Mr. Sabino Asor, Chuuk State Attorney General and Chairman of the Public Hearing initiative of the Chuuk Political Status Commission (CPSC) released his findings on the recent public hearings held in Honolulu and Hilo. In the memo to the CPSC, Mr. Asor made eight key findings and recommendations to the CPSC and added a disturbing personal observation in which he questions the government’s duty of extending the voting rights on this issue to Chuukese citizens living in the United States. He wrote, “I personally am beginning to wonder whether we have a duty to extend the proposed March 2015 referendum to these Chuukese now living in the United States, or should we just hold it in Chuuk. I am confident that because they were accepted into the US before a Chuuk Independence, the US Constitution will protect them from having to be deported enmasse, even if Chuuk has voted to secede from and become independent on its own. If they ever want to come back to visit during our Independent Chuuk, they are always welcome as families. But this is my own individual question in my mind.”
Although masked as his opinion, the very deliberate and calculated act of including it into the report is very suspicious. If this is the opinion of the Chuuk State Attorney General, the highest ranking legal expert on the Commission and for the Chuuk State government, then every Chuukese citizen living abroad should now be concerned about being deliberately kept from voting on the referendum.
The following memo was originally published on Micronesia Forum on November 25, 2014 by Mr. Sabino Asor under his widely known screen name, Taxi-Womw)
CHUUK STATE POLITICAL STATUS COMMISSION HAWAII PUBLIC HEARINGS REPORT, November 22-24, 2014
TO: Commission Chairman and All Commissioners
FR: Commission Public Hearing Chairman, Sabino Asor
SUBJECT: Overview of Public Hearing Responses from Chuukese citizens in Honolulu and Hilo
After presiding over our Commission’s hearings with citizens in Honolulu (November 22) and in
Hilo (November 24), my observations and suggestions are as follows:
1. The Commission needs to be efficient in its work. (During the Honolulu hearing, after many citizens complained for the lack of written materials to help them familiarize themselves with the topic before and during the discussion, and given the limited time the Commission is holding hearings with them, Mr Hayashi Naka of Tonoas, put the problem correctly during the Honolulu hearing: “the Commission needs to show that its work is professional and respectable. You yourself need to show that you also respect the work by at least providing citizens written materials to help them understand the Commission’s reasoning for recommending secession from the FSM Federation…”) The same complaint was raised in Hilo. As Public Hearing Chairman, I felt frustrated with our Commission’s management. I thought we also suggested for the Commission to provide drinks and refreshments to help the citizens’ ability to participate in the discussions. The Honolulu meeting went for more than six hours, and we knew the people were losing energy to participate further.
2. Enough Time for People’s Decision? During our public hearings, we used the March 2015 General Election as the same time suggested to have the plebiscite on the question. About one half of the people/audience in Hilo and in Honolulu (like those on Uman and other venues) complained for not being able to have enough time and materials/information to consider the question before March, 2015. There is of course the question raised by some Commissioners as to how much information and readiness do the people really need to say they are prepared to make the decision? Part of the complaint is the lack of official information. Like we suggested earlier, information prepared by the Commission’s expert, for example, formatted in a financial spread sheet or statement might be helpful for the people to understand the financial and economic information the Commission is relying on in making its recommendation. As one Hilo student suggested, “come back with slights or charts to explain your numbers and projections, not just oral assumptions because we do not know how to believe or accept your estimates…”
3. Differing levels of interests and concerns between citizens and the Commission: As should be expected, most citizens’ reactions are based mostly on those concerns or interests most closely affecting them, even if not on the complete issue of secession and independence. For example, the common issue for our citizens residing in the US is the effect of a Chuuk secession from the FSM on their immigration status in the US; on the students’ eligibility for US federal educational assistance; eligibility for medical and other social or other assistance. We have to keep explaining that one major priority goal of the Chuuk Secession and Independence Movement is to seek to retain the same “free access rights” for Chuukese into the US, including the federal educational and other assistance as much as possible.
These kinds of concerns therefore lead to the surprising complain or disinformation from opponents of the Chuuk Cession Movement that “Chuuk is going to be associated with China and end the relationship with the US.” We met this diinformation both in Honolulu and Hilo, and we still are unable to figure out the source of this lie/disinformation. We also tried to explain that even the FSM has currently maintains some association with China, starting for example, from the fact that FSM has an embassy in China; that the FSM President, Vice President, Speaker and Chief Justice have official houses built by the Chinese, similar to the COM Palikir Gymnasium, the Pohnpei State Capitol, the Kosrae Lelu Bridge.
Part of the problem with their accepting this disinformation is their lack of understanding what kinds of governmental relations are being involved or envisioned.
4. That level of understanding is also displayed in one of the Hilo students showing off his $20 dollar bill and demanding what kind of dollar a new Independent Chuuk would use if Chuuk secedes from the FSM. (We had to explain that the FSM uses the US dollar because FSM law authorizes that; and that an Independent Chuuk would also have similar laws authorizing the US dollar as the official exchange).
5. The lack of understanding or information is also evident in the other repeated question if Chuuk is “ready” to secede and be on its own. We had to assure them that after working with our fellows Yapese and Pohnpeians and Kosraeans, we see no big difference in our respective abilities to manage our governments. They know how to participate in a national congress; so are Chuukese. They know how to be presidents of an independent nation; so are Chuukese. They know how to be directors of departments, of offices; how to be government accountants, police officers; ambassadors, so too are the Chuukese people. There seems to be a lack of self-confidence in our own abilities or a high degree of dependency of our Chuukese citizens on the abilities of others. They do not seem to realize that because they are living in the US, their perception of the need to secede from Pohnpei and Yap to be on its own after 2023 may not be as urgent as those presently Chuukese living in Chuuk.
(I personally am beginning to wonder whether we have a duty to extend the proposed March 2015 referendum to these Chuukese now living in the United States, or should we just hold it in Chuuk. I am confident that because they were accepted into the US before a Chuuk Independence, the US Constitution will protect them from having to be deported enmasse, even if Chuuk has voted to secede from and become independent on its own. If they ever want to come back to visit during our Independent Chuuk, they are always welcome as families. But this is my own individual question in my mind).
6. One the question whether the Chuuk has the right to secede under the FSM Constitution, the Commission has presented legal advice from its own legal advisors during the Honolulu hearing that “the present language of the FSM Constitution does not prohibit a state’s secession from the Federation. Based on that, the Commission will continue on its work, unless challenged. Furthermore, Commissioner members are suggesting that should the Commission’s work require an amendment of the FSM Constitution to allow a Chuuk secession, Chuuk should work with Yap and Pohnpei to agree that since they also consider seceding from the FSM, it would be in everybody’s interest to amend the Constitution to allow such secessions.”
7. The question why Chuuk leaders are working on seceding from the FSM when a Chuukese is currently the President of the FSM,and other Chuukese leaders are in the National Government. We explained that first of all, the current FSM President’s term is only a few months left, and besides, the secession movement in Chuuk is a freedom of speech movement not being violative of any FSM law, nor does any FSM leader have any right to restrict. We explain the Secession Movement is the Chuukese people’s own desire for their future sake, even after the terms of office for all those Chuukese currently holding offices in the FSM, including those Chuukese holding ambassadorial positions in the FSM embassies and consulate offices, departments, agencies. In fact, many Commissioners suggest it be better for all those Chuukese to move back and be part of the new Independent Chuuk Nation, than hanging on in Palikir under a Peter Christian, or John Ehsa, or Joseph Urusemal or Alik Alik presidency where they might not be as welcomed. Furthermore, most Commissioners believe an Independent Chuuk is in the best, long term interest for all of those Chuukese of tomorrow, not so much those in Palikir most of who are nearing retirement soon.
8. Finally, the Commissioners also admit there are Chuukese citizens who oppose the Chuuk Secession and Independent Movement not so much from any real interest in the merits of the issue, but based on current political or personal opposition to members of the Commission. We saw that kind of opposition in Honolulu when citizens were upset that Commissioners were speaking or explaining English concepts in the English language; or when, for example, those Faichukese women in the back were “complaining why the Umanese Commissioners (Meippen and Asor) were doing most of the talking, and none of their Faichukese were present.”
This last complaint, we hope, should be taken seriously by the Commission Chairman.
And based on all of the above, we recommend a Commission meeting about the same time the Legislature will be in session during the second week of next month, December 2014.
By the same token, I am posting this Report on the public forums for Commission’s public information.
(Note: This report was originally published on Micronesia Forum on November 25, 2014 by Mr. Sabino Asor under his widely known screen name, Taxi-Womw)
Dr. Vid Raatior
Dr. Vid Raatior is a proud Chuukese parent, educator, citizen blogger, and social entrepreneur living in the US.
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Pwata ose katon akom ika pwe na wewe epwe auchu ngeni EKEWE ir m osupang.
Corruption out in plain site! They don’t even bother to hide their intentions of getting this passed with or without the citizens of Chuuk. That is a violation of citizens’ rights and a call for impeachment!
Mr. Attorney General, you have got to be kidding, right? I am referring to your opinion that certain Chuukese “rightful” citizens living abroad in the U.S. should be excluded from participating in the upcoming referendum in deciding the political future of our beloved Chuuk. And coming from the supposed chief law enforcer in our state is simply amazing to me. Any sixth grader in civic class knows that this is illigal and unconstitutional. This is exactly what the communist countries do to their citizenry: if they can’t win you over to their side, they’ll try to silence you or eliminate you. I just hope and pray that our beloved Chuuk is not coming to this.
Mi jok pwaralo an ese care fanitan citizens of chuuk… mwa met ren na sokun ekiek.. rese weweiti pwe popun an aramas tou seni fenuaj faniten osupwangan fenuaj pokiten ar firiokij…. people.. KATON MASOWAN ME JOjon na commission pwe ekewe jok iir mi piin kalapus me fifirioni monien fenuaj chuuk… ita ra kan fosun chuuk epwe imwulo fanitan esapw wor kinikin won ewe moni fanitan FSM NATION… o mwa plssss… ifa usun oupwe walong ekoj mi pin atai alluk repwe wisen fori pungun fenuaj… yall government people ai luku oumi fen stupid… id rather serve a DOG than ekoj exconvict…
Please provide the source of this quote.
So sad very sad!! Kij aramasen chuuk non ei fansoun… Chuuk ah wesan osupwang ika pwe Ina na we we!!
Pwata ouwa fosun ren nesor me ponon? Nge puat ouse kuna osupwangen ikenai? Metm a tawe angangen pioing me awor enern chon sukun monge non unusen chuuk me awes angangen ewe ann, ika apw, pwaya chok ka fosun nesor nge iei kij mi kunaa echuu nipwakingowen neniaj faniten kij sou emwen kinisow. Meinisin sipue mweirr me neuemong -NO
Please post pdf file of Asor’s overview to confirm authenticity of said document. It seems like the contents of this “overview” was copied onto this page. If pdf is not available, please provide the source where this “overview” originated.
We were alerted to this memo as posted on the Micronesia Forum by Mr. Sabino Asor under his widely known screen name, Taxi-Womw (http://micronesiaforum.org/index.php?p=/discussion/comment/311825#Comment_311825). Feel free to email him at sab.asor@hotmail.com for a PDF copy of the document.
Mwa met so sad God bless your heart. You just show us how this kind of leadership will be in the future. We the citizenship of our beloved chuuk as whole we have the right to be part of this. Lets stop all these nonsense and do the right way for the better of our nation.
Wow! Mwa met mwa! Weeich!
Ese wor pwan namoten amupwe pwan vote won leaders since we can’t voice our opinion on that matter!
The whole thing is BS “conflict of interest”isn’t there any law of Chuuk State on this? It is just straight up ridiculous.
Excluding the rights of the Chuukese voters abroad is not the work of the so-called commission, nor the attorney general of chuuk state, therefore this opinion is indeed unconstitutional.
Referendums are legal mechanisms for voters to repeal or accept a law passed by the chuuk state legislature, not the so-called self-appointed commission nor the attorney general of chuuk state. Referendums are a major component of direct democracy, a system in which laws are directly made by the people, again not by the so-called self appointed commission, but BY THE PEOPLE, including the chuukese abroad.
There are two primary types of referenda: the legislative referendum, whereby the legislature refers a measure to the VOTERS for their approval, and the popular referendum, a measure that appears on the ballot as a result of a voter petition drive. Was there a petition drive being conducted? Did this petition have garner enough signatures that the state of chuuk constitution has required?
To exclude these chuukese voters abroad is not the authority, nor the legal duty of the so-called self-appointed commission, nor the chuuk state attorney general, but the state of chuuk legislature in a form of “measures” to appears on the ballot for the people of chuuk to decide.
Mwa med! Ita si era sise mwaren akangasangas non ei Mwun FSM nge epwene fen ifan me riafoun non na mwu ouwa finata? Ami mi fen ok ika?.. med oh Mr. Sabino Asor?.. are you smoking crack?.. a kan ina ami pwungupwung a!.. Iwe oukan Hang up ou pancho! ina epwe eto non na fansoun ouwa nuwen mi rich mwaramwar 18k, nom non fancy house, wani taraku mi minafé, nge ekewe sukun me pioing me aramas mi osupwang ususur we chok. Ina pwata ouse mwochen am ekei chon nom non US ampwe vote pwe am mi sinei pwe e kan mwaren neneno mesem me pwan suk am ekiek.. TuuuuuuWeeeeee! mekan efinongen paikingin mefiomw nimwa!. med ami ekiek? why are we all scattered around the world? esapw kuten tufi me angang pwan suseni osupwang. kinisou ren ami pwarano ami umes!
The Attorney General’s personal opinion is just the reason why we’re so worried about seceding from the FSM. It is so obvious that the AG is getting “frustrated” at the facts that he was not well informed to provide and deliver and I also personally think that was too personal and real racist..I PERSONALLY think that this serious matter should be addressed head on with full support, materials, and every broadcasting to get the message out.
And this is my personal opinion- WE DON”T NEED PHILLIPINO TO COME HOLD JOBS REGARDLESS AND WORK OR OWN BUSINESS IN OUR ISLANDS. IF THAT IS TAKEN CARE OF, THEN I WOULD BE ALL FOR AN INDEPENDENT CHUUK.
The idea of seceding is just an idea and it is our choice to vote it. Remember to vote on what you believe in.
Allow me to first of all say and freely speak my mind, “You are the dumbest lawyer I’ve come across”. It could be a personal opinion but a personal opinion to the effects of your personal exclusion and violation of rights to suffrage and rights to finding peace and liberty. Look at the obvious—–Based on a public hearing abroad you question the duty to extend the rights to vote abroad but not the rights to know and administer public education to those abroad? Again—STUPID!
WOW!!..mr: AG? Asor..are you sure you are an Attorney General?? sounds like your are corrupted ur self..If you try to have the Chuukese who live out side Chuuk state not to participated in this coming election on this Chuuk reform?you are asking for big trouble for violating your ethic rules of contact..opps..did you know whats that mean?..I double Dare you to do so!!..Show me the Seal Deal from China that they will give Chuuk money and invested in Chuuk? Did you solved the land Deal with USA?if not? What makes you think China will?its better to speak and write in English for better navigation regarding Dealing with China….Check your foot steps…cheers!!
UFEN UREN KECHIW REN EKEI SOKUN EKIEK ME MOKUTUKUT AN NOUWISIN CHUUK IKENAI. RESE KUNA OSUPWANGEN IKENAI. NGANG JON AANI RIAFOUN SATIW SATA WON EI ENUKA, FITIPWAKAK, E TAKAI WAJ CHITOSA REN. ESE MWO PWAK REN EI ADMINISTRATION IEI..PWAN IIR EI RA MOJEN IMWU SENI FSM NON AR REPWE UUTA NON MWUUR?..NGE EI MWU IEI? PWAAT ESE PWAAK? IWE IKA CHUUK A IMWU SENI FSM, ION EPWE EMWENI? PWAN IIR JOK? EMWENI NGENI MET?
PIOING? E PWAAK AJ EI PIOING IEI?
AI NUKU JON EI MWU ME COMMISSION RE JOK NENO ME ANUT..NON AR TANA EW MINAFO MWU, RA TIPE-EW WON EW EKIEK “SIPWENE IMWU SENI FSM AA” NGE RESE FEN NENENO REPWE KUNA EI UKUKUN OSUPWANG. E MWO OSUPWANG IEI, NGE EPWENE IA ME NON ENA ATUN?
UFEN UREN KECHIW..KECHIWEITI ATONGE-EI ARAMAS IKA RA TIPE-EW NGENI EI MOKUTUKUT, FAN ITEN AR RESE WEWEITI. FICHINO OSUPWANG NAPANAP..OSUPWANGEN IO? KICH ME NOUCH NOIS.
EKIEK EOJ JON CHUUK. AMO SIPWE MOKUT NON SARAMEN EKIEK PWUN EPWE SARAM, SARAM AJ FINATA TUFICHIN CHUUK NESOR.
NON AI KEJIW…LORD HELP US!
Kij jon chuuk meinisin met ousisene menemen ren fansoun nakatam kij m kokotiw non osupwang iwe nge pwata iei me uwesij ne jiwen awanonga ekewe ir m pon nge repwe echu chuuk Nge rese i believe that theres one Man that can rise chuuk state from its grave.And thats mr.Killian Doone..plz put him in the leaders chair
I know him well from hawaii,,…..?
Who’s Killian Doone? LOL !
Chuuk,
We may think we have all the knowledge, but seriously we need WISDOM!! Chuuk won’t survive on her own, but especially with leaders with tipachem esor mirit lon!!! Tirow pwal fairow Chuuk!!
give some reasons why you guys think chuuk should be independent pls?
Mr. Asor has already concluded that secession of Chuuk from the FSM is the desire of the Chuukese people. The Chuukese people have not voted on the controversial issue yet. And how could he know? The CPSC must understand fully that they are NOT representatives of the Chuukese people since they were merely appointed by the Chuuk Governor! So the commissioners must stop thinking that whatever nonsense they advocate represents the desire of the Chuukese people – it’s their own!
I actually like the idea of Chuuk Independence. My question is what are the basis or on what ground(s) did this web site disagreed with, what are the disadvantages you oppose to this proposition?
Hi, Jerome…please read the other articles posted on our website for some of our opposing views.
This is madness! I hope I could hear from our other gov’t officials in chuuk that still remain invisible to voice us out loud by taking this to court!? Or do we even have any? If not, ayayayy a piin Fich . Just fast-forward it to where every crew onboard are drowning couple survivors!! Blessing to all off our leaders
Mut ngeni semiritin ikenai repwe fini ar muu non ar fansoun, mwach kan…nge kij ekei tapin iwe iei ajei muu F.S.M Federated States of Micronesia…..TONGEI CHUUK EKIEKI CHUUK TORI ARAMASAN KEWE, nesor me pekinon. Chuuk ekoj kukun neni fokun nakun become paradise of the pacific ika m tumeneoj jek memwan……a nakun oruwen Hawaii ne ew neni paradise…….uapwan sani ewe uwekis era nge iokewe nge pwan iokei…..sopwei moo…..
We need leaders who are not corrupted,who dont discriminate others,who don’t play dirty politics,who understand how to lead and who is being honest..
Sabino aka Taxi-Wom doesn’t fit all these criterias.
Fact matters:
Sabino said; ” Conducting 1 or 1000 meetings on any island in Chuuk,won’t make any difference..therefore he and his buddies will lure only the heads of family and head of clans to Weno,and persuade them with ” Coffee & Red-Horse Beer” and said he called that kind of approach, ” Weche-Sona” ika ” Gurrilla warfare”
I’m restating what the Chuuk State AG said in previous post…but do you really believe the AG uses (Weche-Sona ) to his people.? He must not be the AG..!
Anything you say,can and will be used against you in the court of law…OOPPS.!
Chuukese don’t like weche-sona, we prefer weche-wenewen..
They weche-sona ikenai,,repwe pwan wech-sona in the Republic of Chuuk.! No make sense..stay strong with the FSM and help change our dysfunctional approach..!
Kinisou Mi Chapur.!
Chochon ei commission meinisin repwele ii maa,a chok arap ar fansoun ina pwata ousapw chiwen awalalal won mokutun chuuk lesor pwe lon ami ei fansoun ami meinisin firiokich.Iwe ita kan pwomwen met ei o fori,ita sipwe kan era nge seni ami tongei chuuk???? Anemi tongei chuuk ose fen era oupwe receive waten moni seni china!!!!!oupwe fen era anemi china o stupid lon chamwemi….
To those leaders directly to those that are corrupted, how in the world would you try to terminate the COFA when you are not even capable of telling the truth about the funds that been misused. You don’t have the ability and capability of taking care of our people but yourselves. You can’t even enforce the laws and rules of our government nor care about the future of our state Chuuk. The roads and hospital are in bad shape due to the lack of resources and funds because of you leaders using the money for your own personal use. Isn’t that why the majority of us citizens of Chuuk State are all scattered around the world looking for better lives and education. We are in search of good education and jobs to support our families back home because our government is corrupted by the crooked and dishonest leaders of our Chuuk State, Pwata China epwe care about people of other nation nge ar resources me jobs e provided by the United States pwe ir osupwangen me populated countries of the whole world, ina pwata re anuku an epwe nuseni 2 children ra nieno kill the 3rd child nge ita pwata resapw nieno kij jon Chuuk, jejemeni pwe ir communists less freedom with them possibly nieno kij pwe esapw kij jon fonuwer, jemeni aj kewe nio pwe jon Asian particularly Japanese people came to my island during the world war II iwe used my greatgrandfathers and grandfathers as farmers on their own lands pwe enen ekewe Japanese. Those Asians were so cruel and brutal, they beat up and hung my ancestors ika pwe re angang foods from the farms pwe repwe anis ngeni nour children, parents, siblings and relatives repwene drowned them non konik iwe pwata ouse nenengeni pwe what they did to our ancestors will happen once again
Freedom of speech in the United States is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and by many state constitutions and state and federal laws, everyone should speak their minds freely, how about China taking over our beloved Chuuk State, would you speak freely, nope, according to my understanding, we will have less freedom with a communist taking over our nation. Let me tell you the other communist countries, During the reign of the Soviet Union, there were communist countries throughout Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa. Communist countries in the twentieth century included Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Benin, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Congo, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Ethiopia, Hungary, Mongolia, Mozambique, Poland, Romania, Somalia, South Yemen, Soviet Union, and Yugoslavia. Today, there are only five communist countries in the world, China, Cuba, Vietnam, North Korea and Lao. Do you corrupted leaders of Chuuk State even bother to explain what kind of government they would have with the China, it’s going to be very difficult for our citizens to choose what to do because that’s what communists do, they don’t let people to choose what they want to do or who they want to become because the crooked leaders will be the ones choosing everything and they will take all the lands from the citizens just like Hitler did to his people of Russia brutally killed those who didn’t agree with his wrong doing and use most of the citizens as farmers for the rest of their lives. Sabino Asor how can you lied to those Chuukese youth that Palau has a better government when they’re being treated just like aliens in the U.S.A. They need a visa (green card) to enter the U.S.A. They would be deported from the U.S.A when their documents expired. Communist countries such as Russia, Cuba, Afghanistan, Asia like North Korea, Africa etc. they’re all about war, money, power and greed and selfishness . Oupwe jejemeni pwe meinisin nouwis repwe ne soposopono are turunufasa kij citizens nemeni metojuj meinisin esapw jiwen or aj nemenem on fonuwaj pwe the government epwe angei meinisin fonuwaj (land) epwene napono an Hitler me Kim me pwan Osama bin Latin uwe muu ika sia tou seni fan nemenien U.S.A the leader of all Nations exclude those communist countries. Sabino emouno ne jonomwaken om awewe ese enlet om kena kapas ngeni citizen of Chuuk State tipemong ekimong ese or omw tongei kij jon Chuuk mei fet non om ekiek kose sinei definition of communist, let me define it for you it is a way of organizing a society in which the government owns the things that are used to make and transport products (such as land, oil, factories, ships, etc.) and there is no privately owned property, I’m definitely sure that’s what you greedy leaders of Chuuk are aiming for power money all for yourselves, we would be able to get our voice out and have freedom, it’ll be all about you so called uneducated greedy selfish politicians or should I say crooked and corrupted leaders: revolution= Sociology. a radical and pervasive change in society and the social structure, especially one made suddenly and often accompanied by violence