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 The Contemporary Pacic, Volume 29, Number 1, 93–188 © 2017 by University of Hawai‘i Press 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.