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Political Reviews

0LFURQHVLDLQ5HYLHZ,VVXHVDQG(YHQWV-XO\ WR-XQH david w kupferman, kelly g marsh, donald r shuster, tyrone j taitano

3RO\QHVLDLQ5HYLHZ,VVXHVDQG(YHQWV-XO\ WR-XQH lorenz gonschor, hapakuke pierre leleivai, margaret mutu, forrest wade young

7KH&RQWHPSRUDU\3DFL²F9ROXPH1XPEHU¥ ‹E\8QLYHUVLW\RI+DZDL©L3UHVV

127 142 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013)

NYT, New York Times. Daily. complaint and questioning and even a RMI, Republic of the . lawsuit. But he endured to take other 2011a. The RMI  Census of Popula- positive steps, and with the advice tion and Housing: Summary and High- and consent of the Senate he lights Only. : Economic Policy, appointed a new five-member board Planning, and Statistics Office. to oversee the Palau Public Utilities http://www.doi.gov/oia/reports/upload/ Commission. Electricity was fully RMI-2011-Census-Summary-Report-on restored by Christmas Day. -Population-and-Housing.pdf In November, President Toribiong ———. 2011b. The RMI  Census joined other Pacific Island leaders and Progress Report. Majuro: Economic Policy, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Planning, and Statistics Office. for a series of meetings on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Coop- eration (apec) Leaders’ Meeting in Republic of Palau . The official White House photo from the Pacific Islands leaders’ President is the meeting with President Barack Obama Republic of Palau’s eighth president shows President Toribiong standing since 1 January 1981. To date, he to Obama’s immediate right. The has traveled abroad extensively and sessions addressed fisheries, natural achieved much overseas, and this resources development, climate-change may have diverted his attention from threats, disaster management, and the local problems and issues. He is in the Pacific region’s growing health crisis. fourth year of his presidency and in Secretary Clinton took the occasion to 2012 must stand for reelection during announce a major US policy shift: a September’s primary and November’s pivot away from the Middle East and ninth general elections. toward America’s Pacific Century in On 5 November 2011, a small the Asia-Pacific region. What impact fire in Palau’s main Aimeliik electri- this may have on Palau is unknown. cal power plant raged out of control, US congressional approval of the destroying the facility and its capacity Compact Agreement II between Palau to generate electricity. This in turn and the United States would be an endangered the water supply to excellent step. That agreement has and Airai, impacted Koror’s waste- been languishing in Congress for over water system, and threatened not a year. only the operation of the National President Toribiong greeted New Hospital but also operations at public Year’s Day 2012 with an ecumeni- and private schools and even the cal “Sunrise Prayer Service for the activities of the Palau International Nation” at the magnificent national Airport. President Toribiong declared capitol in Ngerulmud. All of Palau’s a national state of emergency and churches took part, and High Chief took quick and positive action to Reklai closed the services with his restore full electrical power. Like many advice that what each leader wants dramatic actions in Palau, the presi- must give way to both what is right dent’s responses were the subject of and what is their responsibility. political reviews ‡ 143

Two weeks later the president was Remains from that island, south of in Kayangel, Palau’s only atoll, to Koror, were repatriated to Japan for identify the best locations for twenty final burial at the Chidorigafuchi solar lights. Kayangel’s solar lights are National Cemetery or to be returned in addition to those installed at the to Japanese families. Palau’s ambas- capitol, the International Airport, the sador to Japan, Dr Minoru Ueki, National Hospital, the Department of assisted in these repatriation efforts. Education, and along Koror’s cause- President Toribiong paid his sincerest ways—a step toward reducing Palau’s respects to Japan on the occasion of greenhouse gases. Toribiong also the one-year anniversary of the Great participated in the Palau Unity Walk East Japan earthquake and tsunami. in Ngatpang State, which launched the The country suffered enormously with republic’s campaign against non-com- the tragic loss of many lives and dam- municable diseases. This first unity age amounting to billions of dollars. walk was organized by the alumni of In February, Toribiong was in New Belau Modekngei School as part of the York City for meetings with other school’s thirty-eighth annual anniver- world leaders on the immensely dif- sary activities. ficult issue of climate change. The Also in the New Year, President president presented a petition to the Toribiong and Japan’s Ambassador International Court of Justice seeking Yoshiyuki Sadaoka celebrated the an advisory opinion concerning trans- tenth anniversary of the Japan-Palau boundary emissions. His case rests on Friendship Bridge. Completed in the basic concept that “international January 2002, this magnificent struc- law compels states to insure that their ture, which links the large island of territories [and industrial activities] with Koror State, was built are not used to violate the rights of with a $25 million grant from Japan. other states” to a clean environment. The event was marked with issuance The day before, New York University of commemorative postage stamps and Law School honored President Toribi- a reception. Besides the bridge’s great ong for his climate-change efforts symbolic value, it is critical to Palau’s including this petition. future efforts at achieving economic Also early in the year, President self-sufficiency. Also contributing to Toribiong welcomed a visiting party that goal is Japan’s ongoing Overseas from the US Congress consisting of Development Assistance program. senators John McCain, Joseph Lieber- Ambassador Sakaoka presented a man, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Kelly blueprint of Japan’s assistance to Ayotte. The group laid wreaths at the Palau for the next decade. war monument on in honor Soon after the bridge celebration, of the US troops who lost their lives Mr Toribiong signed a “Memorandum there. The president reminded the on the Collection Activities of Japa- visitors that Palauans will never forget nese War Dead,” obligating a ministry that sacrifice. He also expressed his in Palau to work with a ministry in gratitude to Senator McCain for the Japan to restart their efforts to collect warm welcomes given to the Toribiong remains in Palau, especially on Peleliu. delegation during each of three past 144 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013) visits to Washington dc. McCain has ing the 2012 budget to $63.78 million. been an active supporter of Palau’s This included $325,000 for a cost-of- compact agreement with the United living allowance of $20 biweekly, to States, but the agreement is stuck in be disbursed beginning 1 July 2012 the US House of Representatives. for all employees making less than Assistant Secretary of State Kurt $25,000 annually. Also, the legisla- Campbell was scheduled to be in tion increased Palau’s minimum wage Palau in early June to update President to $2.60/hour beginning July 2013, Toribiong and Palau’s congressional with further increases in the minimum leaders, but his visit together with wage every six months until it reaches Admiral Cecil Haney, Commander $3.50/hour by January 2015. US Pacific Fleet, was postponed to Significantly, a second supplemental the near future because, reportedly, budget bill was passed by the con- Campbell was hospitalized. Although gress in early May and signed into the compact has not been approved by law. Many of the ministries received the US Congress, Palau has received additional funds, but, more important, direct annual economic assistance of the law included special language $13 million since Compact I ended on designed to excuse overspending: 30 September 2009, consistent with “Any over expenditures by the Gov- the terms of Compact II. ernment . . . in Fiscal Year 2011 shall The president and the National be deemed to have been ratified by the Congress (Olbiil Era Kelulau or oek) oek . . . subject to Ministry of Finance had their traditional skirmish over the [that] shall submit . . . itemization of 2012 budget, which was signed into every over-expenditure to the oek” law some six months late. Toribiong (TB, 15 June 2012). The president’s also had to intervene in order to over- opponents see this language as a blank come congressional infighting. The check for further indiscretions, but approved budget authorizes $60.85 his supporters interpret it in positive million and appropriates $59.93 mil- terms. lion. The measure included $75,000 By midyear, Mr Toribiong was in in assistance to no-income families, Okinawa, Japan, for the sixth Pacific including a $100 monthly stipend for Alliance Leadership Meeting (palm such families. Furthermore, language 6). Prime Minister Noda welcomed in the budget law requires that funds President Toribiong and mentioned designated for the HealthCare/Medical that he hoped the four electric gen- Savings Fund will in fact be placed in erators that Japan donated to Palau that fund alone. Prior to the inclusion had helped Palau resolve its electrical of this important language, the Palau power shortage. Toribiong, his wife Social Security Administration had Valeria, and the other Pacific Island been using HealthCare funding to pay leaders, together with representa- Social Security Fund obligations. tives from the United States, met the Soon after this action, Toribiong emperor and empress of Japan. The strongly urged the congress to pass a two-day summit focused on five major supplemental budget bill, which he issues: responding to natural disas- signed into law in early April, increas- ters; environmental issues and climate political reviews ‡ micronesia 145 change; sustainable development; from the president’s office contacted people-to-people exchanges; and mari- the Chinese Embassy in the Federated time issues. The event concluded with States of Micronesia, who immediately Japan’s generous commitment to pro- flew to Palau. Officials from the two vide assistance of up to $500 million nations met and negotiated a settle- over the next three years, to be shared ment that included a $25,000 fine and by all Pacific Island states, in order to forfeiture of the boats and fishing gear. address the five major issues covered The fishermen were released and flew in the meetings. The participants will home on a special plane sent from have an interim meeting in 2013 and China. will convene palm 7 in 2015. Japan The Pacific Savings Bank prob- provided enormously pleasant accom- lem discussed in last year’s review modations and cuisine. (see Shuster 2012) finally had some Fishermen from the People’s closure with the trial and sentencing Republic of China were caught of two bank officials, who were found illegally fishing in Palau’s waters guilty of fifty counts of grand larceny north of Kayangel, which resulted in and money laundering, and another a dramatic open-sea confrontation. who was found guilty of thirty-four It was reported that three smaller counts. “The Court determined that vessels had been dispatched from a over a three-month period in 2004, Chinese mother ship to fish when they the defendants illegally typed up, or were spotted by Palauan authorities. had typed up, fifty checks to them- During the chase, Palauan officials selves, family members, or businesses fired gunshots at the fleeing vessels, they controlled, many of which reportedly hitting one man, who later were fictitious” (TB, 14 Nov 2011). bled to death. Twenty-five men were Instead of jailing the three convicted apprehended, charged with ten counts women, Judge Foster placed them of law breaking, and jailed. After the on probation for five to seven years arrests, Palau lost a small plane, which and ordered them to repay the stolen reportedly ran out of fuel and crashed money plus 9 percent annual inter- into the ocean while searching for est and to pay fines of up to $15,000 the mother ship, which had appar- during the first three years of proba- ently been destroyed earlier by the tion. The women must also serve 100 fishermen. Two Palauan policemen on to 145 hours of community service board the spotter plane—Willy Mays during their probationary years. Some Towai and Earlee Decherong—and members of the community believe the the pilot, Frank Ohlinger, were lost. punishment was too lenient because An intensive search was mounted but the offenders escaped long jail terms. ended with no trace of the men or However, if jailed, the women would the plane being found. This troubling not be able to work to earn the money event brought many Palauans together, they are required by court order to including President Toribiong, to hope repay. In the meantime, the master- and pray for the survival of the lost mind of the huge theft, former bank men. Attempting to avoid a serious president Timothy Taunton, remained diplomatic problem, high officials free and in hiding. 146 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013)

A Filipina has opened the Belau Bangladeshi couple, both of whom School of Ballet, Hip-Hop, and Con- had been employed by Hanpa Indus- temporary Dance. On the other hand, trial Corporation, sued its owner Mr the Philippine Embassy in Palau will Ha for maltreatment. The Bangladeshi close on 31 July because of the need to couple also sued the Government of reduce spending by the government’s Palau but settled out of court. The diplomatic service. This will present a couple had a temporary restraining significant hardship to many Filipino order in place so that they could not citizens in Palau because of a history be deported until after the adjudica- of illegal treatment by the private sec- tion of their case against Mr Ha and tor and other forms of abuse. While his son by Palau’s court. As of this the outgoing ambassador, Ramoncito writing, two instances of violence Marino, has attempted to reassure against other Bangladeshi people the resident Filipinos, they remain have taken place in 2012. The first suspicious, and the Filipino Commu- case involved a robbery of a store nity of Palau has registered its formal owned by the Toribiong family, and opposition to the embassy’s closing. the second a fight that turned nasty, Currently, Palau has some 4,000 to with the Bangladeshi ending up in the 5,000 Filipino contract workers. hospital. As a result of President Toribi- Pastor Jeoung Sangjin of Korea has ong’s plea before the United Nations been resident in Palau for twelve years General Assembly in 2009, Canada, and can intervene in serious cases Germany, , and New Zea- involving his countrymen. With the land have provided over $2 million assistance of Senior Pastor Billy Kuar- in funding to remove dangerous tei, Dwight Alexander, and benefac- World War II ordnance. More than tors Surangel Whipps, Jr, and former 11,000 explosives have been found, President , Pastor disarmed, and removed from Palau’s Sangjin has established the Korean environment. This has been danger- Culture Mission Center for instruction ous but necessary work carried out in Korean language, culture, and tradi- by the nongovernmental organization tions. The Korean and Bangladeshi Cleared Ground Demining. What cultural groups add a significant and is of special note is that the Cleared positive international flavor to Palau. Ground organization has trained local In a wonderful display of color, tal- individuals in ordnance-clearing and ent, and toys, seventy-five high school removal techniques. They have had students from Palau, Japan, and Tai- over a year of experience and practice wan celebrated their youthful energy with those techniques and represent on stage at Palau’s excellent track and important local expertise. Bombs, field facility in June. Titled “Trans- mortars, hand grenades, and mines pacific Nature Preservation,” the event make up most of their challenges, with was the idea of Izumi High School three bombs found recently near the principal Toru Nakahara, assisted by Aimeliik power plant. the Consul in Japan and Dr Palau’s Korean and Bangladeshi Minoru Ueki, Palau’s ambassador to communities are small but active. A Japan. The event was a great show of political reviews ‡ micronesia 147 chants, skits, athletic events, fashions, The president discussed the rapid foods, music, and culture. growth in tourism, citing the final In early May, the president pre- figure for 2011 of 109,057 visitors, sented his fourth Progress Report. with Japan and Taiwan leading the Events and achievements not already way in terms of tourist arrivals. With mentioned include a $20 million debt some thirty flights per week and six owed to the Taiwan MegaBank an airlines (including Palau Airways), expected surplus of about $4 mil- Taiwan arrivals are growing rapidly. lion at the end of the fiscal year; the The president also mentioned stabilization and modest growth of the receiving a large grant from the US Compact Trust Fund at nearly $170 Department of the Interior to develop million; and growth in the real gross a National Labor Code that will, domestic product (gdp) of 1 per- theoretically, improve the enforcement cent (after a few years of decline) for of fair labor standards and equitable 2010 and almost 6 percent for 2011, treatment for all workers in Palau. The as published by the International Interior Department further provided Monetary Fund (imf) in its Palau: $800,000 in grant assistance for estab- Economic Developments and Policy lishment of a state-of-the-art Health Challenges report. The imf report Information System, aimed at improv- went on to alert Palau that since it is ing health in Palau. The department dependent on tourism, imports of food is also supporting a regional women’s and fuel, and foreign aid, the govern- conference in August with participa- ment remains vulnerable to external tion from , the Commonwealth pressures and it has limited policy of the , and measures to counter these pressures the Federated States of Micronesia. (TB, 19 March 2012). Furthermore, Improvement of the Palau National Toribiong announced progress in food Archives has been supported by a security through the establishment of a stimulus grant from Taiwan, but Center for Agricultural Development, unfortunately records from the Naka- hatcheries for rabbit fish and grou- mura and Remengesau administra- pers, installation of fish aggregating tions went missing from an outdoor devices, distribution of 110 goats to archives container. The US Depart- local farmers, and the establishment ment of Education has provided $4.5 by Palau’s states of marine sanctuar- million in college access grants to help ies to conserve their local fisheries. prepare Palauan students to meet col- Some of these accomplishments were lege entrance requirements and to pro- aided by grants from the Republic of vide minimal support for them while China (Taiwan). Most importantly, the they attend college. To date, some 234 president emphasized improvement of students have taken advantage of this Koror’s wastewater system, which has generous support. Relatedly, Palau suffered overload for years. With oek High School received a three-year approval, the president secured a loan accreditation from the Western Asso- from the Asian Development Bank ciation of Schools and Colleges (wasc) for design and construction of a new in 2010 and recently began a health system. career pathways program for training 148 the contemporary pacific ‡ 25:1 (2013) future health workers—nurses, den- Public Cemetery, but the two groups tists, doctors, and lab technologists. remained in heated disagreement. This is the very first time that Palau’s Beouch Sakaziro Demk, 91, the first public high school has been fully wasc ranking chief of Ngardmau, passed accredited. away in September. He was of such In Palau, a small-scale society, distinguished merit that the National deaths are very important milestones Congress honored him with a joint for families but murders are espe- resolution attesting to his great com- cially disturbing. Virginia Ventura, a munity service, oratorical skills, and 42-year-old domestic helper from the deep knowledge of traditions and Philippines, was brutally attacked at culture. night by an enraged, drunken young Palau’s oldest woman, Uchelebil man with a machete. The woman Lalii N Elbelau passed away at 109 sustained fatal wounds and died in years of age. She was the matriarch the hospital some hours after the of the Dilubech clan of Ngeremlen- outrageous attack. Many Palauans in gui with more than 100 children, the community provided great help grandchildren, great-grandchildren and assistance to the Ventura family. and great-great-grandchildren, and Vincent Pua, 51, from the Northern was renowned for her knowledge of Marianas, suddenly died while attend- singing, dancing, and chanting. One ing the opening of a sporting event. of Lalii Elbelau’s children, Ferista He was married to a woman from Remengesau, is the mother of Palau’s Aimeliik and resided in that state. sixth president and current Senator Calvin Ongino Ikesiil, Sr, a retired Tommy E Remengesau. Ted Borja, policeman, passed away and was former principal of Palau High School buried in his home state of Ngarche- and excellent ball player, passed long. Matriarch Ucheliei Toribiong, away suddenly after a stroke. Fran- 85, who was the mother of President cisco Masato “Frank” Kumangai, Toribiong, environmentalist Francis 80, was the very first Palauan to join Toribiong, Senator Joel Toribiong, and serve in the United States Army. and five other children, passed away His service was distinguished and he within a day after checking into the retired after twenty-one years at the National Hospital. She was much rank of sergeant first class. After his beloved by hundreds of Palau Mission death, he was honored with Presiden- Academy students, who contributed tial Proclamation No 11-57, which to a scholarship fund in her name. required Palau’s flags be flown at Former Congressman Peter Etibek, 63, half-mast for five days in his memory. passed away after a long illness and Rubasch Santos Olikong, 73, passed coma. Before his death, he held the away before Christmas Day. He was title Ngirameketii of Choll, Ngaraard. a former House Speaker, delegate, After Felix Gaag Tmilchol, 75, passed senator, constitutional convention away, his relatives faced opposition (Con-Con) member, bank manager, from their clansmen concerning the cabinet minister, and ambassador. He burial site. After much argument, the was a colorful figure who always had deceased was buried in the Koror an opinion and as House Speaker was political reviews ‡ micronesia 149 a target of the Furlough Group that Johnson Toribiong is seeking a second attempted to hijack the government in term and has many accomplishments 1987. to claim. He will be challenged by In 2012, Kikue Maria Mercedes former President Tommy E Remenge- Babul Ueki passed away, leaving sau; (who is not many relatives grieving. She was the only a former vice president but also a wife of Dr Minoru F X Ueki, Palau’s former minister of state in Toribiong’s ambassador to Japan. A longtime cabinet); and perhaps Elias Chin, legislator, Koichi West, 74, passed who finished just 212 votes behind away in January. Former governor Toribiong in the 2008 race. The office of State, Lazarus Kodep, of vice president is a separate race and 63, died of a heart attack. He was also has four aspirants: incumbent famous for his dedication and work Vice President , former for Melekeok State, where he held Congressman Tony Bells, Minister of distinguished titles. Retired prosecu- Health Steven Kuartei, and Minister tor Gillian Tellames passed away at of Industry Jackson Ngiraingas. As in age 67. He worked for both the Trust the past, three to four candidates each Territory of the Pacific Islands and will likely be running for the twenty- Palau governments and was a member nine seats in the Senate and House of of the Palau Bar Association. Mansion the oek. A primary is not required for Mongami, principal of Aimeliik the congressional race. The general Elementary School, died when his election for the ninth constitutional vehicle crashed off the causeway. government will be held on the 6th of Uodelchad Tosko Mekreos Sebalt, a November. female chief of the first ranking clan donald r shuster Kebou of Ngchesar State, passed away at age 90. A New Zealander, Shaun Special thanks to Yoichi K Rengiil Evans, died of a heart attack in the for comments on an earlier draft of Sea Passion Hotel. He was in Palau to this review. train law enforcement officers and was an intelligence analyst. Finally, Eva Maria Wong was tragically hit by a References speeding car and later passed away in the hospital. She was a regular walker Shuster, Don. 2012. Micronesia in Review: and was participating in a walk-a-thon Issues and Events, 1 July 2010 to 30 June when the accident happened. 2011: Republic of Palau. The Contempo- Politics is big business in Palau rary Pacific 24:163–170. and candidates are gearing up for the TB, Tia Belau (This is Palau). Koror, 26 September primary. Incumbent Republic of Palau. Weekly.