Micronesia in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018

Reviews of the Federated States in times of catastrophe (ut, 14 Aug of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, and 2017). Palau are not included in this issue. Despite the heated rhetoric, the Trump administration soon sought to deescalate the war talk with a new July 2017 to July 2018 spanned a strategy of engagement, and Trump time of fire and fury for the island met with Kim during a June 2018 of Guam. A war of words erupted peace summit in Singapore. Return- between Donald Trump and North ing from the summit, Air Force One Korean leader Kim Jong-un in August stopped on Andersen Air Force Base 2017, local protests blazed against the in Guam for two hours in the middle US military, and the government was of the night. Trump made no public swamped by crisis and mismanage- appearances or statements, although ment. All of this took place within he did meet briefly with I Maga'låhen the context of an island preparing to Guåhan, , for a elect a new Maga'håga or Maga'låhen photo op aboard his plane (gdp, Guåhan (Governor of Guam). 14 June 2018). North Korean threats to Guam as After two terms and seven years a proxy for the have of service, Calvo’s term as governor— become commonplace in recent years. marred by both internal and external However, in August 2017, these problems—was set to end in 2018. In threats reached a new level. Following particular, the Trump Tax Cuts and another round of sanctions instituted Jobs Act of 2017 threatened catastro- by the UN Security Council, North phe for Guam’s finances and caused Korea threatened to turn the Pacific heightened discord between the gover- into “a sea of fire” (nyt, 8 Aug 2017). nor and Guam’s legislature. US President Donald Trump promised The Calvo administration had “fire and fury” in response, escalating sought in early 2017 to borrow the war of words and triggering mas- us$225 million for tax refunds (gdp, sive international news coverage (nyt, 6 March 2017). When I Liheslaturan 8 Aug 2017). Guåhan (Guam Legislature) resisted, The people of Guam expressed Calvo called them into special session. a range of responses to the media, His Bill 1-s passed in session, with including fear but sometimes also seven votes in favor and six against; faith in the United States (nyt, 9 Aug however, rules require that a bill be 2017). They asked the rest of the passed with at least eight votes (gdp, world not to let their home be lost in 23 Jan 2018). Calvo sued the legisla- the global power struggle, as Guam ture and, although the Guam Superior too often appears on the map only Court ruled in his favor, the senators

162 political reviews • micronesia 163 stated that they saw the court ruling as taxes at a time when they were seeking only advisory and did not transmit the votes. bill for the governor’s signature (pdn, A proposed sales tax to create 16 July 2018). a dedicated funding source for the This financial squall soon threat- perennially beleaguered Guam Memo- ened to become a full-fledged typhoon rial Hospital became the focal point with the passage of the Trump of senators’ campaigning. In March administration’s Tax Cuts and Jobs 2018, I Liheslaturan Guåhan passed a Act of 2017. Guam is linked to the six-month, 25 percent increase of the US federal tax structure and assigns grt (Gross Receipts Tax) for business local income taxes based on federal and set 1 October as the start date for rates. The tax cuts led to projections a 2 percent sales tax increase for island of a massive shortfall in Government residents (pdn, 13 March 2018). of Guam (GovGuam) revenues, with Soon after, Senator Mike San estimates ranging from us$100–160 Nicolas, who had declared his candi- million (pdn, 11 July 2018). The dacy for Guam’s nonvoting delegate Calvo administration called on I to the US House of Representatives, Liheslaturan Guåhan to raise taxes as responded to public dissatisfaction by a means of keeping GovGuam from putting forth a bill to repeal the sales falling off a financial cliff. The Demo- tax. On 2 July, I Liheslaturan Guåhan crat-controlled I Liheslaturan Guåhan voted to repeal the sales tax, receiv- followed a different philosophy: Many ing a veto-proof majority. Governor of its members disagreed with Calvo’s Calvo called the repeal “a dark day financial projections, arguing that, for Guam” as the anticipated sales tax rather than raise taxes, outstanding funds were intended to support the taxes should be collected or nones- Guam Department of Education and sential government staff be furloughed the hospital (gdp, 2 July 2018). As of (pdn, 24 July 2018). the writing of this review, the legisla- Despite the immediate fiscal con- ture continued to deliberate over the cerns that lay ahead, I Liheslaturan government budget. Guåhan had difficulty agreeing on While I Liheslaturan Guåhan proposals to increase revenue, due to endured its own politically motivated it being an election year. With more gridlock, much of the island was than half of its current members either consumed by a heated gubernatorial running for higher office or retir- campaign. An enthusiastic yet highly ing, thirty-nine individuals (twenty divided Democratic Party produced Democrats and nineteen Republicans) four contenders. Former four-term filed paperwork seeking election or Senator Lourdes “Lou” Leon Guer- reelection (gdp, 27 June 2018). The rero, the president of her family’s large fierce debates and politicking led to local bank, along with her running I Liheslaturan Guåhan several times mate, longtime party insider Joshua rescinding its own proposals just days Tenorio, campaigned early and vigor- or even hours after having voted them ously, seeking to establish themselves into the budget. Senators seeking elec- as the front-runners and appeal to tion or reelection were loath to raise youth voters. 164 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019)

By spring 2018, three more Demo- ment and financial crisis that were cratic teams were challenging “Lou exacerbated in Guam by the Trump and Josh.” The popular Senator tax cuts. Aguon Jr chose former US In July, Guam Memorial Hospital Attorney for Guam and the Northern (gmh), the only public hospital on Marianas and former Guam Attorney Guam, was informed by the Joint General Alicia Garrido Limtiaco as his Commission that it had lost its accred- running mate (gdp, 23 April 2018). itation (gdp, 18 July 2018). The Joint Former Governor chose Commission is a nonprofit organiza- former Chief of Police Fred Bordallo tion that provides accreditation for as his running mate (gdp, 23 April more than 20,000 medical programs 2018). Gutierrez was the governor of and institutions in the United States Guam from 1993 to 2003 and, since alone. leaving office, has unsuccessfully tried gmh was put on deaccreditation three times to be returned to the posi- notice in January 2018; proposals by tion of Maga'låhen Guåhan. its administrators to mollify the Joint The final entry was Senator Den- Commission did not succeed. gmh nis Rodriguez, whose running mate was also under the threat of losing its David Cruz had no history of political certification through the Centers for service but earned a six-figure income Medicare and Medicaid Services in teaching jrotc at a high school (pdn, October 2018, unless a series of cor- 31 May 2018). There was some public rective measures were implemented. outcry regarding Cruz’s government The Calvo administration highlighted employment while running for politi- the need to fully fund the hospital cal office. Rodriguez’s close relation- after it lost accreditation. Members ship with a scandal-plagued former of I Liheslaturan Guåhan, including Calvo loyalist also tarnished his Speaker Cruz, responded by arguing image. By July 2018, Lou Leon Guer- that mismanagement by Calvo appoin- rero and Josh Tenorio were considered tees was the problem, not a lack of the Democratic front-runners. funding (gdp, 18 July 2018). Calvo’s two-term lieutenant While Republican gubernatorial governor, Ray Tenorio, and former candidate Ray Tenorio was largely Senator Tony Ada ran unopposed on untouched by the arguments within the Republican ticket. Their cam- the legislature, he soon had his own paign touted the success of the ­current controversy. On 7 July, the longtime administration in reducing island lieutenant governor made an appear- unemployment, the timely paying of ance at the Guam bbq Block Party in tax refunds (not common in previous the tourist district of Tumon, where he administrations), completing long- allegedly lifted a weapon from a police standing public works projects, and officer on duty (gdp, 9 July 2018). record-setting tourism numbers. But Tenorio, a former police officer their campaign struggled in the first and trainer, stated that he acted in half of 2018 as the administration his capacity as the overseer of public was rocked with numerous scandals, safety; the governor confirmed that including allegations of mismanage- Tenorio held that role at the time political reviews • micronesia 165 of the incident (pnc, 13 July 2018). federal control. The military’s plans Tenorio said he acted, though infor- to build a firing range on the bluffs mally, to correct a police officer whose above Litekyan would prevent people weapon was not properly secured in from visiting for much of the year its holster, causing potential public and would threaten several endan- danger. He described briefly touching gered native species of animals and and removing the weapon as a “teach- plants. The group Prutehi Litekyan: able moment” for the officer (gdp, 10 Save Ritidian (pl: sr) was formed in July 2018). 2017 to resist the environmental and Outcry over the incident was ­cultural threat. pl: sr has met with immediate and widespread. Given significant success, packing the public that it was an election year, it was hearing room of the Guam Legisla- not surprising that Tenorio’s political ture on multiple occasions in support opponents, as led by junior Demo- of anti-buildup resolutions (gdp, cratic Senator Telena Nelson, were 20 Aug 2017). especially vocal. Some called for the On 23 September 2017, the youth lieutenant governor’s arrest or alleged group Manhoben Para Guåhan (Youth that he was drunk, had committed for Guam) organized a demonstra- assault, or had committed a felony. tion outside the gates of Andersen Air Tenorio publicly apologized for the Force Base, very near Litekyan. Joined incident and said that the “teachable by community members including moment” was his (mv, 11 July 2018). Harold Cruz, the chief of staff for The Office of the Attorney General of Senator Wil Castro, and Iraq War Guam opened an investigation into the veteran Senator Fernando Esteves, the lieutenant governor’s actions in July youth formed a human chain to block 2018 and declined to comment “so the front gate to the base for twenty as not to politicize the investigation” minutes in protest of the military’s (pdn, 12 July 2018). plans. They shouted chants of “Hita Long-standing tensions between i taotao tåno'!” (“We are the people the local Guam community and the of the land”) and asked that the base US federal government manifested commander come hear their concerns. over the past year, primarily around Cruz was arrested for his role in the two issues: US plans to increase its protest and is currently running for military presence on Guam and senator in I Liheslaturan Guåhan threats to the Chamorro Land Trust. (pdn, 23 Sept 2018). In 2017, public outcry increased In October 2017, a series of solidar- over threats to the environmental ity events took place in Guam between refuge and cultural site of Litekyan Prutehi Litekyan and the No Helipad as a result of the US military’s plans Takae Resident Society of Okinawa. to build a firing range. The site of an Two activists from Okinawa vis- ancient Chamorro village and ances- ited Guam, gave presentations, and tral family lands that was previously screened documentaries in order to seized by the military, Litekyan has help form a greater bond between been a US National Fish and Wild- island-based demilitarization move- life Refuge since 1993 and is under ments (pdn, 25 Oct 2017). 166 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019)

Frustrated with the refusal of In 2018, reports surfaced about the US federal government to listen­ mismanagement within the Chamorro to the people of Guam on the mili- Land Trust, overshadowing the federal tary buildup issue, two leaders in lawsuit. Although approximately pl: sr—high-school teacher Sabina 2,400 land requests have been ful- Flores Perez and university instructor filled, about 4,700 more remain; some Kelly Marsh-Taitano—declared their people have waited more than twenty candidacy for I Liheslaturan Guåhan years (pdn, 2 May 2018). Relatives of in 2018. The group also considered Chamorro Land Trust employees and filing a lawsuit to prevent construction board members appear to have been from taking place on the bases but allowed to skip ahead of others in line, waited to hear the outcome of another and some officials, including Senator lawsuit in the Commonwealth of the Régine Biscoe Lee, were implicated in Northern Mariana Islands regarding possible illegal lease transfers (gdp, US military plans for the northern 26 April 2018). islands of Tinian and Pågan (mv, Powerful three-decade Arch- 17 July 2018). bishop of Guam Anthony Sablan As activists sought to protect sacred Apuron was replaced in 2016 after Chamorro lands from federal inter- a number of scandals involving the ference, a GovGuam agency faced development of a new sect within similar threats. Following the massive the church, ­possible mismanagement US military increase on Guam in the of church assets, and, most shock- wake of World War II, thousands of ingly to the small island community, Chamorro families were displaced many ­lawsuits alleging the sexual in order to build large air force and abuse of children by priests on Guam navy bases in the north and south of ­(Bevacqua and Bowman 2018). More Guam. The Chamorro Land Trust was than a dozen of these lawsuits named implemented in 1995 to provide land Apuron himself as the abuser. to landless Chamorros as a means of In March 2018, the disgraced righting this historical wrong. archbishop faced a private canonical In September 2017, the US Depart- trial in the Vatican as well. Guam’s ment of Justice filed a lawsuit against huge Catholic community received the Government of Guam, alleging word that Apuron had been convicted that the Chamorro Land Trust vio- of certain misdeeds; however, the lated the Fair Housing Act (pdn, 28 proceedings were relatively secretive Sept 2017). The attorney general of and little was revealed, particularly Guam, Elizabeth Barrett Anderson, about his potential sentence. Apuron joined Maga'låhen Guåhan Calvo and announced he would appeal his con- I Liheslaturan Guåhan to defend the victions (ut, 14 June 2018). Chamorro Land Trust (pdn, 9 Oct The Archdiocese of Hagåtña cur- 2017). Congresswoman Madeleine rently faces about 170 accusations Bordallo sought to offer solutions of sexual abuse committed against in the US Congress to legitimize the children by Catholic priests on Guam trust but no concrete action was taken (pdn, 1 June 2018). Ironically, one (pdn, 4 Oct 2017). of Apuron’s most prominent critics, political reviews • micronesia 167

“Jungle Watch” blogger Tim Rohr, large benefit to Guam’s economy from faced his own publicity scandal in ­tourism. For example, Koreans spent 2018, when his estranged wife and far less on average than Japanese children accused him in court of visitors, who tended to spend nearly ­family violence and abuse, including us$600 each on Guam outside of their the sexual abuse of his daughter as a hotel and plane tickets (pdn, 18 April child (kuam, 9 May 2018). 2018). According to exit surveys con- Tourism arrivals reached historic ducted by the Guam Visitors Bureau highs in 2017 and 2018, but prob- in March 2018, Korean visitors lematic clouds were gathering in the spent roughly the same as Japanese distance. While 2017 was a year of visitors on hotels and transportation record highs at 1.56 million visitors, but spent about us$400 less on gifts 2018 was a year of major changes in and ­souvenirs while on island (pdn, the market (gdp, 2 Jan 2018). The 18 April 2018). two traditional “pillars” of Guam’s The Guam Museum, long plagued economy, the military and tourism, by delays and controversies, finally have long been naturally opposed, revealed its only permanent exhibit, and visitors from Japan, long the I Hinanao-ta (Our Journey), on largest sector of Guam’s successful 3 May 2018, almost four years after tourism industry, dropped significantly it was originally scheduled to open in the wake of Trump and Kim’s war to the public. A series of last-minute of words. and internally controversial changes Overall, Japanese visitors decreased from a hastily formed technical review by 16.8 percent in 2017. As an committee in early 2017 had pushed ­example, the 35,101 Japanese tour- back the opening for another year. ists who visited Guam in June 2018 Still, Guam had not had a functioning ­represented a decrease of 13,870 museum for more than twenty years, (39.5 percent, or over a third) com- and its opening was a point of civic pared to the same total in June 2017 pride (pnc, 4 May 2018). (gdp, 23 July 2018). Five years ago, in In June 2018, a bitter, decades-long June 2013, tourist arrivals from Japan struggle to win some sort of repara- were nearly double that. Perhaps tions for Chamorros that suffered in response to tensions between the ­during the Japanese occupation of United States and China, tourists from Guam during World War II finally mainland China also dropped precipi- received acknowledgment from the tously, by 43 percent (pdn, 30 July US federal government. Still, the 2018). convoluted way in which this chapter Opportunities seemed to be open- of Chamorro history was closed only ing up from other East Asian coun- reinforced the island’s marginal status tries, as South Korean tourist numbers as a US colony. on Guam increased by 25.6 percent, After signing peace treaties follow- achieving record highs in 2017 (gdp, ing World War II, the United States 23 July 2018). However, the tourists assumed all of Japan’s future obliga- coming to Guam spent less than in tions in terms of war reparations. the past, reducing the traditionally Chamorros, like others across Asia 168 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019) and the Pacific, suffered greatly during ists included no indigenous Chamor- Japanese occupation. ros, no women, and no candidates Chamorros long sought repara- with any substantive connection to tions from the United States for Guam or Micronesia, although Guam their suffering, but for decades the law requires that the president of the issue failed to be addressed in the US university have knowledge and under- Congress. Sometimes this failure was standing of Guam and its region. due to conflicts within GovGuam The search committee, which had over appropriate compensation, other paid us$100,000 to an off-island times because of resistance from the agency to vet and rank its candidates, US Congress itself. On 23 December defended their selections, despite the 2016, President Obama signed into fact that one of their finalists had left law the Guam World War II Loyalty both of his previous two positions Recognition Act. This law, coming in disgrace (gdp, 23 May 2018). A seventy-two years after the end of the petition that garnered thousands of war in Guam, was a bittersweet form signatures—including from university of closure. Although it provided com- students—called on I Liheslaturan pensation ranging from us$15,000 to Guåhan to conduct oversight in the us$25,000, depending on the type of matter but was ignored (gdp, 4 June suffering experienced, only those still 2018). Thomas Krise, a retired US living as of the date of the act’s sign- Air Force officer and former president ing were eligible (gdp, 28 July). The of Pacific Lutheran University, was overwhelming majority of Chamorros eventually selected. Although Krise and their descendants, therefore, were had no knowledge or understanding barred from the program. of Guam or Micronesia, he argued Furthermore, the funding source that his scholarship on the Caribbean for these reparations was a source of gave him an “appreciation” for island much local ire, as any compensation issues (pdn, 11 June 2018). would come from monies that had In 2018, Guam said farewell to already been set aside for GovGuam to former Lieutenant Governor of Guam receive (gdp, 13 Dec 2017). In essence, Eddie Diego Reyes (1983–1987), who after decades of inaction, GovGuam, passed away at the age of eighty-eight. not the US Congress, would pay war He had been elected lieutenant gov- reparations. The window for applica- ernor alongside Ricardo J Bordallo. tions closed on 20 June 2018, and Prior to that, Reyes distinguished it is estimated that fewer than three himself in the US military during the thousand claims were submitted (gdp, Vietnam War era, retiring as a colonel 20 June 2018). in the air force (gdp, 16 April 2018). In 2017, the Guam also lost Chamorro-rights announced the imminent retirement of activist Ron Teehan at age sixty-three. its longtime president, former US con- Teehan had been a tireless advocate gressman from Guam and Chamorro for indigenous land rights, working rights activist Robert Underwood. The with both the Chamorro Land Trust search for his replacement was marred and the Guam Landowners Associa- by controversy. The initial list of final- tion. As a member of the group opi-r political reviews • micronesia 169

(Organization of People for Indige- presented to their lands, waters, and nous Rights), he and others pushed for other resources. The resolution passed Chamorro people to define themselves in December 2017 with ninety-three as indigenous in international and votes in favor, eight against, and sixty- local contexts. In 1982, he was one of five abstentions. The United States the first Chamorros to travel to New voted against the resolution, arguing York to testify on behalf of Guam at (incorrectly, according to the United the United Nations (pdn, 5 Feb 2018). Nations’ own mandates) that Guam’s In response to the bellicose rheto- political status was solely a domestic ric around North Korean threats and issue with no international obligations various forms of federal interference, (gdp, 23 June 2018). a historic delegation from Guam was The decolonization conversation organized to travel to testify before the in Guam continued to grow in 2018, UN General Assembly Fourth Com- in particular with a historic forum mittee. The Guam Commission on among the candidates seeking to Decolonization and the decolonization become Guam’s next governor in May outreach group Independent Guåhan 2018. Organized by a cohort of public jointly organized the October 2017 administration master’s students at the trip to New York. University of Guam, the forum was The Commission on Decoloniza- titled “One Guam: Towards Decoloni- tion sent elected leaders I Maga'låhen zation” and was attended by close to Guåhan Calvo, Senator Fernando 900 people (pdn, 9 May 2018). Esteves, Senator Therese Terlaje, and Two of the candidates, former Senator Telena Nelson. Independent Governor Gutierrez and Senator Guåhan sent community members , made clear their prefer- from Guam, as well as from the ences for Guam’s political future, Chamorro diaspora in the United arguing that independence was the States. Overall, the testimony pro- best option. The other candidates vided a unified message, informing did not indicate preferences but all the United Nations about the state of promised their sincere support to affairs in Guam and highlighting the continue education on the issue until need for the international commu- a plebiscite for Guam’s native inhabit- nity to assist in pressuring the United ants could take place. Senator Dennis States to decolonize its colony. As Rodriguez, the son of Filipino immi- Senator Nelson testified, “We have no grants to Guam, made an impassioned ability to vote, no ability to govern plea to others who, like himself, were ourselves, and, as it stands, until the not classed as native inhabitants of United States says so, we have no the island. He asked that they join voice” (pdn, 8 Oct 2017). him in supporting self-determination Last-minute lobbying from the for indigenous Chamorro people Guam delegation resulted in the (gdp, 9 May 2018). passing of a resolution on Guam michael lujan bevacqua, containing critical language about the elizabeth isa ua ceallaigh­ rights of the Chamorro people and bowman, and tiara r the dangers that US militarization na'puti 170 the contemporary pacific • 31:1 (2019)

References RMI’s first Compact of Free Associa- tion (cofa) with the United States in Bevacqua, Michael Lujan, and Elizabeth 1986 (Walsh and Heine 2011). His Ua Ceallaigh Bowman. 2018. Micronesia government posts spanned decades in Review: Issues and Events, 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017: Guam. The Contempo- and included senator for Mājro and rary Pacific 30 (1): 136–144. Kuwajleen atolls, minister of finance and foreign affairs, ambassador to gdp, Guam Daily Post. Tamuning, Guam. the United Nations, and RMI ­climate http://www.postguam.com ambassador (mij, 1 Sept 2017). kuam, kuam.com: Guam’s News Net- DeBrum was a staunch advocate for work. Dededo. http://www.kuam.com justice for the survivors of the after- mv, Marianas Variety. Monday–Friday math of sixty-seven nuclear tests con- newspaper, Guam edition. Harmon, ducted by the United States on Pikinni Guam. http://www.mvariety.com/ and Ānewetak atolls. He sought to nyt, New York Times. http://www secure a world free of nuclear weap- .nytimes.com ons and in 2014 filed a lawsuit on behalf of the RMI aimed at forcing the pdn, Pacific Daily News. Hagåtña, Guam. world’s nuclear powers to reengage in http://www.guampdn.com nuclear disarmament talks (mij, 1 Sept pnc, Pacific News Center. Hagåtña, Guam. 2017). DeBrum was also a leader in http://www.pacificnewscenter.com the movement to reverse the effects of ut, USA Today. McLean, Virginia. climate change and was instrumental http://www.usatoday.com in the passage of the Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In addition to being nominated for a Marshall Islands Nobel Peace Prize, deBrum was the For the Republic of the Marshall recipient of several awards including Islands (RMI), the period under the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation review saw the passing of a number Distinguished Peace Leadership Award of public servants, community mem- in 2012 and a posthumous Lifetime bers, and advocates, including several Achievement Award from the gov- trailblazers in nuclear and climate ernment of Germany in 2017 (mij, activism, advocacy, and scholarship. 25 Aug, 3 Nov 2017). Tony deBrum devoted his life’s work Weeks before deBrum’s passing in to the advancement of the Marshall late August 2017, the Marshall Islands Islands and to procuring nuclear and lost sitting Naṃdik Atoll Senator and climate justice for Marshall Island- Minister Mattlan (Matt) Zackhras. ers. After serving on the Congress of Prior to his service as President Micronesia and the Marshall Islands’ Hilda Heine’s minister in assistance, first Constitutional Convention in the Zackhras’s portfolio during his four 1970s, deBrum played a key role in terms in office included the ministries securing independence from the Trust of public works and of resources and Territory of the Pacific Islands and in development. Zackhras was instru- the negotiations that resulted in the mental in securing funding for local