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Haruo Remeliik

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First President of Palau "Remeliik" redirects here. For the patrol boat named after him, see PSS Remeliik.
His ExcellencyHaruo Remeliik
Taken around 1976
1st President of Palau
In office
2 March 1981 – 30 June 1985
Vice PresidentAlfonso Oiterong
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byThomas Remengesau Sr. (acting)
Personal details
BornHaruo Ignacio Remeliik
(1931-06-01)1 June 1931
Peleliu, South Seas Mandate (present day Palau)
Died30 June 1985(1985-06-30) (aged 54)
Koror, Palau
Manner of deathAssassination by gunshots
Political partyIndependent
SpouseRegina Remeliik

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.

Early life

Remeliik 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. 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

Remeliik was shot in the driveway of his home by an unidentified gunman. 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. The case went through two different U.S.-based prosecutors before being tried in 1997. In March 2000, former presidential candidate and convicted felon John O. Ngiraked claimed responsibility for the conspiracy to kill Remeliik. 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.

References

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Associated Press (July 1, 1985). "No Arrests in Slaying Of Pacific Island Leader". Section A. New York Times. p. 5. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  4. Shenon, Philip (July 21, 1987). "Convictions Reversed in Island Slaying". Section A. New York Times. p. 16. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  5. Leibowitz, Arnold (February 16, 1996). Embattled Island: The Assassination of Palau's First President. Bloomsbury: Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9780275953904. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  6. ^ Whaley, Floyd (January 24, 2024). "True Crime in the Pacific: The Mysterious Assassination of Haruo Remeliik". Medium. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  7. Shuster, Donald R. (2002). Roman Tmetuchl: A Palauan Visionary. Roman Tmetuchl Family Trust. p. 129. ISBN 982-9064-01-8.
  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

Political offices
Preceded byNew office President of Palau
1981–1985 		Succeeded byThomas Remengesau Sr.
Presidents of Palau
Flag of Palau
*denotes acting


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