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Haruo Remeliik

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"Remeliik" redirects here. For the patrol boat named after him, see PSS Remeliik.
His Excellency
Haruo 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
Born
Haruo 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.[1]

Early life

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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.[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

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Remeliik 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

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  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. ^ a b 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.
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by
New office
 President of Palau
1981–1985 		Succeeded by


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