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

(1933-06-01)1 June 1933
Peleliu, South Seas Mandate (present day Palau)
Died30 June 1985(1985-06-30) (aged 52)
Koror, Palau
Manner of deathAssassination by gunshots
Political partyIndependent
SpouseRegina Remeliik

Haruo Ignacio Remeliik (1 June 1933 – 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

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

Remeliik's killers remain unknown. 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] In March 2000, former presidential candidate and convicted felon John O. Ngiraked claimed responsibility for the conspiracy to kill Remeliik.[6]

Allegations of CIA involvement

There have been persistent allegations that Remeliik was killed by the CIA due to his firm anti-nuclear stance.[7]

See also

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. ↑ Donald R. Shuster. "ELECTIONS, COMPACT, AND ASSASSINATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF PALAU".
  3. ↑ No Arrests in Slaying Of Pacific Island Leader
  4. ↑ CONVICTIONS REVERSED IN ISLAND SLAYING
  5. ↑ Embattled Island: The Assassination of Palau's First President
  6. ↑ Shuster, Donald R. (2002). Roman Tmetuchl: A Palauan Visionary. Roman Tmetuchl Family Trust. p. 129. ISBN 982-9064-01-8.
  7. ↑ "Pacific.scoop.co.nz » Dirty tricks and regime change in nuclear-free Palau". Retrieved 2022-04-28.


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