Haruo Ignacio Remeliik (1 June 1931 – 30 June 1985) was the first President of Palau from 2 March 1981 until his assassination on 30 June 1985. He is buried at Kloulklubed in his home state of Peleliu. Remeliik was of mixed Japanese and Palauan descent.[1]
Haruo Remeliik | |
|---|---|
 Taken around 1976 | |
| 1st President of Palau | |
| In office 2 March 1981 – 30 June 1985 | |
| Vice President | Alfonso Oiterong |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Remengesau Sr. (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Haruo Ignacio Remeliik 1 June 1931 Peleliu, South Seas Mandate (present day Palau) |
| Died | 30 June 1985 (aged 54) Koror, Palau |
| Manner of death | Assassination by gunshots |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | Regina Remeliik |
Early life
editRemeliik studied priesthood in Truk. Later he returned to Palau and became an associate judge. In 1968, he won a seat in Palau legislature and became vice speaker. In 1970 he was appointed as deputy district administrator for the Palau district of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.[2] In 1978 he became a member and later also president of the constitutional convention. In 1980, he was elected as the first President of Palau, and he won re-election in 1984.
Death
editRemeliik was shot in the driveway of his home by an unidentified gunman.[3] Six months after the killing, two relatives of Roman Tmetuchl and another man were arrested in connection to the killing; however, they were later released.[4][5] The case went through two different U.S.-based prosecutors before being tried in 1997.[6] In March 2000, former presidential candidate and convicted felon John O. Ngiraked claimed responsibility for the conspiracy to kill Remeliik.[6][7] Persistent allegations that Remeliik was killed by the CIA due to his firm anti-nuclear stance have continued after the trial and Ngiraked's confession.[8]
References
edit- ^ Ron Crocombe (2007). Asia in the Pacific Islands. University of the South Pacific, Institute of Pacific Studies. pp. 103, 112. ISBN 978-982-02-0388-4.
- ^ Shuster, Donald R. (November 1988). "Elections, Compact, and Assassination in the Republic of Palau". Pacific Studies. 12 (1). Brigham Young University–Hawaii: 23–48. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Associated Press (July 1, 1985). "No Arrests in Slaying Of Pacific Island Leader". Section A. New York Times. p. 5. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ Shenon, Philip (July 21, 1987). "Convictions Reversed in Island Slaying". Section A. New York Times. p. 16. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ Leibowitz, Arnold (February 16, 1996). Embattled Island: The Assassination of Palau's First President. Bloomsbury: Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9780275953904. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Whaley, Floyd (January 24, 2024). "True Crime in the Pacific: The Mysterious Assassination of Haruo Remeliik". Medium. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ Shuster, Donald R. (2002). Roman Tmetuchl: A Palauan Visionary. Roman Tmetuchl Family Trust. p. 129. ISBN 982-9064-01-8.
- ^ Rampell, Ed (June 30, 2015). "Dirty tricks and regime change in nuclear-free Palau". Pacific Scoop. Auckland: Pacific Media Centre. Archived from the original on July 4, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
External links
edit- Corry, John (2 July 1987). "'20/20' EXAMINES TROUBLE IN PALAU". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
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