Political Reviews

Micronesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 michael lujan bevacqua, landisang l kotaro, monica c labriola, clement yow mulalap

Polynesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 peter clegg, lorenz gonschor, margaret mutu, christina newport, steven ratuva, forrest wade young

93 political reviews • micronesia 111

Guam Sports Network. Hagåtña. spanned several decades and included http://www.guamsportsnetwork.com accomplishments such as being elected kuam, kuam.com: Guam’s News Net- repeatedly to the Congress of Micro- work. Hagåtña. http://www.kuam.com/ nesia, serving as minister of education under the late President Amata Kabua pdn, Pacific Daily News. Hagåtña. http://www.guampdn.com/ and subsequent administrations, and acting as the longest-serving RMI Pacific News Center, Sorenson Media ambassador to the United Nations Group. Hagåtña, Guam. http://www (mij, 29 Jan 2016). .pacificnewscenter.com/ Other deaths included Kuwajleen Scammell, Rosie. 2016. Pope Puts Guam Aḷap (lineage head) and former Sena- Archbishop Accused of Sex Abuse on tor Sato Maie, former Arṇo Senator Leave. USA Today, 6 June. Katip Paul Mack, and Rien Morris, who represented Jālwōj in the Nitijeḷā for twenty years. The Kōle/Pikinni/Ejit (kbe) community also lost two lead- Marshall Islands ers. Nishma Jamore, kbe mayor and For the Republic of the Marshall outspoken advocate of relocating the Islands (RMI), the period under review kbe community to the US continent, saw the passing of several traditional died of apparent complications from and political leaders and distinguished kidney disease in August 2015, while community members. Most notable Marilyn Lokebol succumbed to cancer was the death of Iroojḷapḷap (Para- in June 2016, just a few months after mount Chief), Senator, and former her first-time election as kbe council- President Jurelang Zedkaia, who woman. Two respected religious lead- suffered a fatal heart attack in Octo- ers also passed away: United Church ber 2015. In addition to overseeing of Christ (ucc) Pastor Wendell landholding across Mājro (Majuro) Langrine of Tucson, Arizona, died in Atoll as its traditional leader, Zedkaia August 2015 during a church confer- served in the Nitijeḷā (Parliament) for ence in Mājro, and Jone Masivou, twenty-four years and as the nation’s who came to the Marshall Islands president from 2009 to 2012 after from Fiji as an Assembly of God he was elected to replace Litokwa missionary and founded the Morning Tomeing, who had been removed Star Church in Mājro in 1995, died from office by a vote of no confidence. in April 2016. Other beloved commu- Zedkaia was honored with a month of nity members who were lost include national mourning and a state funeral Neimon Philippo, wife of former Lae attended by thousands (mij, 16 Oct Atoll Senator Tipne Philippo; former 2015). Several other high-ranking v7ab radio announcer Waston Attari; irooj (chiefs) and former members of Majuro Middle School special educa- the Nitijeḷā also passed during this tion teacher Asmon Langidrik Jr; and period. Among these was Mājro Irooj Youth to Youth in Health Director and former Senator Wilfred Kendall, Aluka Rakin. Robert Reimer’s only who died in January 2016 after a daughter Minna Pihno, who managed long illness. Kendall’s political career key aspects of Robert Reimers Enter- 112 the contemporary pacific • 29:1 (2017) prises, Inc (rre) for decades, suc- dropped its appeal of a high court cumbed to cancer in February 2016. ruling that allowed naturalized citizen The period under review was also Jack Niedenthal to stand for elec- one of unprecedented transformation tion to the Nitijeḷā. In late 2014, the in the realm of politics and leadership RMI Electoral Administration barred at the national and local levels, with Niedenthal from running for office the most dramatic events unfolding on the grounds that he does not have around the November 2015 elections. a Marshallese parent or a traditional These included the controversial jowi (matriclan). When Attorney Nitijeḷā campaign by former Peace General Nathan Brechtefeld upheld Corps volunteer Jack Niedenthal; the the decision, Niedenthal and his death of Mājro Atoll Nitijeḷā incum- attorney, David Strauss, brought the bent Iroojḷapḷap Jurelang Zedkaia; matter to the high court, arguing that the mobilization of the “youth” vote the RMI Constitution authorizes any in favor of several younger, first-time qualified voter over the age of twenty- senators; the record election of three one to run for office. In February woman senators as well as several 2015, the high court ruled on behalf woman mayors and members of local of Niedenthal, declaring null and void councils; a vote of no confidence just the section of the Marshall Islands two weeks after the Nitijeḷā’s selection Elections and Referenda Act 1980 of first-time Senator Casten Nemra that prescribed eligibility qualifica- of Jālwōj as president; and the subse- tions for candidates beyond age and quent election of Senator Hilda Heine citizenship. The attorney general’s of Aur as the first woman head of office moved to appeal the decision in state in the RMI or any independent the RMI Supreme Court but dropped Pacific Island nation (not including the request after Assistant Attorney New Zealand and Australia). While General Rosalie Konou retired in the election results have inspired some September 2015, allowing the high Marshall Islanders to anticipate posi- court’s decision in favor of Nieden- tive changes for their communities and thal to stand and his campaign to for their country as a whole, many move forward. The issue of eligibility continue to experience the negative requirements for election to public effects of extreme poverty, limited office will be addressed at the impend- access to health care and other essen- ing Constitutional Convention; in tial services, a floundering education April 2016, Mile Senator and Minister system, extreme weather events, and of Education Wilbur Heine proposed a financial mismanagement at the local bill to amend the constitution so that and national levels. It remains to be “any person who is qualified to be a seen whether the new administration candidate must have land rights by and the Constitutional Convention birth and be a natural born citizen” scheduled to take place in late 2016 (mij, 22 April 2016). will bring about the desired changes. The run-up to the election took The 2015 election season went another dramatic turn when, just into full swing in October 2015 weeks before Election Day, Iroojḷapḷap when the attorney general’s office and incumbent Senator Jurelang political reviews • micronesia 113

Zedkaia of Mājro died suddenly. As for Mājro’s five Nitijeḷā seats and Zedkaia had served in the Nitijeḷā whose victories signaled not just voter for more than two decades and was discontent but also a youthful shift almost assured reelection, his death in voter demographics. In Kuwajleen, opened the Mājro electoral field David Paul’s victory coincided with significantly. When all the votes were the defeat of Tony deBrum, a career counted, the results in Mājro and politician and prominent international around the nation were extraordi- activist. DeBrum’s efforts over the past nary, with fourteen out of thirty-three several years to bring international Nitijeḷā seats changing hands. Incum- attention to the negative impacts of bents who lost their seats included climate change and nuclear prolifera- Speaker of the Nitijeḷā Donald Capelle tion on small island nations such as of Likiep, Vice Speaker Caios Lucky of the Marshall Islands left some constit- Ujae, and five cabinet ministers includ- uents on Ebjā (Ebeye) Island and other ing Minister of Foreign Affairs Tony parts of Kuwajleen Atoll wondering deBrum of Kuwajleen, Minister of how his efforts on the global stage Health Phillip Muller of Mājro, Min- have benefited them at home. Over ister of Resources and Development the past year alone, Ebjā residents Michael Konelios of Ṃaḷoeḷap, Min- grappled with high rates of poverty, ister of Justice Rien Morris of Jālwōj, inadequate housing, insufficient edu- and Minister of Public Works Hiroshi cational opportunities, severe flood- Yamamura of Utrōk. Incumbents Jiba ing, power outages, and other chal- Kabua of Arṇo and Jeban Riklon of lenges (mij, 27 Nov 2015). Kuwajleen were also defeated. Mājro The “youth” victory was not the Senator David Kramer, who held on only surprising outcome of the 2015 to his seat, cited the losses as evidence election; an unprecedented number of that the people of the Marshall Islands women also took office at the national “want change and new directions for and local levels. Significantly, three the RMI” (mij, 27 Nov 2015). women gained seats in the Nitijeḷā, the The desire for a new direction most to ever hold office at one time— for the Marshall Islands was further with incumbent Hilda Heine retain- substantiated by the impressive lineup ing her seat, Daisy Alik-Momotaro of newly elected senators, several of Jālwōj defeating incumbent Rien of whom campaigned on a “voice Morris, and former Senator Amenta of youth” platform promising fresh Matthew of Utrōk regaining her seat leadership and positive change for the after losing it to Hiroshi Yamamura future (mij, 27 Nov 2015). Victors in in 2011. Several women also won the “youth” camp included Sherwood mayoral seats; among these were Tibon and Kalani Kaneko of Mājro, Rufina Jack of Aelok, incumbent Ione David Paul of Kuwajleen, Bruce Bili deBrum of Epoon, and Veronica Wase mon of Ṃaḷoeḷap, and Casten Nemra of Likiep. In addition, several com- of Jālwōj. Of particular note were munities elected women to serve as first-time candidates Sherwood Tibon representatives on their local councils; and Kalani Kaneko, who came in among these were Betty Tibon-Imaikta first and fifth, respectively, in the race of Mājro, Stacey Samuel of Mājro, 114 the contemporary pacific • 29:1 (2017) and Marilyn Lokebol of kbe. Other Aelōñḷapḷap, Jejwarick Anton of Arṇo, historic results included the election Bruce Bilimon, Casten Nemra, David of the Nitijeḷā’s first-ever mother- Paul, and Sherwood Tibon. After gain- and-son pair Amenta Matthew and ing a few additional members after the Sherwood Tibon, husband and wife election, the Solid Six became known Dennis Momotaro of Mājej and Daisy simply as the “Solids.” Alik-Momotaro, and three members With seventeen votes needed and of the Heine family: Hilda Heine, no one coalition boasting a sufficient Wilbur Heine of Mile, and Thomas number of adherents, a joint coali- Heine of Lae. The Heine family and tion was required to garner enough the “youth” coalition would prove votes to elect a president. Know- fateful for the next series of shake-ups ing this, several senators initiated a to rock national governance at the series of coalition-building meetings highest level. in early December; by Christmas, Because the RMI has a mixed the kea’s Alvin Jacklick announced parliamentary-presidential system, that a “Coalition Government” had the president of the Marshall Islands been created aligning the kea and is elected by the Nitijeḷā rather than the Solids with enough votes to elect directly by voters. The election of a president; the coalition came to be a new executive was therefore the known as the “opposition coalition” first and most important task of the because members were united primar- Nitijeḷā after being sworn in on 4 ily in their goal of opposing incumbent January 2016. With no well-defined President Christopher Loeak and his or permanent political parties in the administration and allies (mij, 25 Dec Marshall Islands, the selection of 2015). Potential opposition coalition president is usually tied to members’ nominees for the presidency included allegiance to particular senators or Alvin Jacklick (kea), David Kramer their island(s) of origin or chiefly (kea), Tony Muller of Mājro (kea), status. By the time of the swear- former President Litokwa Tomeing of ing in, three coalitions had emerged Mājro (kea), Casten Nemra (Sol- among the newly elected senators: ids), and Kessai Note (unaffiliated). one known simply as the “current Jacklick confirmed that the opposi- government” alliance, a conglomera- tion coalition’s presidential pick tion of largely defunct political parties would allocate cabinet appointments led by Irooj and Kuwajleen Sena- evenly, with five going to members tor Michael Kabua and incumbent of the kea and five to the Solids; in President and Aelōñḷapḷap Senator addition, the Speaker of the Nitijeḷā Christopher Loeak; the kea (Kien Eo would come from the kea and the vice Aṃ or “Your Government”) party led speaker from the Solids. Faced with by Alvin Jacklick, who was previ- this opposition coalition, the current ously a senator for Jālwōj but was government had to gain the allegiance elected this term from Kuwajleen; and of members of the kea or the Solids a new coalition known initially as the to maintain any possibility of holding “Solid Six” made up of newly elected on to the presidency. Hoping to return “youth” Senators Alfred Alfred Jr of the current government to power political reviews • micronesia 115 despite the odds, Senator Michael circulating about a possible vote of no Kabua quickly sought allies to join confidence (mij, 15 Jan 2016). him in nominating a president. Pos- A week after the election, Casten sible current government contenders Nemra was inaugurated as the included Hilda Heine, David Kabua, seventh president of the Republic of and incumbent President Christopher the Marshall Islands. The first-time Loeak. Given the numbers amassed by senator and former chief secretary the kea/Solids coalition, however, it (2008–2015) was the youngest person seemed unlikely going into the election and only the second non-irooj ever that the current government would elected to the presidency (Kessai Note prevail. But there were more surprises was the first). Prior to the inaugura- to come. tion, Nemra faced the challenge of At the first meeting of the Nitijeḷā naming his cabinet ministers; caught on 4 January, Senator Michael Kabua between the opposition coalition of stunned everyone by choosing Casten which he had been a member and the Nemra of the opposition coalition as current government coalition that had the current government’s nominee for brought him to power, Nemra found president. Nemra had been consid- it difficult to select a lineup acceptable ered for nomination by the opposi- to both sides. The result was a partial tion in a primary ten days earlier cabinet list with a few picks from each but had lost out to Alvin Jacklick. faction and several conspicuous omis- By choosing a candidate who would sions: not only were the minister of draw support from the Solids and education and minister of health posts later owe allegiance to the current left vacant, but Hilda Heine, Wilbur government for putting him in power, Heine, and Thomas Heine—who had Kabua had bested the opposition. In all served as ministers during Christo- the end, Nemra prevailed: he nar- pher Loeak’s administration and had rowly defeated Jacklick by a vote of presumably supported Nemra’s elec- 17 to 16. Meanwhile, the opposition tion—were not named on the cabinet successfully nominated Kenneth Kedi list. The omission of Hilda Heine, of Roñḷap as Speaker and Jejwarick whom many regard as uniquely quali- Anton as vice speaker of the Nitijeḷā; fied as minister of education because their successful election (both won she has a doctorate in education and 19 to 14) brought another first to the served as minister of education under Nitijeḷā: the first time the president President Loeak, was particularly and Speaker and vice speaker were unexpected. Apparently, however, from two different coalitions. Presi- Hilda Heine and Wilbur Heine refused dent Nemra quickly found himself in a their nominations because their tenuous position: not only did he not cousin and incumbent Minister of have the full support of his Speaker Justice Thomas Heine was not nomi- and vice speaker, but he would also nated for a cabinet post; President find it difficult to select a cabinet Nemra instead named Ujae Senator agreeable to both sides. Within just and former Attorney General Atbi a week of Nemra’s election to the Riklon to the minister of justice post. nation’s highest office, rumors were In response, all three Heine senators 116 the contemporary pacific • 29:1 (2017) boycotted President Nemra’s inaugu- Nemra not just the youngest but also ration ceremony and were soon after the shortest-serving president in the reported to be in conversation with history of the RMI. the opposition coalition; meanwhile, Although section 7 of the RMI several kea/Solids followers turned Constitution allows the Nitijeḷā down cabinet appointments and fourteen days to elect a new presi- asked the president to form a cabinet dent following a successful vote of no of “national unity” representing all confidence, Senator David Kramer three coalitions (mij, 15 Jan 2016). made a motion for the election to take Nemra’s rejection of the suggestion, place the next day, 27 January, and the defection of the Heine contingent the motion passed. Soon after dispers- to the opposition, and the 22 January ing for the day, the opposition coali- resignation of Mike Halferty of Arṇo tion met to decide on a nominee to from his post as minister of transpor- replace Nemra. On 27 January 2016, tation and communication after only the opposition coalition, including eleven days all signaled that a vote of members of the kea, the Solids, and no confidence was looming. several current government defec- Three days after Senator Halferty tors, nominated Hilda Heine as the vacated his ministerial post and just next president of the Republic of the fourteen days after President Nemra’s Marshall Islands; a vote was called election, Senator John Silk of Epoon and Dr Heine won with 24 of 30 total introduced a vote of no confidence votes. Six senators abstained; three of on the grounds that neither President these, including current government Nemra nor his government had a leaders Irooj Senator Michael Kabua mandate from the Nitijeḷā or from the and Irooj Senator Christopher Loeak, people of the Marshall Islands; what’s were noticeably absent. more, the president did not have a Hilda Heine’s election as the eighth fully functioning cabinet and thus president of the Republic of the Mar- could not move the government or the shall Islands was historic in several nation forward. Although the motion ways, not the least of which is that was strongly opposed by several she is the first woman president of the senators—including President Nemra, Marshall Islands or any independent Michael Kabua, and former President Pacific Island nation. President Heine Kessai Note—on the grounds that was inaugurated on 28 January 2016, the new president had not had suf- just one day after her election, and ficient time to form alliances or put named her cabinet ministers within a forth a strong agenda, the opposition few days. Although the Speaker and called for the body to reconvene the vice speaker of the Nitijeḷā remained next day for a vote. Following a short in place, President Heine’s cabinet twenty-four-hour recess and a call to lineup differed significantly from that vote, President Casten Nemra was of her immediate predecessor; in fact, removed from office by a successful the only returning minister was Sena- vote of no confidence (21 to 12)—the tor Mike Halferty, who had resigned second successful vote out of eight his post under President Nemra after such motions since 1998—making eleven days, in what was perhaps a political reviews • micronesia 117 strategic move on his part to retain the swept through Ānewetak Atoll and post under the next administration. other areas in early July 2015, caus- Other appointments included Senator ing widespread damage totaling $9.4 John Silk as minister of foreign affairs; million and food and water shortages President Heine’s cousins Wilbur and that lasted several months in some Thomas as ministers of education and areas (mij, 27 Nov 2015); a severe justice, respectively; and members drought caused by the El Niño South- of the original “Solid Six,” includ- ern Oscillation that brought Mājro ing Alfred Alfred Jr as minister of water reserves to a two-year low (mij, resources and development and Kalani 20 May 2016) and led US President Kaneko as minister of health. David Barack Obama to issue a Presidential Paul, also an original Solid Sixer, Disaster Declaration to make “federal was President Heine’s initial pick funding available for U.S. Govern- for minister of finance; Senator Paul ment emergency relief and reconstruc- declined the post, however, on the tion assistance” (The White House grounds that he wanted to focus on 2016); extensive damage caused by “get[ting] things going at Kwajalein, king tides and storm surges on Mājro, to improve Ebeye,” which was what Kōle, Ebjā, and other areas in October he said he was primarily elected to do 2015 and March 2016; and impend- (mij, 5 Feb 2016). In Senator Paul’s ing sea-level rise and loss of land area stead, President Heine appointed due to climate change and global Senator Brenson Wase of Mājro, warming. Other continuing chal- who previously held the minister of lenges include the lingering legacies of finance post under President Kessai nuclear testing: the reported deterio- Note. Neither Senator Daisy Alik- ration of Runit Dome on Ānewetak Momotaro (who defected from the Atoll, which contains approximately opposition to the current government 111,000 cubic yards of radioactive and was appointed minister of internal debris (Jose, Wall, and Hinzel 2015); affairs under President Nemra) nor her the RMI’s ongoing lawsuits against husband Senator Dennis Momotaro, several nuclear-armed states; and a (who previously served as Minister of kbe resolution to seek US govern- Transportation and Communication ment legislation that would allow the and Minister of Finance) received a people of Pikinni to use money from cabinet appointment. the Resettlement Trust Fund for the As of this writing, it remains to be People of Bikini to relocate to the seen whether President Heine and the United States. new administration will succeed in In an effort to chart a new course addressing the many challenges their and find solutions to these and other local and national constituents face challenges threatening the future of on a daily basis. Some of the most the RMI, the Nitijeḷā unanimously significant troubles that arose dur- adopted Bill 70 in September 2015 ing the period under review include a requiring that a Constitutional Con- series of weather-related events that vention (Con-Con) be held. In May had dramatic local and national con- 2016, the Pre-Constitutional Con- sequences: Typhoon Nangka, which vention Committee informed Presi- 118 the contemporary pacific • 29:1 (2017) dent Heine that an election to select References representatives to the Con-Con will take place on 11 October 2016, and Constitution of the Republic of the Mar- the convention will commence within shall Islands, 1979. Available for down- load from the RMI Embassy in the United sixty days of the election. The Con- States website: http://www.rmiembassyus Con will have a total of 45 members: .org/Constitution.htm [accessed 27 Oct 33 elected from Nitijeḷā districts and 2016] 12 irooj selected by consensus to represent the various island groups. Hau‘ofa, Epeli. Our Sea of Islands. The Contemporary Pacific : . Many Marshall Islanders are looking 6 147–161 to the Con-Con to resolve a number Jose, Coleen, Kim Wall, and Jan Hendrik of structural matters they believe are Hinzel. 2015. This Dome in the Pacific negatively impacting their lives and Houses Tons of Radioactive Waste—and livelihoods; as the 2015 election cycle It’s Leaking. The Guardian, 3 July. https:// revealed, the procedure for electing the www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/03/ runit-dome-pacific-radioactive-waste country’s chief executive and the rules [accessed 26 Aug 2016] for who can represent them in public office are perhaps among the most mij, Marshall Islands Journal. Mājro. pressing. Depending on the conven- Weekly. tion’s outcome, 2015 may have been The White House. 2016. President Obama the first and last election in which a Signs a Disaster Declaration for the naturalized citizen without land rights Republic of the Marshall Islands. Press by birth could run for the Nitijeḷā and release, 28 April. https://www.whitehouse the last time Marshall Islanders were .gov/the-press-office/2016/04/28/president denied the right to vote directly for -obama-signs-disaster-declaration-republic president. -marshall-islands [accessed 26 Aug 2016] Widespread support for the impending Con-Con is just one more indication that the people of the Marshall Islands want change and Republic of Palau new directions for their nation. It The period under review was one that also reveals that, as Tongan scholar brought about landmark policies and Epeli Hau‘ofa so aptly noted, Mar- historic moments for the Republic of shall Islanders do not just “live day to Palau and for its leadership, includ- day, not really caring for the long- ing issues related to infrastructure term benefits” and outcomes of their development, climate change, and actions and decisions, but rather “plan the ocean. The year brought together for generations, for the continuity and both elected and traditional lead- improvement of their families and kin ers to address issues regarding the groups” (Hau‘ofa 1994, 159). In the welfare of the people. It was also a coming months, they can only hope time of transition as important lead- that their elected and traditional leaders who had contributed greatly to ers will do the same. the country’s national development passed on and others stepped into the monica c labriola political scene to lead as Palau contin-