On November 19, 2015, two members of the Chuuk delegation to the FSM Congress, Senators Romolow and Fasy Nethon along with Senator Figir from Yap co-sponsored a Congressional Resolution 19-155 (Download Now) requesting the FSM President to terminate the Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the United States as early as the year 2018.
The resolution is similar to CR 17-61 (Download Now) sponsored by then Senator Peter Christian in 2011 during the 17th FSM Congress.
What has been clear for a long time now is that President Christian and Congressmen Figir have been outspoken in their opposition to the Amended Compact. They have repeatedly called the stringent fiscal measures by the US as interference in the sovereignty of the FSM. Why Nethon and Romolow have aligned with these two anti-COFA leaders is unclear.
It is painfully true that the United States Government has the upperhand in JEMCO votes given their majority membership. But the two resolutions lack credibility because the FSM Congress has been the worst abuser of the COFA funding. Yet our leaders have never taken full responsibility for their part in the misappropriation of public funds. Instead, they blame the United States government for wanting fiscal accountability.
By re-introducing President Christianʻs 2011 resolution, should we be concerned about the possible breakdown of a check and balance between the Executive and the Legislative branches of our national government? Are Figir, Nethon, and Romolow being used to push the agenda of the Executive Branch at the expense of their own constituents?
Some questions for Senators Nethon and Romolow:
- Why are the two Chuukese congressmen, Nethon and Romolow, turning their backs on the thousands of Chuukese constituents living, working, attending schools, seeking healthcare, serving in the US Armed Forces in the United States protected by the Compact?
- Is Senator Romolow, the new and youngest member of the FSM Congress, being manipulated by the elder senators and President Christian for their own agenda?
- Is there a plan to prevent FSM citizens from being deported if the COFA is terminated in 2018? What jobs will they have when they are deported back to the FSM?
- If this was part of their long-term vision for the FSM, then why didnʻt they openly discuss it during the campaign season?
- What is the alternative plan for the FSM if the Compact isnʻt working for our nation?
We invite Senator Romolow and Senator Nethon to provide their responses (in Chuukese or English) by email to vid@chuukstate.org and we will post them verbatim so we can all know all sides of this issue.
- Download 2015 Congressional Resolution (CR 19 – 155)
- Download 2011 Congressional Resolution (CR 17 – 61)
Dr. Vid Raatior
Dr. Vid Raatior is a proud Chuukese parent, educator, citizen blogger, and social entrepreneur living in the US.
Follow Me:
If this thing happens, what will happen to the kids thats still in school ? Will they be deported as well ? Even if we were born and raised on US territory or US soil ?
All born on US soil are citizens of the US; therefore are not required to be deported should this termination take place.
How about their parents ? Some of them are from fsm ? Does that mean separation ?
My initial response was in response to Mary Kate.
Now to whomever it may concern,
Our people would like to know how the COFA termination would actually be a benefit, especially if there is absolutely nothing to look forward to as it is?
Is it because you think sending our people back is going to suddenly have a positive financial impact on our country?
If that’s the case, honestly, and with all due respect, that is absurd and just nearly impossible.
Must I add why?
Well, I believe, and I’m confident enough to say I speak for most, if not all, our people; our government has been terribly corrupt and it has been for as long as most of us have lived.
That alone is why our country is always going to fail. Yes, there’s bound to be corruption in other parts, but that’s the least of our concerns.
It has always been about who you know and not what you know. What’s that infamous cliché again?
“Ke pach, ke tento.”
Well, that needs to end before even considering the termination of COFA.
We need to focus on how our country can obtain true and honest leaders. It needs to be WHAT ONE KNOWS and not WHO ONE KNOWS!
If I stand correct, our people strongly believe the termination would be a selfish act that is for the sole purpose of personal self gain.
When a petition is started, I strongly encourage all to not only sign it, but to also encourage others to sign it.
DO NOT TERMINATE COMPACT of FREE ASSOCIATION!
Amen, well spoken, well put. More the reason why this termination should not take place.
Wow….I know that this comment is late but d*mn!!!!
You have spoken for me and I hope all of us.
For those who disagree, screw you and we can speak if we want.
But AMEN!!!
Let’s hope God will help us all.
Under a Donald Trump presidency, children of illegal parents must also be deported!
Why not fire them
We the people are the government not one or two all us, so we should vote .Our President should not exercise his power to people lives,Why not finish up the compact,while we the people prepare for that time to come.
This is crazy all 3 off them need to go…bunch off sell out corrup fsm senators!!
Yeah they can’t just pass it with out the most important of all the FSM people that put them in there place now where going to kick them out cuz they don’t think of the future for of the FSM people and most important our kid’s…
What is this all about??? I dont really get why they’re doing this…i wish and hope for a clear explanation to this..
Epwe ese wor ani ekkei aramas vote ir mi nomw nukkun chuuk?
Wachepw!
One of them bought a house in honolulu. So that’s what kinda confusing cus he bought a house in Hawaii, at the same time, he wants to terminate the. ” free entry and living” in the US!
If they do it as a political maneuver or tactic, then in my own opinion, it’s a ” drive over a 2018 feet cliff”
I hope our leaders based their concerns on the people and not just on personal interest.
May they pray before they make their decision and stay true to our people.
My name is isabella rose aguon and im 18 and im pohnpeian . You guys are not thinking of the people who work so hard sacrificed so much . are you even thinking of the FUTURE ? what will we get in return ? what good is gonna come from all this ? Im a Senior at George Washington High School On Guam having big hopes and dreams to see the real world and be able to accomplish many things. The last thing i would worry about is what will happen in 2018 .
I know how you feel….I’m only 16 and I’m really worried that I won’t even accomplish my dreams because of this stupid mess!
But let’s pray to God to help!
I think F.S.M president is a Muslim , why not finish the compact to its expiration day, while you leaders think of what better for the people
How are we gonna survive back home? People back home are already poor,hungry. This is why we came to the US to support our people that are back home by sending money and clothes.
Take all of them out of office!
A trend being set by FSM..despite the possible short term loss if compact is terminated, these leaders of FSM are true to their objective, Nations are built from within with its people standing in unison on their own land…i can only foresee FSM flourish when it’s people return home with expertise, experience to start the Nation building process with their feet standing on their mother land!! The US government will not deport FSM citizens post compact, for sure migration status will remain!!
Are you sure they wont get deported?. It says Termination not ammending. With the threat of ousiders being a major concern in the US, whats to say they wont use the excuse of terrorism to send everyone back to FSM?.
Our honorable congressmen, please we kindly ask that you provide us ( the concerned citizens) with your reasons and insight of this issue.
Please lets not try to fix what’s not broken. Rather work on it to make it better, improve to better the future!
As of the citizens of the famous with my respect to the two congressman from chuukese state that I am concern about the termination of the compact between us and fsm….to the people of the two region of northwest and southern nomoneas pls do not vote for the two gentlemen in 2017….I am the resident of southern nomoneas I am planing to again fast nethon….
Thank you
Ainy.antonio
Legal advisor to the government of guam.
Smells fishy. I don’t think they are thinking of the people, only thinking about their pockets. Sad.
You are all full of &*$%! Selfish and stupid ! You guys never thought about why our parent’s cane out here in the first place? What kind of future and career are we to have if we go back to Chuuk?! I, Mikenda Ifraim, oldest daughter of Ty Eram and Rosenta ifraim, is against your compact or whatever nonesense termination is. You guys are putting thousands of families in jeopardy !
Well, this that will follow is just a mere opinion of a not so very important person. The way i see it is this. We tried the compact of free association and sure it didn’t work out as we thought it would. The reason for the compact is for us to sustain a self sufficient gvmnt but we failed, whether they end sooner rather than later ..it will eventually come to that day. So i think, and its just my opinion, our leaders are fishing for something new, now since China is offering help, why not take it now when the deal is on the table? Because seriously the US dont need us anymore. They’re cutting funds without informing our leaders. The compact is a the only thing keeping us from making deals with other countries. To sum it all up, we tried that and it didn’t work out, it time to move on to bigger and better deals. Thats just an opinion of a nobody…
Look at Papua new Guinea before you decide.
Well said. But let’s not jump into conclusion just yet. You have to realize that recent associates or rather congress or government. Mis used the compact for their personal gain, and that’s a fact. They sought their own needs rather than the people, the countless others that have suffered from hunger and pain. Yes we failed numerous times trying to make our nation, our way of life better. But we gain more confidence that way. We learn to adapt, to improve, to control. We have come a long ways, why throw all that away. I admire their courage (congresmans) and their will to step up and make such decisions. But I do not see how we could manage to make things better knowing things are already bad as it is. I respect their wishes, but I’m against the termination.
We the people will decide whether or not to terminate the compact with the U.S so there’s no need to panic but do remember these so called leaders comes election day.
Are you two stupid? Not even thinking about the future generation, your selfishness and blind minds will put you guys out of office pretty soon, I just hope there’s another election going on so we the people can kick your ass out from those seats and replace you guys with more educated leaders, you’re totally making wrong decision right there you ignorant piece of ❌❌❌❌, think wisely before you even make your final decision.
No excuse it’s just a sudden movement. If fsm leaders failed to improve the islands with the currency u.s. hand out, then whose fault is it? And if fsm find other country’s help will it stop the habit of misusing money?
Leaders of fsm, please wake up. Aren’t you ashame of other state like Guam for instance looking down on your people, because of your doings? What is the use of all your degrees. They said you are good for nothing.
Returning back home are there jobs for us awaiting to be filled.
You are just killing thousands of lives.
All I see here are request to be replaced.
I really don’t see why Senator Romolow would wanna keep the effectiveness and intentions of the Resolution confidential. Because of the Resolution, it is threatening to many FSM people who plan to have a better future in the United States. I don’t see that as effective, but since he threatens to take that away, I wanna know how effective will this Resolution be if it becomes a Bill. I don’t want any secrets or surprises. I wanna know how this will help your people.
We all know that money has blinded many of our leaders, Im wondering if this movement began because they get pissed at Jemco, U.S has the right to come check back on its money and see if our greedy leaders continued to abuse the COFA. fund.
How sad? I hope they all give their reasons why they are for it, How are they going to provide for the whole FSM population..
What happens to the FSM citizen that serve in da arm forces??? Do they get to go back??? And what happens to da FSM citizens who have kids dat are U.S citizen? Does dat mean seperation ?
We the people are the government, fare to the FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA citizen to vote
First i would like to say my name is Rosa.amanto simiron i am originaley from chuuk moen mwan and fefen fanip i have 4 kids that born here in guam and i was so concern about what be going on in this world with the new leader is we can all the fsm can say no with their right not to go on.and make them out of their chair in 2017……
Very interesting. Just have faith, and leave them all up to God to decide whats good and whats not for His people in this world. Ika met? chuukese akamenimen, its not the end of the world yet. Dont worry about tomorrow, tomorrow is still out of sight, worry about today, today we are still breathing. Forget about yesterday, yesterday is dead and gone.
Mi wenenen pung
China is often come up with regards to a; a possible nation that could help Chuuk financially… Well let’s not forget that China is a communist country. Just look at what China is doing in the south China sea-agressively expanding its reach to dominate the world, desrecarding the international communities outcry… China does not respect human rights. China even execute, torture and imprison its own people simply because they speaks out against the government. So! what makes you FSM leaders think that China will treat our people any better than it’s own? Can’t you see China wants to exapand its military presents in the pacific? they are manipulating you, to win you heart in letting them set foot in our island region. Once they’re established, you bet your asss they’ll take over our island and use it as military bases. As for the citizens, we will be their roaches to stomp on…
With all due respect to our congressmen, aka Compact terminators, I would start my bashing with the famous phrase; ” asdalafista baby” and ” I’ll be back” -terminator’s accent.
I really,wesewesen wish these three fine gentalmen be able to read and hear mine and your concerns, questions, osukosuk me confusions. Repwe pwan take a time to answer us back.
For the three of you, what two (2) accomplishments that you would with no hesitation proclaim and tell the people of chuuk, yap and the FSM that you have done and hundreds of us been benefitted from?
And if 2018 comes, the compact has terminated, what is your plan that will jump in and safe us right away? Until now, we only hear termination, termination, termination of the compact, but what after that? Looks like you, gentalmen just got out from bed and said; ” let’s terminate the compact” you must have a plan( solution) to safe our lives.
Can someone, anyone help me relay my frustrations and concerns to my senator Nethon, please! I really want to hear from him, from his own words. What is his plan, what have he done to the schools, dispensaries, infrastructures and communities in the SNregion?
What are they hiding?
C’mon Mr. Nethon, tell me what you’ve done to SN besides the turkey tail, motor engines, sack of rice, residents houses you help build and etc etc etc…
Tell the people of SN, they need answers!
Terminator; ” I’ll be back”
I have one question for you honorable congressmen of chuuk.
Chuuk is roughly 49 square miles of land, but the population is about 50+ thousand.
Can Chuuk provide enough for its population in a year at least?
Ran anim achengicheng Chuukese ( fsmers)
Congressmen, ach tirou pwan sufon womi…pwan omusano ika ami nenien ausening me anea epwe ne uren chipwang ren nanewatan am aramas wewengaw ren met mi fiis non ach government.
I believe we ( fsmers) indeed deserve to know and understand the intention(s) of this resolution…
Ach weweiti nge fansoun senators, councilmen etc…raa introduce ewe ” Bill” there are exanations to attaché to it…purposes or the intentions..
Nge your “resolution” mi fen ekkis handicap pwe 99.9% of the people don’t quiet understand.
Ina mine saa tungor amo oupwe tufichin angei ekkoch fansoun ne read all our comments pwe oupwe answer inikem pwe am pwe weweiti.
Kinisou pwan tirou womi!
I do strongly believe that all our leadership: from years n years ago and, includes those we have them still sitting in the office and steal the fund for our state’s they should punish for doing such a thing and go stit in the STATE PRISON!!!!
Fin-Nipwe,
If I may answer your two (2) very important questions since our three congressmen never care to answer them.
You ask; what two accomplishments they ( Nethon , Figir and Romolow) as congressmen have accomplished?
Answer: nothing! Except for jacking up their salaries, appropriating money into their own pockets, piling up their mileage by unnecessary travels using government ( people ) money and of course last but not the least handling out free projects to bribe people for their votes on elec..day.
You asked: what is their plan if the compact ends in 2018?
Answer: nothing! We simply die like the Oppura won en piru, maa pwasapwas. They’ve never given us a plan , solution or answer of how we survive right after the compact ends.
It’s a suicidal resolution…they’re telling us to jump on a bus and then drive us over the banzai cliff killing ourselves.
If that’s what they want, then I rather walk and have sore legs than to ride the bus and commit a sin.
C’mon congressmen, is that the best you can do? Be realistic…stop playing around like a bunch of kids! If you think you do not belong on the stage, then I urged you to step down… You embarrass us when you got knocked down like Ronda Rousey and unable to put up a dog fight in the ring.
Get rid of that resolution, it’s nothing but BS!
I am a citizen of Micronesia and, station in the United States of America for so many years and i do agree with some of these opinions post on facebook and, i do want to address my opinion to all our leaders in Chuuk such as the Governor and his staff and also our congressmen they are suppose to guide us and concern about the struggle our state’s have had for so many years and now they have to come up with the most rediculus crap to end the come back of free association so my question is what make you all our leadership think that way when you can even concern about us the people of chuuk? All you care about is money in your pocket and, food for yourself and your family and, what about the rest of us? You think that’s fair and, i don’t think so! And i am totally against your idea and i will refuse myself and my family’s to even consider your idea or opinion has even exist! The way i feel about all of you our leaders in chuuk states that you can’t even qualify enough to b a. leader and, don’t force yourself to do so cause you are making us suffer and struggling for things that we don’t wanna do and, it sounds to me that you guys want to force us to do ?! Well im just sharing my opinion but i am 100% totally against you in everything you may come up with or whatever idea you might post on facebook! And to all of you our so cold leadership in chuuk you should just leave things the way they are. and for the benefit of the people of chuuk excluding you all the leadership!!!!!!
Our leaders ( Chuuk State) and their followers should look at Kosrae today…
It took them 16 months to complete the construction of their Kosrae Bridge, with a $13m funds from China.
However, in Weno Road Project 2009, Chuuk State was given $25m to complete the Weno road…and unfortunately, it took us-Chuukese, years to complete 10 ft of the Weno road. The question is; WHY?
What is it that make us ( Chuukese) leaders to be exact, so corrupt and care about nothing but themselves and their families? I thought our Chuukese culture based on
Ekki-Chuu
Tipe-Chuu
Ange-Chuu
That’s the reason we are the populous state in the FSM, cus we believe in ” togetherness” working together as one for a common goal.
” angaang chok aramas, aramas chok angaang”
A preample in one of the Macheweichun municipal constitution…why are we so ignorant? Where is the “angaang aramas” for a common goal..and where did this ” ai esap pwan om” come from?
We must change these leaders who posses these kind of mentality otherwise, we will remain where we are today!
2015 ended with so much disappointments:
Chuuk State wanted to seced the federation
Chuuk State Gov’t wanted to tax all Chuukese citizens residing outside of Chuuk
FSM Congress wanted to end the Compact Treaty with the US
And
Sadly the FSM Congress raised their annual salary from $62,000 to $130,000..Wheww what a money, when thousands of fsmers recieved only about $20 a year as their income..
I encourage all FSM citizens to ask their respective Congressmen how much they make a year. ..and see what they say!
Vote me in and I will cut the salary down to $25,000 a year…$130,000 a year is damn waaaay TOO MUCH!
I will appropriate money for our schools and hospitals…
See you next time!
The officials in chuuk just want the fsm to give chuuk the majority of the funds instead of dividing it to the four states…why can’t they just negotiate with fsm. Plain n simple. That’s the whole cause of this madness. That is why they want to take matters into their own hands.
Lets just pray that whatever happens dat God be with us and guide our leaders to lead us to a better future