The on the site of Palau’s former hospital latest development in the case has in the center of Koror. The second been the entry of Johnson Toribiong, phase of the national capitol complex who argued that he has standing in in Melekeok was opened with a rib- the case as Ngiraked (Airai’s ranking bon cutting and traditional cere- high chief), a member of the land monies. The complex of huge and authority Board of Trustees, taxpayer, impressive legislative, executive, and and beneficiary of the state’s public judicial buildings is not yet complete. lands. As this example demonstrates, At a total cost of about $35 million, foreign investment in Palau will con- it may take years to finish the osten- tinue to be handicapped by competi- tatious project, which resembles the tion for land and money as well as US national capitol. The new com- by corruption. pact road and the new capitol will Since 1994–95, the first year of the likely shift the momentum of develop- Palau–US compact, the republic has ment from Koror to the larger island sustained a construction boom, with of Babeldaob. a number of projects completed or And some very ambitious Chinese moving toward completion. The fifty- businessmen are watching. They make three-mile Babeldaob circle road is up the Fuworld Development Corpo- almost 60 percent finished. Daewoo, ration, which is, they claim, sponsored the main contractor, requested an by the Republic of China–Palau additional $20 million to complete Culture, Economic, and Trade the project, which has faced many set- Interchange Association. This appears backs due to unusually wet weather to be the same group that in 1994 and water-retaining, gummy soil. As launched a similar grand project that one result of President Remengesau’s flopped dismally. The renewed dream, work at the South Africa summit, the termed “the Star of Micronesia,” European Union is providing solar- involves investing nearly nine billion powered lights for the compact road dollars in a massive construction at a cost of about $1.3 million. effort in central Babeldaob on a Costing some $16 million, the new built-operate-transfer basis. The plan Palau International Airport terminal would include eighteen separate struc- was opened with great fanfare. This tures, ranging in cost from $1.1 billion structure replaced a building con- for an international airport to $5.2 structed by Roman Tmetuchl and million for a tourism bureau building. partners in 1985. Japan funded the This gigantic scheme appears prepos- political reviews • micronesia 143 terous because, with a $9 billion price nity College for many years and was tag, there must be many strong strings the best printer in Palau. Ngirakebou attached. Eusebio Rechucher passed away at In contrast, the attractive Papago age seventy. With a keen business International Resort in Airai was mind, Rechucher had risen to the top dedicated early in the period under of the Trust Territory administration review. With a commanding view of as the high commissioner’s director the mangrove forest and ocean, the of resources and development. After hotel project was started by the late resigning in 1978, he had become one Roman Tmetuchl who held majority of Palau’s most successful business- ownership but had partnership capital men. Tragically, three of Palau’s from businessmen in the Republic of promising women athletes partici- China. Tmetuchl had always urged pating in the Pohnpei Micronesian Palauans to maintain majority owner- Games—Claudia Ngirasob, Rita Gra- ship and a bond of trust in any ven- cia Sungino, and Dawn Rechemang— ture with foreign investors. died in a freak flash flood. President Palau lost many important people Remengesau declared a national day during the year. Father Felix Yaoch, of mourning. Dr Robert Johannes, a sj, Palau’s holy man, passed away in good friend to Palau who in the early December 2002. He had been a pillar 1970s had alerted people to the dan- of compassion and moral strength gers of the proposed superport, passed who had helped everyone in Palau, away and was recognized by the oek regardless of their religious denomi- House of Delegates for his scientific nation. He also was the conscience of contributions to Palau and the world. Palau and would challenge immoral- Palauan nationalism and identity ity wherever he saw it taking root. building were expressed in a number Judge Moses Mokoll died at age of important events and achievements seventy-two. Like Fr Felix, he had during the year. When Justices Arthur great knowledge of Palauan custom, Ngiraklsong, Kathleen Salii, and history, ceremony, and language. The J Uduch Sengebau convened as a educators of Palau lost a leader in Supreme Court Appellate Division Kaleb Olegeriil, who had served over panel in 2002, it marked the first time thirty years as a teacher and elemen- in the history of Palau’s judiciary that tary school principal. Steve Umetaro, the Supreme Court had an all-Palauan a teacher turned congressman, will panel. also be greatly missed by his col- Palauans have become very adept leagues in the National Congress and at hosting conferences, whether local, Ministry of Education. Hideo Tell, regional, or international events. For former Vice Speaker of the House over a year, a group of talented orga- of Delegates and master mariner, also nizers have been at work preparing for passed away during the year. He had the 9th Festival of Pacific Arts, which been one of the few licensed harbor will be held 22–31 July 2004 in Palau. pilots in Palau. Joe Adachi passed By that time the new Palau National away at the young age of fifty-five. Museum building and Cultural and He had worked at the Palau Commu- Performing Arts Center will be com- 144 the contemporary pacific • spring 2004 pleted. The National Congress has early, comprehensive study of Palau appropriated $1 million to support should be of great interest to all the festival, which may draw as many Palauans. Roman Tmetuchl: APalau- as 3,000 people from twenty-seven an Visionary was published by the Pacific island nations. Support will Tmetuchl family trust in late 2002. also be provided by the United States, Written by Donald Shuster of the the Republic of China, Japan, and the University of Guam, the biography Republic of the Philippines. The festi- covers all aspects of Tmetuchl’s fasci- val will feature performing arts, cre- nating life and is the first research- ative arts, traditional medicine and based biography of a Palauan and healing arts, traditional navigation, Micronesian leader. and contemporary carving, weaving, Women are powerful behind-the- jewelry making, tattooing, and scenes forces in Palau. Under the pottery. leadership of Bilung Gloria Salii, Ebil Palau’s athletes performed superbly Reklai Umai Basilius, Vice President at the Pohnpei Micronesian Games. Pierantozzi, and First Lady Debbie They won the greatest number of Remengesau, the women of Palau medals (seventy-one) and returned held their tenth annual Mechesil Belau home to an enthusiastic greeting. Women’s Conference in April. After After all the jubilation, the young three days of discussion, the women people began to ready themselves released a unanimously adopted for very stiff competition at the 2003 eleven-point resolution that is a fasci- South Pacific Games, held in Fiji 28 nating statement of contemporary June–12 July. culture: (1) there will be no making Another expression of cultural of imitation Palauan money; (2) there solidarity is a number of recently will be no inappropriate usage of published books. The Wisdom of the Palauan arts and motifs; (3) there will Past, AVision for the Future,pub- be no harvesting of turtles and turtle lished by the Republic of Palau in eggs; (4) there will be no making of 2002, provides an in-depth descrip- turtle jewelry except when part of tra- tion of the role of the judiciary in ditional ceremonies; (5) cheldecheduch Palau’s legal system, operations of (estate settlement conference) is final; the courts, and the officers and per- (6) there will be an increase of fines sonalities making up the system. Also for prostitution pimps, businesses, and in 2002, Entertainment, Songs and customers; (7) men of Palau should Dances of Palau, by Palau’s Society have their own conference and take of Historians, was published by the an active part in social issues; (8) state Republic of Palau Bureau of Arts and historians should be appointed by tra- Culture, in both Palauan (edited by ditional leaders of a state, not by the Melson Miko) and English (edited by governor; (9) Palauan orthography Carmen C H Petrosian-Husa). Trans- should be written based on the spoken lated and awaiting publication is a language; (10) amendments to the portion of Augustin Kramer’s massive Constitution of Palau should include five-volume study of Palau conducted provisions that oek members can in 1907–1910. When available, this retain their chiefly titles, that the political reviews • micronesia 145

Palauan language should prevail over eign investment. On the other hand, English in cases of conflicting interpre- Palauans have a knack of fooling pre- tations, and that the National Con- dictors and already are finding ways gress should be enlarged to include to tighten their economic belt. a House of Traditional Leaders; and donald r shuster (11) every registered Palauan voter should be required to vote at election time and should be fined for failing Special thanks to Yoichi K to do so. The women have clear ideas Rengiil for comments on an earlier about the directions social change draft of this review. should take in Palau. Finally, after nearly a decade of References strong economic activity, a recent PH, Palau Horizon. Twice weekly. Koror. Bank of Hawai‘i study predicts a slowdown for Palau’s economy in the Shuster, Donald R. 2001. Palau. Micro- near future. It appears the economy nesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July has not sustained the momentum it 2000 to 30 June 2001. The Contemporary achieved in the late 1990s. The report Pacific 14:205–212. indicates that growth in tourism pro- Shuster, Donald R. 2002. Palau. Micro- vides some optimism, but this should nesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July be balanced by concerns for the frag- 2001 to 30 June 2002. The Contemporary ile ecosystem and for institutional Pacific 15:166–173. transparency, which impacts on for- TBN, Tia Belau News. Weekly. Koror.