Political Reviews

Micronesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 john haglelgam, david kupferman, kelly g marsh, samuel f mcphetres, donald r shuster

Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 lorenz gonschor, jon tikivanotau m jonassen, margaret mutu, unasa l f va‘a

© 2009 by University of Hawai‘i Press

113 in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008

Reviews of and are not Judiciary and Governmental Opera- included in this issue. tion Committee criticized the court for not acting promptly on the nominee’s Federated States of application for reinstatement to the Micronesia FSM bar, but ignored the fact that the The beginning of this review period nominee still cannot appear before the was particularly busy. The new FSM Supreme Court. Regardless of national administration led by Presi- the defi ciency in Robert’s credentials, dent Emanuel Mori had just been the FSM Congress took the bizarre inaugurated and the political watch- action of approving his nomination. It ers were focusing on nominations is not clear how the new attorney gen- for department heads. The fi rst batch eral will represent the nation before of nominees the president submitted the FSM Supreme Court, and how included his uncle for secretary of much damage this action has done to resources and development, and his the reputation, image, and legitimacy brother-in-law for FSM ambassador of the national government. to the United States. The respective At the time of this writing, the congressional committees favorably Mori administration has fi lled almost recommended the nominations for all the major overseas posts with new approval. However, the whole con- ambassadors. Yosiwo George, the gress rejected both. Neither the reports former governor and chief justice of of the jurisdictional committees nor Kosrae and most recently the man- the fl oor debates addressed the issue ager of MiCare, the national govern- of nepotism, which was foremost ment health insurance program, is the in everyone’s mind. Regardless, the new FSM ambassador to the United political pundits knew that the two States. John Fritz, a Japanese-educated nominations were rejected because Chuukese and longtime staff member the nominees are close relatives of of the embassy in Tokyo, has taken the president, who is from Chuuk over from Kasio Mida as the ambas- State. In this particular case, the FSM sador to . The former counsel public can heave a sigh of relief that general in Guam, Samson Pretrick, the built-in checks and balances at the has become the new ambassador to national level worked. Fiji. Masao Nakayama remains the The president nominated Makato head of the FSM Permanent Mission Robert from Chuuk as his attorney at the . Beijing is the general. At the time of his nomina- only unfi lled overseas post, but Carl tion, Robert was still facing charges Apis, a Pohnpeian, has been appointed of unethical practices in the FSM as deputy chief of mission there. The Supreme Court. In its report, the consul general positions in Guam and

114 pol i t ical reviews • micronesia 115

Honolulu are fi lled respectively by Mauricio remains the director of the Gersen Jackson of Kosrae and Aki- newly expanded Offi ce of National lino Susaia of Pohnpei. Jackson is a Archives, Culture, and Historic former lieutenant governor of Kos- Preservation. Fabian Nimea, former rae, and Susaia served as the secre- manager of the Pohnpei Branch of the tary of the Department of Economic Bank of the FSM, becomes the direc- Affairs under former President Joseph tor of the Offi ce of Statistics, Budget Ursemal. and Economic Management, Overseas It is interesting to note that Masao Development Assistance, and Com- Nakayama is the only remaining pact Management (sboc). And Julius member of the old FSM diplomatic Joey Sapelalut has taken over as the corp. Yosiwo George served a couple chief public defender. of years as head of the FSM mission It is noteworthy that all the FSM at the United Nations in New York. constituent states are represented in Pretrick and Fritz are new in their the president’s cabinet. For the fi rst posts but they are experienced diplo- time a woman (Vita Skilling) has been mats. The two consul generals are new appointed to head a department in to diplomacy, but they are experienced the national government. All members administrators. of the cabinet are veterans of state or The FSM president’s cabinet con- national administrations. sists almost entirely of new members. The new national administration Finley Perman, a former offi cial of submitted to the FSM Congress a reor- the Pohnpei state government, now ganization bill to revamp the executive heads the Department of Finance branch in order to focus on national and Administration; Lorin Robert, priorities and streamline the various the former deputy secretary of for- departments and offi ces. The congress eign affairs, became the head of that passed the bill in almost its original department. Vita Skilling, a physician form. The law split the Department of at the Kosrae state hospital, became Health, Education, and Social Affairs the secretary of the new Department into two new departments: the Depart- of Health and Social Affairs. The head ment of Health and Social Affairs, and of the newly renamed Department of the Department of Education. Resources and Development is Peter Another notable feature was the Christian, the former Speaker of the creation of a new Offi ce of Statistics, national congress. Casiano Shoniber, Budget and Economic Management, the former Pohnpei state director of Overseas Development Assistance, education, took over the new Depart- and Compact Management. The new ment of Education. Francis Itimai, sboc offi ce incorporates the collection the former director of planning and and analysis of data, formulation and budget in Yap, became secretary of compilation of budget, responsibil- transportation, communication, and ity for overseas assistance, economic infrastructure; the former head of that analysis, and compact manage- department, Andrew Yatilmal, now ment. A cursory look at the new heads the Offi ce of Environment and offi ce indicates that it has assumed Emergency Management. Dr Rufi no some responsibilities that might be 116 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) more appropriately assigned to the to exercise (Meller 1985). It is diffi cult Department of Foreign Affairs and to understand how preservation of cul- the Department of Resources and ture becomes an expressed power or Development. It is hard to imagine indisputably national in character, and how this offi ce will be able to focus therefore beyond the states to control. on its multitude of roles and respon- In fact the very essence of FSM feder- sibilities with regard to planning and alism is the diversity of its constituent implementing national priorities. It is states. As far as the states are con- likely that confusion and friction will cerned, one of the attractive aspects result from the diffi culty of delineat- of the national constitution was the ing responsibilities within the offi ce, as empowerment of an individual state to well as defi ning its relationships with preserve its own cultural uniqueness other departments. For instance, does within the whole federation. This is the new offi ce, which absorbed the what the FSM people proudly refer to Offi ce of Compact Management, take as unity in diversity. over the responsibility of managing The People’s Republic of the relationship of the Federated States is quite active in providing funds of Micronesia with the United States, for a variety of public buildings and or just a portion of it? If it is just a other projects. In addition to the portion, then what is left for foreign offi ce building for the Tuna Commis- affairs to do? How about coordination sion, projects funded by the Chinese of established roles and responsibili- government include the FSM embassy ties between the two institutions? It is in Beijing, assistance to the fi nancially interesting to note that the new offi ce troubled state governments of Chuuk has hired one health specialist and one and Kosrae, the construction of the education specialist. It has assumed a Pohnpei state capitol, and contribu- multitude of functions and responsi- tions to the FSM Trust Fund. The bilities that indicate that it is becoming funding of public projects and direct a super-department—without having contributions to fi nancially belea- fi rst been a department. guered states have certainly raised the Another notable aspect of this political profi le of China as a player in reorganization law is the changing role the Micronesian region. of the Historic Preservation Offi ce, The FSM president irked the US which is now also in charge of cultural embassy in Kolonia by suggesting in preservation. This seems to contravene an interview with Pacifi c Magazine the very essence of the FSM federal that China could become a challenger system of government. At the 1975 to the United States in the Pacifi c Micronesian Constitutional Conven- region (Takeuchi 2008). The presi- tion, the delegates opted for a system dent’s ad-lib comments annoyed the of government that delegated particu- Americans but the president expressed lar expressed powers, as well as pow- the common feeling that China is here ers that are indisputably national in for the long haul. The Chinese are character, to the national government. careful to paint a picture of their coun- Powers not delegated to the national try as an open society that views the government are reserved for the states Federated States as an equal partner in pol i t ical reviews • micronesia 117 their overall bilateral relations. When to take over the fuel supply facilities visiting Beijing, FSM leaders have easy currently owned by Mobil Oil Micro- access to the Chinese president and nesia. The government is hoping that other national leaders. To underscore when this new corporation assumes the importance of their relationship, full responsibility for supplying fuel to the Chinese usually treat the Micro- FSM customers, the price of fuel will nesians to lavish state banquets in the drop. But if the costs of telephone ser- People’s Hall in Tiananmen Square. vice and public utilities—two services In their eagerness to encourage more monopolized by public corporations offi cial visits, the Chinese government are indicators—then FSM customers provides a certain amount of cash to are in for a big surprise. FSM public each member of the party in the form corporations are better known for of a stipend. Whether China will chal- providing high salaries and generous lenge the US standing in the Micro- benefi ts to employees than affordable nesian region remains to be seen. But services for customers. China is building the foundation of its At the last leadership conference relations with Micronesia on the basis in Kosrae, a wide range of options of mutual friendship and respect for was discussed with regard to the national sovereignty. high cost of food items. Among the It was no coincidence that Vice options was creation of price control Chairman Jiang Zhenghua of the boards in the four states. However, Standing Committee of the National such a move might create shortages as People’s Congress led a high-level importers fi nd their profi ts squeezed or delegation of parliamentarians on non existent. Since it depends almost an offi cial visit to the FSM. The visit entirely on imported goods, the Feder- was scheduled to fall on 12 Septem- ated States is fi nding out the hard way ber to commemorate the eighteenth that the economic forces affecting the anniversary of the establishment of welfare of its citizens are beyond its diplomatic relations between the two control. countries. In a joint communiqué with Roosevelt Kansou, a national sena- the FSM Congress, the parties agreed tor who represented Chuuk Election to promote better understanding and District 2 in the FSM Congress, was overall development of their countries’ tried and convicted of conspiracy in bilateral relations. March 2008 and has vacated his con- On the economic front, the over- gressional seat, as required by section riding concern is the rising cost of 9 of article 9 of the FSM Constitu- fuel and food items. At the time of tion. In the special election of 27 May this writing, a gallon of gasoline costs 2008, the voters in Northern Namo- about $6.66. Diesel fuel costs about neas elected Tesime Kofot, a veteran $6.80, as does kerosene. The high cost of the Chuuk legislature, to replace of fuel has, in turn, raised the cost of Kansou. imported food items such as rice and Fabian Nimea, the sboc director, chicken. To deal with the high fuel who is also the designated national costs, the Federated States has cre- authorizing offi cer for European ated the FSM Petroleum Corporation Union programs, visited several EU 118 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) member countries to “further broaden References economic and development ties between Micronesia and the Euro- FSM Government Web site. 2008. FSM Deepens Economic Ties with the European pean Union” (FSM Government Web Union. Government press release, 10 July. site 2008). The delegation received a pledge of $1 million for a technical Meller, Norman. 1985. Constitutionalism assistance program, and up to $3 mil- in Micronesia. Lä‘ie: The Institute for Poly- lion in low-interest credit for energy nesian Studies, Brigham Young University- development. In addition, the Dutch Hawai‘i. government pledged a maximum Takeuchi, Floyd. 2008. Making Up For amount of $2.5 million for various Lost Time: FSM Mori’s Takes on Unity, projects to promote sustainable devel- Development Pacific Magazine, 27 April. opment. As far as EU assistance is con- http://www.pacificmagazine.net/issue/ cerned, the mission can be pronounced 2008/04/27/making-up-for-lost-time a success, but the odd thing about [accessed 28 August 2008] this mission was the total absence of foreign affairs representatives. President Mori is asking the FSM Congress to adopt four proposed Guam amendments to the FSM Constitu- Guam’s Annual Liberation Day tion. If the congress adopts any of festivities in July 2007 marked the these proposed amendments, then they sixty-third anniversary of relief from might be submitted to the voters for occupying forces in World War II. ratifi cation in the national congres- However, a bill meant to compensate sional election in March 2009. The residents for the forced labor, torture, proposed amendments are (1) to lower injury, and death that occurred during the threshold of approving a consti- the Japanese occupation of the island tutional amendment from 75 to 60 made little progress. The Guam World percent of the total votes cast; (2) to War II Loyalty Recognition Act passed make former presidents ineligible to the House but remained stalled in the run for congress, and to allow popu- Senate (PDN, 6 March, 8 June 2008). lar election of the FSM president and Meanwhile, debate continued about vice president; (3) to limit all members the massive buildup of US military of congress to a maximum of three forces, which involves an infl ux of consecutive four-year terms; and (4) to equipment and personnel estimated limit the term of a justice on the FSM to swell Guam’s population by about Supreme Court to fi fteen years. All of 40,000 over the next six years. The these except the one preventing former Government of Guam (GovGuam) presidents from running again have consultant kpmg of Washington dc been submitted to voters for approval identifi ed three billion dollars worth of at one time or another. The president projects necessary for the local govern- has yet to indicate what he hopes ment to prepare for the buildup. On to accomplish with these proposed the federal side, a draft master plan amendments. was released that designated the Fina- john r haglelgam gayan area as the preferred site for pol i t ical reviews • micronesia 119 the US Marine base, but dropped any including a development of 608 condo reference to a previously promoted units and 32 villas next to Ypao Beach one-billion-dollar road. In the back- Park. Although the infl ux of construc- ground of a rising military presence tion dollars was welcomed, there was and resulting strains on infrastructure, increasing public concern about the the Guam Waterworks Authority impact of these projects on the quality objected to a 100 percent increase in of life in the Tumon area (PDN, 19 the price the US Navy sells water from May 2007). The Guam Waterworks the Fena Reservoir to the island’s local authority had already announced a community. Concerns about the traffi c moratorium on water and wastewa- and other potential burdens caused ter connection in parts of Hagåtña some to question the actual benefi ts and Tamuning, including a section versus costs for the Guam community of Tumon Bay, because of increasing (PDN, 25 April 2008). Local leaders strains on existing infrastructure in raised questions about the buildup and those neighborhoods. associated funding needs to both US Business leaders and economists Senate and House committees with agreed that the economic downturn jurisdiction over Guam. Concerns in the US mainland had little negative about the expanded military presence impact on Guam, inasmuch as the on Guam also reinvigorated the ongo- local economy was more tied to the ing debate on island landownership, Japanese and South Korean econo- with calls for the return of federal mies. On the other hand, declines in property to ancestral landowners. interest rates benefi ted local residents The dominant economic news for their home and car loans. The fed- focused on preparations for military eral tax rebate program implemented buildup, Tumon luxury condo devel- nationwide to combat the economic opment, and the rising cost of living. downturn was also extended to Guam, The consumer price index in early thereby benefi ting the local economy. 2008 rose by 4.5 percent from the pre- As Guam welcomed its twenty-mil- vious year (PDN, 8 April 2008). Local lionth visitor from Japan in Septem- economists asserted that wages had ber, the decline in the dollar was seen not kept pace with infl ation even with to help tourism, but also impact the a July increase in the minimum wage price of imported goods (PDN, 20 Sept (PDN, 1 Jan, 8 Jan 2008). The public 2007). Construction fueled a rise in especially focused on rising gas prices, employment by 990 jobs from the and increasing power and water rates previous year (PDN, 8 March 2008). In (PDN, 1 Aug 2007; 22 April 2008). general, the island’s economy was seen Prices for single-family homes rose 19 as gradually improving (PDN, 24 Jan percent from the previous year. 2008). Also on the rise was opposition In July 2007, the local government to the construction of luxury condo- received a $21.7 million windfall miniums in Tumon Bay. The Guam in federal reimbursements, which Land Use Commission had approved allowed Governor Felix Camacho to projects involving almost 1,500 condo cancel plans for severe budget cuts and units with more applications pending, worker furloughs (PDN, 14 July 2007). 120 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009)

In November 2007, GovGuam issued because it provided no cost savings $150 million in bonds to refi nance (PDN, 25 Aug 2007). The Chamber of existing bond debt and raise funds to Commerce pushed a ballot initiative pay other obligations. After the refi - that would reduce the legislature from nancing, an additional $69.3 million fi fteen senators to only seven. Critics was available to pay past-due income of the proposal said it would reduce tax refunds, court-ordered payments diversity in representation and concen- to retirees, upgrades for mental trate too much power in a few hands health services that were mandated in (PDN, 6 April 2008). another court case, and other health, Meanwhile, Governor Camacho social service, and education improve- brought forth his own proposal in ments. Also funded was an overdue April 2008 to give him broad author- valuation study of the island’s real ity over the public school system, property, which under the Organic because of its continued management Act is used to establish the ceiling on and fi nancial diffi culties. The Guam overall government debt (PDN, 25 Oct Public School System continued to 2007). experience turmoil as the attorney Even with the cash infusion, general’s offi ce closed several public government fi nances continued to schools owing to needed repairs, and be a concern. The Camacho admin- the school system lost two superinten- istration’s advocacy of a package of dents in a row (PDN, 21 June 2008). fee and tax increases met with strong Schools Superintendent Luis Reyes opposition from both activist and was fi red in March, and his replace- business leaders (PDN, 4 July 2007). ment, Giovanni Sgambelluri, resigned After several late night sessions, the in June after only two weeks on the legislature passed a compromise bud- job (PDN, 29 March, 6 June 2008). get in September, which the Camacho At the tertiary level, the island com- administration stated was not bal- munity once again has a Chamorro at anced (PDN, 4 Oct 2007). In May the helm of the University of Guam, 2008, past-due payments for street- former Congressional Delegate Robert lights led to the Guam Power Author- A Underwood (PDN, 22 May 2008). ity removing forty-eight streetlights, In the arena of health care, public which concerned affected communi- attention continued to be drawn to the ties (PDN, 13 May 2008). Adding to island’s only civilian hospital, Guam the government’s fi nancial burden in Memorial Hospital. As in previous April was a $72 million settlement of years, concerns were voiced about the court cases against the government for hospital’s fi nancial situation, shortage Earned Income Tax Credit payments of hospital beds, lack of accreditation, due low-income workers (PDN, 11 and management. Consequently, there April 2008). was active public discussion with a Concerns for cost savings and effec- focus on familiar solutions, includ- tiveness prompted a focus on govern- ing expanding the current hospital, ment organization. A bill to consoli- partial privatization, and building a date housing agencies was rejected by new private hospital. On a positive the legislature in August 2007 largely note, Guam saw advances in the use pol i t ical reviews • micronesia 121 of telemedicine to provide patients Great American Band (PDN, 6 Nov with diagnostic services through video 2007). feeds with off-island specialists (PDN, 8 Community activity extended to the March 2008). A private air ambulance Internet with the 10 April 2008 launch service also commenced service during of Guampedia (www.guampedia.com). the period under review to medevac People worldwide now have access patients for off-island care. to a scholarly encyclopedic online The year saw the continuation of resource describing Guam culture a number of efforts promoting indig- and history. The online video service enous culture, including a publicized YouTube featured an increasing traditional Chamorro chant ceremony number of submissions about Guam, at the site of ancestral remains on the ranging from local political activist grounds of the Guam Hotel Okura; commentary to much publicized foot- the unveiling of the Healing Farms age of a b-2 stealth bomber crash on program, which advances traditional Guam in February. Guam teen Tiffany Chamorro agricultural practices for Shieh developed a Web site (www. young people; the Alåhas Project, guamendangeredbirds.com) to “raise which created alåhas (a type of tradi- awareness about the island’s endan- tional Chamorro jewelry) replicas to gered birds” (PDN, 26 Aug 2007). And raise funds for the Guam Museum; people from Guam were able to Web- and Project Proa, an effort to build a conference with loved ones serving traditional seafaring vessel (proa), to in the military overseas as part of the invigorate the tourist industry with Freedom Calls Foundation effort island traditions (PDN, 9 July 2007; 24 (PDN, 6 April 2008). May 2008). Further, Governor Cama- As has become common, the cho issued a proclamation marking many cultures of Guam’s community 2008 as Silibrasion Proa to recognize celebrated their presence through- efforts by Chamorros in Guam, the out the year. The twentieth annual Commonwealth of the Northern Guam Micronesian Island Fair in Mariana Islands, and San Diego to October 2007 was touted as a means reconstruct an ancient seafaring vessel, to promote Micronesian unity and expected to be completed before the the sharing of heritage among the end of 2008 (PDN, 7 Jan 2008). region’s peoples (PDN, 8 Oct 2007). Chamorro women achieving mile- The Guam Humanities Council held stones this year included Tanya Muna, several events for their project, “A who became the fi rst Chamorro Journey Home: Camp Roxas and female deputy US marshall for Guam Filipino American History in Guam.” and the , Additionally, some new cultural events and Rindrate Celes Limtiaco, who was were added into the mix, such as named the fi rst Chamorro publisher the Hålom Tåno‘ Påsgua (Christmas in the Gannett newspaper chain (PDN, Jungle Land) cultural holiday fair 10 Aug, 31 Aug 2007). The island and the Ferian Huegu yan Hugeten kept abreast of Guam’s own Roseana Chamoru (Chamorro Toys and Games “Rose” Laguana, who competed on Festival). Fox’s reality television show, The Next There were periodic reminders of 122 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) federal ties to the island, including a Dr Lisa Linda Natividad, a clinical visit by a high-level congressional del- therapist, social worker, and professor egation. The delegation toured local at the University of Guam, along with military facilities and the War in the Aguon, embarked on a month-long Pacifi c Park, where they honored mili- speaking tour of major Australian tary servicemen and Chamorro civil- cities to discuss what they termed the ians who died during World War II. In “hyper-militarization of Guam” by the December, the National Park Service United States. announced that an ornament designed In 2003, a federal court issued a by a local artist was included in the consent decree requiring GovGuam decorations for the offi cial White to close the existing Ordot landfi ll House Christmas tree. Guam was also and open a new one by 2006. The part of the US Treasury program that court order was prompted when the featured each state and territory on US Environmental Protection Agency the back of editions of the US quarter fi led a suit against GovGuam for the coins (PDN, 6 March 2008). However, continued operation of the landfi ll, media reports of a possible offi cial which the agency claimed was not apology to African Americans for in compliance with federal environ- slavery prompted some to note that mental standards. The resulting court others, including colonized indigenous order stipulated that GovGuam was people, were also in line for an apol- to meet several deadlines to close ogy (PDN, 8 Sept 2007). Ordot landfi ll and open a new one Guam issues received attention that would be in compliance. After from off-island legislators in two failing to meet that deadline and forums. The Twenty-Seventh General others, US District Court Chief Judge Assembly of the Association of Pacifi c Frances Tydingco-Gatewood this year Island Legislators was held on Guam placed GovGuam’s solid waste opera- and focused on the impact of the mili- tion under federal receivership and tary buildup on Guam and neighbor- appointed a private fi rm as receiver. ing islands. At a Honolulu meeting The receiver was given the power over of legislators from Alaska, Hawai‘i, existing solid waste operations includ- and the offshore territories, concerns ing the landfi ll, as well as the power to were raised that US citizens living sign contracts and secure fees to fund outside the contiguous forty-eight the implementation of the consent states were being treated as “second- decree. class citizens” or “like they’re from a Longtime Senator and former foreign country” (PDN, 15 Dec 2007). Speaker Antonio “Tony” Unpingco, Chamorro and human rights activist, a quiet but strong supporter of author, and third-year law student Chamorro culture, passed away Julian Aguon appeared before the October 2007 (PDN, 20 Oct 2007). UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous With Unpingco’s death, three major Issues calling for an investigation into contenders vied to replace him in a the plight of the indigenous peoples of special election held on 5 January the remaining non-self-governing terri- 2008. The winner, former Democratic tories, including Guam. In June 2008, Senator and Chief Justice Benjamin pol i t ical reviews • micronesia 123

J “B J” Cruz, switched the legisla- trees when reporting on the Guam tive leadership from Republican by vote. Also, the heightened signifi cance establishing an eight–seven Demo- of the Guam results was often char- cratic majority. After several weeks of acterized in negative and patronizing political and parliamentary maneu- tones. On Guam itself, the presidential verings, the Republicans surrendered campaign produced its own dynam- the top three spots of Speaker, vice ics. Since the village of Inarajan’s speaker, and legislative secretary. annual celebration of its patron saint The spots were fi lled by Democrats was scheduled for the same weekend Judy Won Pat, David Shimizu, and (10–11 May) as Guam’s Democratic Tina Muña Barnes. The Republicans, Presidential Caucus, they were permit- however, were able to retain control ted to hold their vote a week earlier of the chairs of the legislature standing than the rest of the island, on the committees. weekend of 3–4 May. Appearing on the special election Earlier in the year, Guam’s Repub- ballot was a controversial initiative lican Party picked its own delegation seeking to legalize slot machines at for their convention. However, it did Guam Greyhound Park. The failure of not receive much attention since, by the proposal, riding on the heels of a that point, John McCain had wrapped similar failed November 2006 proposi- up the nomination. In a videotaped tion, caused island leaders to examine message for a fundraiser, McCain ways to prevent voters from having to noted that “three generations of his repeatedly act on the same issue. Also family have been to Guam” and that in January 2008, Robert Torres Jr was “one of Guam’s daughters,” Donna sworn in as the new chief justice of the Jones, was serving as his national Supreme Court of Guam (PDN, 16 Jan coalition coordinator for Americans 2008). with disabilities and disabled veterans International interest was drawn (PDN, 17 May 2008). to Guam during the caucus to choose In crime news, arrests were made in between Democratic contenders cases involving the theft of commemo- Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. rative plaques in the War in the Pacifi c Though Guam does not participate in Park, threats of violence against the the general election for president, both wife of Lieutenant Governor Mike political parties accept Guam delegates Cruz, and the theft of produce from to their national conventions. In May a taro patch, among other incidents. 2008, more than 5,000 voters partici- Former airport general manager pated in the presidential caucus, which Gerald Yingling was sentenced to Obama won by a mere seven votes four months house arrest, community (PDN, 5 May 2008). service, and a $5,000 fi ne for misuse Although there was increased media of government credit cards. In another interest in Guam, some of the coverage case involving government credit tended to reinforce stereotypes about cards, Governor Camacho commuted Pacifi c Island life. For example, cnn the sentence of the former deputy for coverage used footage of grass huts Guam Mass Transit, Tony Diaz, just and “natives” waving through palm hours before Diaz was to begin his 124 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) prison sentence. In a third case involv- nine days earlier, when then-Speaker ing credit cards, the attorney general’s of the Nitijela (Parliament) Litokwa offi ce moved to dismiss “with preju- Tomeing left the United Democratic dice” criminal charges against former Party (udp) and announced his sup- Guam Economic Development and port for, among other initiatives, the Commerce Authority General Man- Aelon Kein Ad (aka) party platform ager Ed Untalan, explaining that they to recognize the People’s Republic of had found no criminal intent involved. China. Tomeing, who became Speaker One of Governor Camacho’s top and was prominent in the udp leader- advisers, Tony Sanchez, quit his post ship when it came to power in 2000, on Camacho’s staff. Months earlier, was quoted as saying, “Our govern- during his previous tenure as superior ment needs to change. Our current court administrator, Sanchez had been leaders have lost their steam and they indicted in a money-laundering case shouldn’t be allowed to continue” relating to payments to notorious (MIJ, 2007c). Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff. There was little smooth sailing for kelly g marsh the Note administration in the run- up to the election. At the end of July Special thanks to Julian Aguon and 2007, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tyrone Taitano for contributing their Gerald Zackios resigned his cabinet perspectives and for reading through position shortly after testifying at a US an earlier draft of this review. House of Representatives subcommit- tee hearing on the Compact of Free Association, although he retained his Reference Senate seat from Arno Atoll. While rumors and speculation abounded as PDN, Pacific Daily News. Hagåtña, Guam. to the reasons behind the resignation, http://www.guampdn.com/ the president’s offi ce added to the confusion by letting more than a week pass between acknowledging receipt of the resignation and fi nally accepting it. In addition, the Note government The past twelve months in the Repub- was perceived as having a “hands-off” lic of the Marshall Islands have been approach to problems with the fl eet dominated by responses to a variety of at Air Marshall Islands, the govern- crises concerning the national election, ment-owned airline and lifeline for continued recognition of the Republic many outer-island residents; rolling of China (Taiwan), the status of Kwa- blackouts in Ebeye; and an unfl at- jalein Atoll, the looming energy short- tering economic report from the US age, and the recently declared state of Department of Interior released in late national economic emergency. 2007 (Offi ce of Insular Affairs 2007). The dominant political event was Speaker Tomeing’s analysis that the the national election held on 19 Note administration was “a dismal November 2007. For all intents and failure” seemed to herald the end of purposes, however, the election came udp rule (Yokwe Online 2007a). pol i t ical reviews • micronesia 125

No one could have predicted the election experience, were also cited for debacle that began on Election Day, inconsistent application of rules and 19 November 2007, and did not procedures. In at least two instances, offi cially end until 4 January 2008, election workers required that voters three days before the new Nitijela write their names on envelopes with was scheduled to convene and choose their ballots stuffed inside, in viola- the next presidential administration. tion of voters’ anonymity rights. Alik The election itself was fraught with ended the envelope labeling in the late missteps and, in Atoll (the afternoon when he became aware of capital and population center), a bout what was happening ( Johnson 2007a). of bad weather. While election law Voting in the outer islands had mandates that polling stations are to its share of problems as well. Prior be open from 7 am to 7 pm, only one to Election Day, with both Air Mar- of the thirty polling places in Majuro shall Islands planes grounded, bal- was operational by 8 am. There were lots had to be sent by boat to various a number of reports of polling stations outer islands in time for the election. opening up no earlier than noon, and However, the ballot boxes missed their one polling station on Majuro had scheduled departure on 4 November, to be moved at 3 pm to the hospital forcing election offi cials to rely on a because the landowner of the original combination of government, private polling place had shut it down, saying shipping, and private charter boats to he had not been asked permission. At deliver and return ballots. On Election 4 pm, the attorney general ordered Day, Jaluit and Wotje atolls both ran twenty-one of the thirty polling sta- out of ballots. Chief Electoral Offi cer tions to remain open for voting until Alik allowed photocopied ballots to be 1:30 am the next day, although the used, with the stipulation that elec- last reported closing came at 5 am. tion workers keep track of how many During late voting, a number of poll- copies they made ( Johnson 2007a). In ing stations had to cease operations spite of the problems plaguing Majuro temporarily to wait for lights to be and a number of outer islands, sunny installed ( Johnson and Chutaro 2007). skies and organized election workers Chief Electoral Offi cer Carl Alik on ensured that vot- initially blamed the late start in ing on Ebeye and neighboring islands Majuro on the morning rain and the went smoothly. reluctance of the Stevedore Company Absentee ballots also encountered a to set up tents early for fear they series of setbacks and inconsistencies, would be stolen, although a recent most notably in the larger Marshallese change in the voter registration law communities in Arkansas, Oregon, was the more likely culprit. For the and Hawai‘i. The recent changes to fi rst time, voters from any island could the election law regarding absentee vote at any polling station; in the past, voting mandated that overseas ballots voters from particular islands were be postmarked by Sunday, 18 Novem- assigned to specifi c polling places. ber, one day before the election. The Election workers at a variety of sta- attorney general argued that this tions, few of whom had previous change in the law ensured that no one 126 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) voting in the United States would be the objection to the electoral admin- able to vote after the polls had closed istration’s decision did not follow in the Republic of the Marshall Islands proper administrative procedures (MIJ, or be infl uenced by news of the elec- 2007d). tion as it was happening on Monday. Counting the votes from the However, for the majority of absentee thirty-one ballot boxes in Majuro also voters residing in the United States proved to be an ordeal, as the number this meant having ballots postmarked of voters tallied on voter sheets did by Saturday, 17 November, two days not always correspond to the num- prior to Election Day. Contributing ber of ballots in a given box. While to the confusion over the new rule counting offi cially began by 5 pm on was the statement on the president’s Tuesday, 20 November, the fi rst full Web site that voters should post their box was not completely counted until ballots “as soon as possible,” without 11 am the following day (Johnson and providing the actual deadline. What Chutaro 2007). Confusion over the is more, another change in the elec- outcome of the election occurred as tion law stated that absentee voters results were being announced piece- had to request a ballot or they would meal over v7ab (the government radio not receive one (MIJ, 2007b). All of station), on the Web site of the Offi ce this was trumped by the late arrival of the President, and unoffi cially on (13 November) of all postal ballots Yokwe.net, although the numbers to Springdale, Arkansas, home to the were not always the same. largest community of Marshallese Even on 30 November, ten days outside the country (Massey 2007). later, the confusion continued. The By 3 December, a total of 1,239 Marshall Islands Journal reported that absentee ballots had arrived in the opposition aka party had won Majuro, a far cry from the approxi- enough seats to form a new govern- mately 2,500 received in the 2003 ment and the Journal endorsed Alvin election. Of the ballots received by Jacklick, the udp senator from Jaluit the election offi ce, only 621 were who had been minister of health in considered valid; more than half Note’s administration, for president. were immediately deemed “spoiled” Meanwhile, former President Imata for being postmarked after the 18 Kabua stated that former Speaker November deadline (MIJ, 2007a). would be the next Voters living overseas complained, president, and advocated for a change asking how many ballot requests had in diplomatic recognition from the been received by the election offi ce, Republic of China (Taiwan) to the and how and when the ballots were People’s Republic of China. While the actually mailed (Aenet Rowa, Election aka leaders announced both the for- blog, comment posted 4 Dec 2007). mation of a coalition government and Additionally, the electoral adminis- a new political party called the United tration was sued in the high court to People’s Party (upp), by this time force it to count 136 “spoiled” ballots leaders of both parties had lodged postmarked on the day of the election, complaints with the electoral adminis- but the court responded by ruling that tration over voter eligibility and ballot pol i t ical reviews • micronesia 127 counting. In the meantime, three ballot fi nalized the next day. Capelle was boxes from Majuro went “missing” reelected by six votes, while incum- and the votes were recounted, result- bent Minister of Transportation and ing in more ballots being cast than the Communications and Senator Mike number of voters on the original voter Konelios from Maloelap was also list (Aenet Rowa, Election blog, com- reelected, by a total of twenty-seven ment posted on 28 Nov 2007). votes (Aenet Rowa, Election blog, On 3 December, after the initial comment posted on 4 Jan 2008). recount of the missing boxes, the At the urging of Women United United Democratic Party announced Together Marshall Islands, a vocal that they had secured enough seats nongovernmental organization, and and that incumbent President Kessai at the invitation of the government, Note would return for a third term. the election was monitored by a six- By 6 December, both absentee ballots member Pacifi c Islands Forum elec- and outer-island ballots were selected tion observer team, which stayed in for recount by the election offi ce, even Majuro for a week. Despite the issues though that offi ce had never released surrounding the election, the observer the original numbers of ballots. The team issued a preliminary statement opposition aka party poll watchers asserting that “notwithstanding the staged a walkout in protest, although logistical problems which occurred the recount continued in their absence in Majuro, the voting and counting (Aenet Rowa, Election blog, comment was conducted in a democratic man- posted on 7 Dec 2007). The chief ner, enabling voters to exercise their electoral offi cer released the fi nal, will freely” (Yokwe Online 2007b). unoffi cial results on 10 December, One member of the team returned despite the fact that counting was not to Majuro in January to make fi nal yet completed. The last two boxes observations, but the visit did not to be tabulated came from Rongelap make much difference in the team’s and Bikini atolls, which reported no assessment of the electoral process. problems on Election Day. However, On 7 January 2008, the new because of transportation issues, the Nitijela convened as scheduled and boxes were shipped by boat to Ebeye selected the new government. Despite and then fl own to Majuro, where they the wins by udp incumbents Donald arrived on 18 December (Giff John- Capelle and Mike Konelios, the upp son, Election blog, comment posted coalition had made inroads with newly on 19 Dec 2007). elected, independent members of On Christmas Eve, the unoffi cial Parliament and secured enough votes results became offi cial for all atolls for the presidency. It was also reported except two. Petitions for recounts that incumbent President ’s were fi led by incumbent Minister of insistence on being the udp presiden- Justice and Senator Donald Capelle tial candidate convinced a number from Likiep, as well as by Maloelap of undecided senators to vote for the challenger Patrick Langmoir. Both new upp coalition. Wotje Senator and recounts commenced on the evening former Speaker Litokwa Tomeing of 3 January 2008 with the results was elected the fourth president of 128 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) the Republic of the Marshall Islands taro as minister of transportation and by a vote of 18-15 over Jabat Sena- communications. tor and former President Note, while Once the new government was in Majuro Senator place, the fi ery rhetoric surrounding defeated Jaluit Senator and former the potential switch of diplomatic rec- Minister of Health Alvin Jacklick for ognition from the Republic of China the position of Speaker. udp Senator (Taiwan) to the People’s Republic of Alik Alik, also from Majuro, was nar- China was replaced with statements rowly elected vice speaker over Namu of support and gratitude for Taiwan. Senator Kaibuke Kabua by a one-vote Indeed, prior to the election Taiwan margin, 17–16 ( Johnson 2008c). made a series of explicit overtures in The fi nal makeup of the latest the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nitijela includes some new faces the most notable of which was select- and some surprising departures. ing Majuro to play host to the second The most notable defeated incum- Taiwan Pacifi c Allies Summit meet- bent was Minister in Assistance and ing, held 12–14 October 2007. The Majuro Senator Witten Philippo, who Taiwan government not only fl ew the was unseated by newcomer David leaders of Kiribati, Nauru, Solomon Kramer. The ratio of women to men Islands, Tuvalu, as well as then-Tai- remained steady at 1:32, as Amenta wan President Chen Shui-bian to Matthew defeated Hiroshi Yamamura, Majuro for the allies summit by char- but Abacca Anjain-Maddison was tered jets, but at the end of the summit defeated in her bid for reelection by the Taiwan government also fl ew the Kenneth Kedi. Independents Kramer leaders, including the presidents of the and Matthew, along with Dennis Republic of the Marshall Islands and Momotaro, who unseated Mejit , to Tonga for the Pacifi c Islands incumbent Helkena Anni, were all Forum Leaders meeting ( Johnson considered key swing votes in forming 2007b). the upp government ( Johnson 2008c). By the end of January 2008, the The new cabinet refl ects the mix debate over diplomatic recognition of of old and new politicians, including Taiwan faded into the background, those who tipped the scales in favor and the future of the decade-long of the new upp government. Peren- relationship appeared resolved with a nial incumbent visit from then-Taiwan Vice President was named as minister in assistance; Annette Lu to the Marshall Islands Tony deBrum as minister of foreign (Offi ce of the President 2008b) and affairs; Nidel Lorak as minister of President Tomeing’s fi rst state visit education; Jack Ading as minister to Taiwan in March. Taiwan’s Vice of fi nance; Kejjo Bien as minister of Foreign Minister Elizabeth Chu and public works; Norman Matthew as the president of the Taiwan Legisla- minister of internal affairs; Frederick tive Yuan, Wang Jin-pyng, celebrated Muller as minister of resources and Constitution Day in the Republic development; David Kramer as min- of the Marshall Islands in May, and ister of justice; as President Tomeing again traveled to minister of health; and Dennis Momo- Taiwan to attend the inauguration of pol i t ical reviews • micronesia 129

Taiwan’s new president, Ma Ying-jeou shallese personnel there, heightened (Offi ce of the President 2008c). an already tense situation. At the fi rst After less than a month in offi ce, meeting between President Tomeing the new government also embarked on and US Ambassador Clyde Bishop, a campaign of Armij Mokta (People discussions focused on the lingering First), wherein the president and dispute between Kwajalein landown- cabinet interrogated every ministerial ers and the national government over cabinet and agency head in the public rental amounts. According to the service and promised a number of real Military Operating and Use Rights and symbolic changes to governmental Agreement (moura) signed between operations. For starters, the govern- the United States and Republic of ment would no longer use taxpayer the Marshall Islands governments as funds to purchase alcoholic beverages part of the second Compact of Free for public functions, and nonessential Association in 2003, the United States government vehicles were to be sold is entitled to continue operations in off (MIJ, 2008a). Kwajalein until 2066, with the option In this vein, and in an attempt to to extend the agreement an additional clear up the confusion over the elec- twenty years. However, Kwajalein tion and introduce a more transpar- landowners, led by former President ent governing process, the cabinet and numerous members appointed an offi cial commission of the new government, insist that they of inquiry into the 2007 election in were not included by the Note admin- early February 2008. Headed by the istration in the 2003 negotiations, Nitijela’s legal counsel, and including and further claim that the agreement four other individuals from the public with the United States actually ends in and private sectors, the commission 2016, the original terms under the fi rst was given forty-fi ve days to conduct compact (Yokwe Online 2008b). a “fact-fi nding” mission to determine In April, Ambassador Bishop con- what had happened during the elec- fi rmed that the compact stipulates that tion and to reconsider the electoral if a new land use agreement between processes and laws (Chutaro 2008b). the landowners and the government By the middle of May, after a month is not reached by 18 December 2008 of public hearings at the Nitijela, (fi ve years after the second compact the commission turned its completed went into effect), nearly $20 mil- report over to the president’s offi ce. lion (the difference in lease payments As of this writing, however, the report between the old and new moura) has not been made public. placed in escrow would be perma- Issues concerning Kwajalein and nently returned to the US Treasury Ebeye also took center stage on the ( Johnson 2008b). The offi cial United new government’s agenda. Various States response to the Kwajalein interpretations of the Kwajalein Land landowners’ complaint—“we are in Use Agreement between landown- the process of developing a plan to ers and the Republic of the Marshall provide for the return of assets to the Islands government, as well as the US landowners in 2016”—came during military’s reduction of US and Mar- two visits to Pohnpei by members of 130 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) the US Senate Energy and Natural Jaluit, as electricity was made avail- Resources Committee as well as the able for ten hours a day (MIJ, 2008e); US Pacifi c commander, ostensibly to two weeks later, gas prices leaped to identify possible relocation sites for more than six dollars a gallon. June the current Kwajalein operation (MIJ, started with an even bigger increase 2008c). in electricity rates—eight cents per At the same time, Kwajalein Com- kilowatt-hour (MIJ, 2008d)—as well as mander Colonel Stevenson Reed a report by the Economic Policy, Plan- announced at the end of February ning, and Statistics Offi ce stating that 2008 that 89 out of 1,001 Marshal- the consumer price index for the fi rst lese Kwajalein Range Services work- three months of 2008 had escalated an ers would be laid off in a round of alarming 10.2 percent (eppso 2008). military base budget cutbacks during By 16 June, the Disaster Committee the 2008 fi scal year (Yokwe Online recommended to the cabinet that the 2008a). The layoffs began in April, government declare a national state and came in the midst of a string of of emergency as the utility companies bad news for Ebeye. In early Febru- on Majuro and Ebeye anticipated an ary, a series of illegal toilet and sewage $18 million shortfall in 2008. The connections resulted in an E. coli utilities reported that they needed $8.5 bacterial contamination in Ebeye’s million in immediate cash to pay for freshwater system (Chutaro 2008a). A fuel that had recently been delivered month later, the government intro- by their supplier sk Networks to meet duced an emergency Ebeye Stabiliza- a 10 July payment deadline, as well tion Plan along with $2.3 million as to provide a down payment on provided by the US Department of fuel needed by early August ( Johnson Interior, intended to fi x basic island 2008a). After a series of delays and infrastructure over the next eigh- deferrals, President Tomeing declared teen months (Offi ce of the President a national state of economic emer- 2008a). To complicate matters, gency on 3 July. It remains to be seen in April the government’s Ebeye how the Republic of the Marshall Situation Report 2008 stated that the Islands will handle this latest crisis. island’s population had doubled since david w kupferman 1980, to an estimated 12,000 resi- dents, effectively producing a popu- lation density of 30,000 people per References square kilometer (MIJ, 2008b). Chutaro, Suzanne. 2007. Vote Price All of these developments, of Skyrockets. Marshall Islands Journal, course, were overshadowed by the rise 9 November. in world food and gas prices, which hit the Marshall Islands particularly ———. 2008a. Ebeye Fresh Water “Poi- son.” Marshall Islands Journal, 8 February. hard. On 1 April 2008 the biggest-ever increase in the cost of electricity took ———. 2008b. Official Investigation into effect nationwide, climbing 7.5 cents Election Problems. Marshall Islands Jour- nal, 15 February. per kilowatt-hour (MIJ, 2008f ). On 13 May, power rationing began on Jabor, Election blog. http://election.yokwe.net/ pol i t ical reviews • micronesia 131 eppso, Economic Policy, Planning and ———. 2008f. Power Soars by 7.5 Cents. Statistics Office. 2008. Republic of the Marshall Islands Journal, 28 March. Marshall Islands Consumer Price Index. Massey, Richard. 2007. Springdale: Votes Republic of the Marshall Islands. http:// of Region’s Marshallese Play Role in www.spc.int/prism/country/mh/stats/ Monday’s Election. Arkansas Democrat Publications/CPI/2008/CPI_Q2_08.pdf Gazette, Northwest Arkansas edition, 15 Johnson, Giff. 2007a. Carl Blames Bad November. Weather for Late Start. Marshall Islands Office of Insular Affairs. 2007. Republic Journal, 23 November. of the Marshall Islands Fiscal Year 2006 ———. 2007b. Ni-hao: RMI Welcomes Economic Review. Washington dc: US Leaders. Marshall Islands Journal, 12 Department of Interior. October. Office of the President. 2008a. doi ———. 2008a. $8.5m Crisis. Marshall Assist with Ebeye Stabilization Project. Islands Journal, 20 June. Republic of the Marshall Islands. http:// ———. 2008b. $20m at Stake. Marshall rmigovernment.org/news_detail.jsp Islands Journal, 18 April. ?docid=241 ———. 2008c. Behind the Scenes: How ———. 2008b. President Litokwa udp Lost Vote. Marshall Islands Journal, Tomeing Welcomes Vice President Annette 11 January. Lu of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Marshall Islands. Republic of the Johnson, Giff, and Suzanne Chutaro. Marshall Islands. http://rmigovernment 2007. Election Fiasco. Marshall Islands .org/news_detail.jsp?docid=225 Journal, 23 November. ———. 2008c. President Tomeing to MIJ, Marshall Islands Journal. 2007a. Attend Inauguration Ceremony of H. E. 1067 Postal Votes Arrive. Marshall Islands President Ma, Ying-jeou of Republic of Journal, 7 December. China (Taiwan) and H. E. Vice President ———. 2007b. ag Defends US Voter Vincent C. Siew. Republic of the Marshall Deadline. Marshall Islands Journal, 23 Islands. http://rmigovernment.org/news November. _detail.jsp?docid=250 ———. 2007c. Litokwa: Time for a Yokwe Online. 2007a. Marshall Islands Change. Marshall Islands Journal, 16 Speaker Drops a Bomb on Ruling Political November. Party. http://yokwe.net/index.php?name ———. 2007d. Final Unofficial Results. =News&file=article&sid=1984 Marshall Islands Journal, 26 December. ———. 2007b. Observer Team for Mar- ———. 2008a. Cabinet Tackles Cars. Mar- shall Islands Elections Issues Statement. shall Islands Journal, 25 January. http://yokwe.net/index.php?name=News &file=article&sid=1995 ———. 2008b. Crowded Life on Kwaja- lein. Marshall Islands Journal, 18 April. ———. 2008a. Marshall Islands Govern- ment Dismayed by Abrupt usaka Reduc- ———. 2008c. Dark Clouds Looming. tion in Force. http://yokwe.net/index.php Marshall Islands Journal, 25 April. ?name=News&file=article&sid=2094 ———. 2008d. Electricity Bill Goes Up 25 ———. 2008b. Remarks of President Percent. Marshall Islands Journal, 6 June. Litokwa Tomeing during 65th Kwajalein ———. 2008e. Fuel Price Leads to Power Liberation Day. http://yokwe.net/index Cuts. Marshall Islands Journal, 16 May. .php?name=News&file=article&sid=2080 132 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009)

control over who enters and exits the Commonwealth of the commonwealth threatens the tourism Northern Mariana Islands business, which depends largely on Whether shouted from the rooftops markets where US visas are diffi cult or whispered in dark alleys, the word to obtain. There is also the issue of federalization has different mean- nonresident workers and their status ings for different people. For some under federal immigration system. it is a cure for the cancer that has Local politicians fear the worst, as a been growing for decades in the body large segment of the population wel- politic of the Commonwealth of the comes tighter controls as a means of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). eliminating the corruption perceived to For others, it is itself a deadly can- exist in immigration and labor fi elds. cer that will eventually be fatal. As of this writing, Governor Benigno Both extremes are well represented Fitial is preparing a lawsuit on behalf in popular discourse and, of course, of the commonwealth against the fed- majority opinion falls somewhere in eral government to block implementa- between. Every other topic covered in tion of the federalization law. this report is locally evaluated in terms A completely different position of its relationship to growing federal has been taken by a large number of authority in the commonwealth. contract workers lobbying for a spe- When the US Congress decided to cial immigration status for those who implement section 503 of the CNMI have worked in the commonwealth for Covenant, which gave Congress the fi ve years or more. They see a provi- authority to federalize immigration sion in the new law that could lead to and minimum wage rates, there were special status, similar to that afforded several distinct interpretations among citizens of the freely associated states. the population. For the administra- This would allow them visa-free entry tion of the commonwealth it was a to the United States and freedom to disaster waiting to happen, and many move around in the labor market. In attempts were made to block its fact, this year saw the development passage, including hiring new lobby- of a wholly new self-perception on ists (the unfortunate Jack Abramoff the part of large numbers of contract experience notwithstanding). When it workers. Instead of being afraid of eventually came through as a com- being deported, and behaving meekly promise measure between the US and obediently if they did protest their Senate and House, it contained no conditions, they have begun organiz- provision for improved immigration ing to lobby the federal government, status for certain nonresident workers. pushing for an amendment to the Nonetheless, the local administration immigration act as well as a more saw this as a violation of its right to liberal policy internal to the common- self-government under the terms of the wealth. A peaceful march of about covenant. Every effort was made, and 2,000–3,000 people (some estimates is still being made, to neutralize the run as high as 10,000) in March 2008 impact and retain control over immi- demonstrated the power of this group. gration. The governor feels that loss of The crowd gathered on Beach Road pol i t ical reviews • micronesia 133 and walked peacefully to the Ameri- increases is studied thoroughly. It is can Memorial Park, where rallies quite clear that many small businesses, were carried out, speeches made, and operating with the earlier minimum people of all ethnicities representing wage of $3.05/hour and a labor sys- the nonresident worker population tem that was in their favor, could not and their local supporters gathered to continue to do business under the new share their views. The Dekada Move- minimum wage. Many of the owners ment is the fi rst and largest of these have closed down and left the Islands groups, primarily but not exclusively with their families. made up of Filipino members. In To compound the disaster that is addition, the leaders of the different unfolding in the Marianas, the Com- groups have taken to writing letters to monwealth Utilities Commission came the editors of newspapers on a variety to a near meltdown in the production of relevant topics. This approach had of electrical power. Since last year’s never even been considered before. report, the situation has gradually Meanwhile, human-rights activists been getting worse. The island of welcomed the federalization of the now faces rolling two-hour immigration system as a means to blackouts (and some as long as four combat an increasing level of human hours, several times a day) while the traffi cking in the commonwealth. turbines and generators are being In reaction, an indigenous rights worked on, or because they simply group called Taotao Tano (People of break down. The situation has been the Land), led by indigenous rights complicated by the fact that spare activist Gregorio Cruz, began lobbying parts have to be made off island, spe- against special treatment of contract cifi cally for each engine, a time-con- workers as one of its priorities. Other, suming and expensive process. There more radical groups waited in the are also contractual disputes between wings. the government and the contractors Earlier in 2007 the US Congress hired to renovate the machinery. passed a new minimum-wage bill for In addition to the power outages the Mariana Islands, bundled with and subsequent damage to electronics about fi fty other unrelated pieces of and electric systems, the worldwide legislation. Thirty days after President price of oil has pushed up fuel costs George W Bush signed the bill into by nearly 100 percent. The governor’s law, the us$3.05/hour minimum wage promise during the 2007 State of the increased by fi fty cents. Six months Commonwealth address of having later it increased by another fi fty affordable power in the near future cents. It now stands at $4.05/hour, is looking like a very distant dream. and is supposed to increase by fi fty Utility costs have gone up to thirty- cents every six months until it reaches eight cents per kilowatt-hour for the federal level of $7.15/hour. A regular consumers, and higher for movement is underway, with some commercial customers. There are chance of success, to halt any fur- families on all three islands who are ther increases in the minimum wage paying as much as $2,000 a month for until the socioeconomic impact of the utilities. Energy saving devices are at a 134 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) premium, and it appears there is going body next academic year. Others have to be a rush on residential windmills noted relatively large numbers of peo- and solar water heaters for those who ple leaving Rota. There has been talk remain in the commonwealth. of some thousand or more residential The airlines have not escaped the telephone disconnections on Saipan fuel crisis. Citing fuel costs and low over the past year. passenger loads, Continental Air- In mid-2007 the CNMI Supreme lines recently canceled its two weekly Court was asked to redistrict Saipan Saipan–Manila fl ights. This will have for elections to the Commonwealth signifi cantly greater impact on Saipan House of Representatives. This was than is immediately perceived. At the as a result of a petition by political present time, Continental is the only activist Christina Sablan and Senator airline in the region that can manage Maria Pangelinan. The legislature had emergency medical evacuations to the not acted as required by the Constitu- qualifi ed medical centers in Manila. tion following the last decennial cen- Medevacs can no longer be carried sus and the governor had not moved out between the the Mariana Islands to correct the situation. Although and Guam. The propeller-driven the petition actually asked the court planes used on those runs cannot to reduce the number of representa- accommodate stretcher patients. This tives, the net result was the addition has created severe problems for the of two new electoral districts and two Commonwealth Health Center, which more representatives, based on the has a very high frequency of medevacs 2000 census. The total is now twenty to Manila, where the nearest certifi ed representatives instead of the sixteen facility is located and where the costs requested in the petition. Unfortu- are much cheaper than in Hawai‘i. nately, the 2000 census no longer has To add insult to injury, gas prices at much relevance in Saipan, following the pump have reached $5.05 a gallon the closure of the majority of the gar- and have continued to climb. Dozens ment factories and the resulting drop of cars with “For Sale” signs in the in population. The next census will front window have begun to park on not be until 2010. the beach side of Beach Road, and a In the November 2007 midterm great many more motor scooters have election, Tina Sablan, now famous appeared on the road. Even bicycles for her public campaigns to apply the are making a comeback. Open Government Act to the legisla- As a result of these and other ture, for better treatment of contract issues, there has been a very serious workers, for restructuring the legisla- increase in departures from the islands ture, and many other popular causes, by permanent residents, indigenous squeaked into the House of Represen- and otherwise. Studies are underway tatives by a narrow margin. This has at the Northern Marianas College resulted in an informal restructuring to quantify this exodus. One sign of of the legislature as Sablan continued hard times is the very low enrollment her campaign on behalf of nonresident for summer school at the college, and workers and the Open Government some indications of a smaller student Act. Several veteran lawmakers have pol i t ical reviews • micronesia 135 begun to realign their positions, and Governor Fitial received a grant from the general public can now use the the US Department of the Interior to Internet to access schedules for meet- explore the possibility of developing ings and hearings. geothermal energy production on the On the plus side, there has been island of Pagan, where there is still an renewed interest and activity in the active volcano, and transmitting the tourism sector. Northwest Airlines has power to Guam via Saipan at a cost begun additional daily fl ights from of approximately fi ve cents per kilo- Narita, Japan, and Asiana Airlines watt-hour. The cost of constructing is adding fl ights from Korea. The an undersea power cable for the 200 Kumho group of companies, which miles between Pagan and Saipan has owns Asiana, has recently acquired the been calculated at one million dollars LauLau Bay Golf Resort from United per mile. Micronesia Development Associa- In January 2009, for the fi rst time, tion, where they are going to spend the commonwealth will be able to $40–$50 million on a new resort that take its place with the other territo- will include high-end condominium ries in the US House of Representa- bungalows. The development associa- tives. Included in the federalization tion turned around and purchased the legislation was a provision to elect a Nikko Hotel from Japan Airlines and commonwealth delegate to the House is currently looking for a company to of Representatives in the November manage the property. 2008 elections. As of the 7 August Construction on two new casinos 2008 declaration deadline, more than on Tinian continued during the year. nine individuals had fi led to run, However, due to a lack of refueling including 1 Democrat (David Cing), facilities, the airport on Tinian cannot 1 Republican (Pete A Tenorio), and 7 yet be used for international fl ights. individuals as independent candidates. Also, bueaucratic delays apparently However, none of the potential candi- stalled the construction and opera- dates have been certifi ed yet, and it is tion of an instrument-landing sys- possible some may be disqualifi ed on tem funded by the Federal Aviation technicalities. Administration. The Pew Environmental Group In an unusual move, during the sought support for a controversial November 2007 election the people proposal to create a marine memo- of Rota adopted an initiative to open rial in the three northernmost islands casinos. (Since the late 1970s, the peo- of the Marianas Archipelago (Maug, ple of Rota have consistently rejected Asunción, and Uracas). According casinos.) A Casino Control Commis- to the Pew group, which has spent sion has recently been appointed and considerable time and money lobby- the search for possible investors is ing for support in the commonwealth, underway. Rota has an international- a decision would have to be made capacity airport that accommodates before President Bush leaves offi ce in direct fl ights from Japan by Continen- January 2009. The pressure on the tal Airlines on a charter basis. local decision makers resulted in a Regarding the energy situation, very strong counteraction based on 136 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) fear of further federalization. While of military planners has visited all the the idea has obvious merit, the indig- populated islands of the Marianas enous population fears loss of fi shing to discuss possible uses and impacts. grounds and possible constraints on It is clear that Tinian will become a alternate economic activity that could major training base, since under the take place in the two-hundred-mile covenant the military already has a exclusive economic zone. There is little lease on 17,000 acres there. Also, by consideration of the fact that the fed- that time Tinian should have three eral government already controls the fully operational casinos, and there marine economic zone, and there is no may be one or two on Rota, which is signifi cant activity going on. Petitions in close proximity to Guam. Mention were circulated on both sides. has also been made of Pagan, one of Northern Marianas College contin- the Northern Islands, as a military ues to struggle to maintain its accredi- training facility, but this is much more tation. Critical will be a visit by the problematic because that island is not Western Association of Schools and on the list of military retention lands Colleges in October 2008 to review in the covenant. progress made on defi ciencies noted in samuel f mcphetres a previous visit. A new nursing school, Emmanuel College, is now open and doing business on Saipan. It turns out Republic of Palau nursing assistants in a nine-month program. These graduates are primar- The major issues for 2007–2008 were ily destined for service in California, the activities of the Republic of Palau where the owner of the college owns (ROP) executive and the National a number of nursing homes. Another Congress (Olbiil Era Kelulau, or educational endeavor is the Ameri- oek); relations with the United States, can Mediscience University, a Korean Taiwan, and ; the special institution that teaches traditional prosecutor; fi shing; and activities of Korean medicine. Yet another group is the rural states. in the preparatory stages of opening a President Tommy E Remengesau full-blown medical school, similar to Jr is nearing the end of his eight- those in the Caribbean, but affi liated year presidency and departing as with the local Commonwealth Health one of Time magazine’s “heroes of Center. the environment” for his Microne- An example of what could loom sia Challenge initiative. This com- large in the future of the Marianas is mitment involves the conservation the pending move of some 8,000 US of 30 percent of a nation’s marine Marines from Okinawa to Guam. environment and 20 percent of its The move will also include 15,000 terrestrial resources by the year dependents, support staff, and vari- 2020. All the states of the Federated ous ancillary services. A construction States of Micronesia (FSM), Palau, boom worth billions of dollars will the Marshall Islands, Guam, and commence on Guam in 2010, for a the Commonwealth of the Northern 2012 arrival date. An advance party Mariana Islands have signed on to the pol i t ical reviews • micronesia 137 challenge. Remengesau attended the tax increases on advice from World Bali international conference on the Bank and Asian Development Bank environment, and Minister of State experts. Temmy Shmull accepted a $3.6 million The big event of the year was the grant from the European Union to offi cial opening of the US-funded, fund renewable energy and sustainable fi fty-three-mile, $149 million Compact alternative energy projects. Remenge- Road on Independence Day, 1 Octo- sau met briefl y with US Secretary ber. An engineering marvel that tested of Interior Dirk Kempthorne while the resolve of Daewoo Engineering attending the tenth annual Coral Reef and Construction Corporation by Task Force meeting in Washington dc. running badly over budget and beyond At a series of conferences to celebrate all timelines, the road is a magnifi cent Israel’s sixtieth birthday (1948–2008), achievement of design and construc- Remengesau called on the assembled tion. The US Army Corps of Engineers leaders to develop alternative renew- will be responsible for clearing future able energy sources, including wind, landslides, and some twenty Daewoo solar, and water. The conference mod- workmen will remain in Palau for erator, former British Prime Minister the one-year road warranty period. Tony Blair, commended Remengesau Remengesau is also hoping to enhance for his brevity and passion. Israel his legacy with the completion of the has assisted Palau with fi sh farming, $11.9 million Koror-Airai arterial medicine, and radiology. Furthermore, road rehabilitation project by Japan’s in April Taiwan donated a half million Nishimatsu Construction Company. dollars to the Micronesia Challenge The current urban road system, built trust fund and, perhaps inspired by in 1980–1981, is well worn. this action, the Netherlands, Ger- By executive action, Remengesau many, Italy, and Spain also agreed to created the Oil and Gas Task Force. contribute. With representation from most seg- President Remengesau presented a ments of Palauan society, the group, $67.9 million budget to the Olbiil Era chaired by Senator Santy Asanuma, Kelulau in July 2007, rather than in recognized that it still needed to April as usual. The budget included a enlarge its membership, being “duty $10.3 million defi cit that the president bound to safeguard and protect maintained could be covered by an the varying interests of all Palauan increase in taxes as recommended by a stakeholders, inclusive of both the Tax Task Force. The National Con- national and individual states without gress balked and Palau did not have prejudice” (TB, 11–17 Jan 2008, 2; an approved budget on 1 October emphasis added). The World Bank has 2007, the beginning of the fi scal year. provided $223,300 to fi nance techni- The disappointed president fi nally cal assistance to the task force, includ- approved a compromise budget of ing consulting services to develop a $59.4 million at the end of Novem- hydrocarbon code and model agree- ber. The National Congress agreed on ment, petroleum operation regulations increases to the hotel room tax and that respect environmental regula- fi sh export tax, and addressed other tions, and hydrocarbon tax regula- 138 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) tions. This is all taking place without United Nations opening session, giving knowing whether or not oil exists a speech to the General Assembly that in commercially valuable quantities emphasized the vulnerability of small north of Kayangel Atoll, the northern- island states to climate change. He most island area in Palau. also stood in for Remengesau at the In light of the terrible consequences Pacifi c Islands Forum. Palau was one of the 2006 bankruptcy of the Pacifi c of fi ve island nations that did not send Savings Bank, Remengesau signed their chief executive because of the into law a bill amending the Financial presence of non-elected Commodore Institutions Act of 2001. The amend- Frank Bainimarama of Fiji. The Chin- ment will require an annual external Seid ticket is one of four teams that audit of all banks in Palau and more will contest the 23 September primary time (fi ve years) to rehabilitate a failed race. The three other teams lined up bank. This action supplements passage for the primary are Attorney Johnson of the Counterterrorism Act of 2007, Toribiong with Congressman Kerai the Cash Courier Disclosure Act of Mariur; Senator Joshua Koshiba and 2007, and the Money Laundering and Peleliu Governor Jackson Ngiraingas; Proceeds of Crime Act of 2001. and Senate President Surangel Whipps Remengesau ended the period under with the Reverend Billy Kuartei, cur- review by delivering his last State of rently Remengesau’s chief of staff. the Republic address, in which he The nine-member Senate of the thanked the people of Palau for giving Palau National Congress was com- him “the greatest honor of my life” mended for rejecting the proposed and a “profound experience.” He also secrecy bill regarding the Compact hosted the Micronesian Leaders Sum- Review Commission’s work product mit in Palau; traveled to the Republic as a clear-cut violation of the Palau of the Philippines for a state visit with Constitution. However, later in the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, year the sixteen-member House of during which numerous important Delegates came under fi re from the agreements were signed; accepted the press and general public for approv- credentials of Indonesian Ambassador ing a budget that was heavy on taxes, Irzan Tangjung; and led a party of top for not holding public hearings on leaders to the inauguration of Taiwan’s the budget, and for ignoring serious President Ma Ying-jeou. concerns about the budget and tax Vice President Elias Camsek Chin increases. Newspaper opinion pieces declared his candidacy for the presi- scolded the legislators with editorial dency, and chose Congressman Alan headlines such as, “Who Is Respon- Seid as his running mate. Unlike previ- sible for the Budget Mess?” (TB, 14–20 ous national elections, a vice presi- Sept 2007, 8) and “Irresponsible dential running mate is required by a Leadership and Abuse of Power” (TB, constitutional amendment approved 2–8 Nov 2007, 8). The Tia Belau at the 2004 elections. Now Chin’s cartoonist had a fi eld day presenting challenge is to balance his campaign the congressmen and top executives activities with his vice-presidential as greedy pigs feeding on money and duties. He represented Palau at the power (TB, 2–8 Nov 2007, 8, 15). pol i t ical reviews • micronesia 139

In contrast, the Senate held numer- bank was caused by “the criminal, ous public hearings and open sessions improper, illegal, and fraudulent across Palau on the budget and taxes, activities of its directors and offi cers and after a continuing resolution that through insider and related party allowed the government to operate at loans, dubious investments, expenses, levels from the previous fi scal year for and other allowances” (TB, 6–12 October and November, served up a June 2008, 1, 15). The report states budget of $59.4 million, which Presi- that $41 million was deposited and dent Remengesau reluctantly signed withdrawn from the bank in just one into law. The National Congress year, 2005. Second, Harley requires concluded its work for the period by considerably more help to document considering for ratifi cation an agree- the entire process of failure. In Febru- ment between Palau’s National Com- ary, Harley fi led charges against Tim munications Corporation (pncc) and Taunton, former president and chair- Taiwan’s Chunghwa telecommunica- man of the bank’s board of directors; tions to totally upgrade pncc equip- Finance Minister Elbuchel Sadang; ment and services to make Palau the House of Delegates member Mario “e-government, e-health, and e-busi- Gulibert; other offi cers of the bank; ness center of Micronesia” (TB, 8–14 and members of the Board of Trustees Feb 2008, 4). The Congress passed the of the Civil Service Pension Plan “in pan (protected area network) con- relation to the Pension Plan’s place- servation legislation, which calls for ment of $1 million into the defunct a $30 “green fee” to be paid by each bank in September 2006” (TB, 15–21 arriving visitor beginning 1 October Feb 2008, 1). The Pension Plan Board 2008. Most of the fee will go toward is accused of knowingly failing to safe- protecting Palau’s conservation areas. guard and insure the preservation of Finally, the Congress passed legislation pension plan funds, thereby “enabling providing a three-million-dollar sub- the psb directors and offi cers to sidy for the Palau electric corporation continue to deceive the public with to cover the surging cost of electricity, regards to its fi nancial conditions” with preferential treatment for con- (TB, 15–21 Feb 2008, 15). sumers with low demand and/or low Palau has had friendly diplomatic income. relations with Taiwan since 1999 and Palau’s most sensational fi nancial over the years received more than collapse was the 2006 bankruptcy $100 million, mainly for infrastruc- of the Pacifi c Savings Bank (psb). ture, but also for services such as the Public Law 7-25 authorized President Taiwan Technical Mission, which pro- Remengesau to hire an independent vides agricultural research, extension, counsel to investigate matters and and products. On two occasions Palau prosecute individuals. Lewis K Harley and Taiwan’s other Pacifi c allies (the of Houston, Texas, was hired, and Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, on 30 May 2008 he fi led an interim Kiribati, Nauru, and Tuvalu) sent let- report with the president and sen- ters to the United Nations urging that ate. Harley’s report makes two basic Taiwan be granted UN membership. points. First, the collapse of the The March 2008 bid was the fi fteenth 140 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) consecutive annual request for recog- should be completed by 1 October nition for Taiwan. 2009. During the fi rst 15 years of the Taiwan’s latest venture in the 50-year compact, Palau received over region is the establishment of the $500 million from the United States, Austronesian Forum for Coopera- designed to assist the young nation tion. At the inaugural conference in achieve economic self-suffi ciency, Koror, nine countries signed the forum among other things. Added to this was declaration: Palau, Marshall Islands, about $100 million contributed by Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Japan and another $100 million from Nauru, Philippines, New Zealand, and Taiwan since 1994. Even with these Taiwan. The forum has the endorse- sizable monetary injections, it is ques- ment of the leaders at the second Tai- tionable whether or not the goal has wan–Pacifi c Allies summit leaders in been achieved. This is the basic issue 2007. Its basic purpose is to bring the the two review teams need to tackle. Austro nesian communities together to How special is the special relation- promote democracy, good governance, ship that exists between Palau and the human rights, and sustainable devel- United States, particularly regarding opment. The forum headquarters will continued fi nancial support both for be established in Palau. operations and infrastructure? In March 2008, Palau’s popular Rev Billy Kuartei and Director special prosecutor, Everett Walton, of Pacifi c Island Affairs for the US resigned. He was especially active in Department of State Steven McGann pursuing congressmen who allegedly sat down at the table in Palau in violated rules and regulations regard- March to begin the review. Press ing travel, and misuse of government reports indicate that discussions did funds. Walton also fi led complaints not get beyond generalities. Section against state governors and adminis- 432 of the compact states, “Upon the trative offi cials for numerous alleged fi fteenth and thirtieth and fortieth violations of their use of funds and anniversaries of the effective date of misconduct while in offi ce. In a small this Compact,” the two governments society such as Palau, aggressive pur- should consider “the overall nature suit of alleged lawbreakers sets up a and development of their relation- wide range of dynamics. Remengesau ship.” Specifi cally, the parties need was unsuccessful in persuading Walton to review progress toward the objec- to reconsider his resignation, and he tives set out in Palau’s development departed Palau on 29 March. Tia plan (Public Law 99-658, Compact Belau said it best: “We think Walton of Free Association, Approval, pages did a good job under the circum- 3690–3691, 3699). So, there is a lot of stances” (TB, 14–20 March 2008, 8). reviewing to do. After some misunderstanding Palau’s rural states are becoming regarding the terms “renegotiate” more active in Palau’s affairs. With and “review,” Palau and the United the exception of Koror, the other States had one meeting to begin the fi fteen states depend exclusively on the process of reviewing the terms of the national government for cash support, Compact of Free Association, which yet a few states act as though they are pol i t ical reviews • micronesia 141 independent entities with their own tion after fourteen years on the bench. foreign policies. Peleliu’s governor, Much endeared, Miller learned to Jackson Ngiraingas, has been talk- speak and even sing in Palauan. He ing with various offi cials in presided over many landmark cases, about building large resort projects including the Airai Golf Course case on Peleliu and Angaur. The Angaur ROP v ASPLA (Airai State Public Lands project envisions fi ve gigantic build- Authority); the ROP versus Saunders ings, each with seven towers as a fi rst murder case; the Rengiil Estate and phase, and a second phase of a golf Becheserak Estate cases; as well as course and 500-room resort located in chiefl y title cases such as the Airai another part of Angaur. The revenue Ngiraked and Ubad title disputes. from the operation of these facilities Miller will return to New York and would pay off billion-dollar loans join his brother’s fi rm, which special- taken out by both islands to construct izes in reorganization and merging of the resort facilities. corporations and companies. Miller’s Ngchesar, on the other hand, is replacement on the bench will be Alex- leasing land for housing and working andra F Foster, who arrives in Septem- with the Taiwanese to get their road ber 2008. President Remengesau chose paved. Also in Ngchesar, a jungle an off-Islander because these individu- river boat cruise began as an ecotour- als have few confl ict-of-interest issues ism operation. These projects could go when it comes to judicial work. forward only after Governor Hideo Fishing is listed as Palau’s second was removed by the State Council for largest industry after tourism, yet few his pro–Mainland China activity. Palauans are involved as commercial Aimeliik State elected Leilani fi shermen. Palau sells its fi shing rights Reklai as its governor. She joins to three companies, two of which are Vicky Kanai of Airai State and Akiko in trouble for cigarette smuggling and Sugiyama as the fi rst female governors tax evasion. Palau Marine Industries of Babeldaob states. The governor Corporation recruited former Presi- of Melekeok was sued by the special dent Kuniwo Nakamura to intervene prosecutor for multiple charges of in their tax evasion case and worked misuse of state funds and misconduct out an arrangement whereby the in offi ce, but the suit was dropped by company would pay about $700,000 Walton just before he departed from to settle it. The company made just Palau. However, the state still has to one payment of about $100,000 and deal with the suit fi led by Patrick Tellei even attempted to sell the company regarding a petition to amend the state in hopes of continued evasion. In late constitution, which would reduce the May, Palau Marine Industries lost its number of legislators to eleven, all case at the appellate level and is offi - elected, as an alternative to the current cially out of business. fi ve elected seats plus the state’s ten Palau hosted the Forum Fisher- traditional chiefs and the governor. ies Agency (ffa) fourth ministerial The colorful and sensitive Larry W meeting, followed by the sixty-seventh Miller, associate justice for the Palau Forum Fisheries Committee meet- Supreme Court, tendered his resigna- ing in Koror. The tone of the meeting 142 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:1 (2009) was set by the ffa director general, 86, passed away. At only 54, Director Tanielu Su‘a, who informed the of Public Safety Hazime Telei passed sixteen member countries that “tuna away. Carol Kesolei Anastacio, 54, fi sheries in the Pacifi c have been under who had been a teacher at the Palau ‘severe stress’ from a [sic] overcapac- Community College and a successful ity, excessive fi shing pressure, tech- businesswoman with her husband, nological innovations, poor fi shing unexpectedly passed away. Ngatpang practices, ineffective management, chief and local historian Techitong non-sustainable development, and Rebluud, 80, died. In the New Year, poor monitoring, control and sur- Rengulbai Brikul Ngiruchelbad, age veillance” (TB, 23–29 May 2008, 3). 84 and a member of Palau Coun- These circumstances led the Western cil of Chiefs, died. On 31 January, Pacifi c Regional Fishery Management Ubad Ngeriut Matlab passed away; Council to recently prohibit purse although a member of the Idid clan of seiners from fi shing within seventy-fi ve Koror, she held the important title of miles of shore in US federal waters off Ubad of Airai. At the very young age Guam, the Northern Marianas, and of 19, Madraisau Smus, a star base- American Sämoa. Such drastic action ball player for Palau, died in a tragic is designed to protect the population car accident. Kukumai Rudimch, wife of skipjack tuna. of Indalecio Rudimch and mother In another important development, of the late Senate President Isidoro President Remengesau expressed inter- Rudimch, who helped establish one est in a solar-power experiment that of Palau’s oldest and most success- would beam electricity generated in ful businesses, died at 81. Iluches space down to a receptor located on Beches, the high chief of Ulimang, Helen’s Reef in the Southwest Islands. Ngaraard, died at 88. Mike Ongal- The electrical energy of one megawatt ibang, a member of the Ngchesar State would be suffi cient to power 1,000 Council, passed away at 59. Tragi- homes. This would essentially be a cally, Palau artist Willy Watanabe, and feasibility study to test the practicality Rodel Marco, a graphic artist from and safety of the idea. An American the Philippines, died from drowning entrepreneur approached Remengesau at the Japan-Palau Friendship Bridge. about the concept at the UN Climate Willy attempted to save Rodel, but Change Conference in Bali in Decem- both were lost while at an Easter ber 2007 (TB, 28 Dec 2007–3 Jan Sunday picnic. Lance A D Sugiyama, 2008, 1, 15). an 18-year-old student at Palau High Deaths of people have a signifi - School, also died from drowning. cant impact on small societies such Ricardo Ngirkelau, 61, passed away; as Palau. During the year, Tatingal he was a superb baseball player and Ruauch, age 89, passed away. Gabri- all-around athlete who loved athletic ela Ngirmang, women’s leader and competition. Businessman and chief voice of the anti-compact movement Hittora Demei died after being ill for of the mid-1980s, died at 84. Ngirtu- some years. Idip Ngiratiou, who held rong (chief ) Masao Franz Remenge- the title Ngirarois, passed away at age sau, 87, and chief Johanes Ngirakesau, 105. He was the organizer and man- pol i t ical reviews • micronesia 143 ager of Palau’s very fi rst baseball team, also passed away. On Guam, Ichiro the All Palau All Stars, which he had Belailes, one of the oldest founding started in about 1925, during Japanese members of the Palauan Community times. The former governor of Angaur, Association, and a retired member of Ben Roberto, passed away on June the US Army, died at age 78. 7. A colorful person, Ben ran for the donald r shuster presidency of Palau in 2000 and was the leader of the Mormons in Palau. Ebas Rsei, the longest-serving member Special thanks to Yoichi K Rengiil of the Ngchesar State Council who for comments on an earlier draft of held the chiefl y title Rechtuker, died at this review. age 85. Tragically, Kirino Semdiu, a local chief, drowned while collecting trochus outside the reef at Melekeok Reference State; he was 47. Omoto J Rengiil, a TB, Tia Belau (This is Palau) news. Weekly. retired elementary teacher and prin- Koror, Republic of Palau. cipal of Airai Elementary School,