Chuuk Reform Coalition

Building a Stronger Chuuk State, United FSM

Chuuk Governor’s Executive Order on Secession Vote

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Executive-Blame

On February 23, 2015, Chuuk State Governor Johnson Elimo signed an Executive Order to postpone the vote on the Chuuk secession question. The good news: On March 3, 2015, Chuukese voters will not have to vote on whether Chuuk should secede from the FSM or not. The bad news: The Chuuk secession nightmare is only temporarily gone until the Chuuk State Legislature set a new date.

How do voters ensure that our beloved Chuuk State remains a part of the FSM? On March 3, 2015, you have the choice the elect leaders to the Chuuk State Legislature and the FSM Congress who will not support the secession movement.  If we re-elect those leaders who supported the CPSC Final Report for secession, then we are not to blame anyone else if they put us into the secession nightmare again.

Whether the Executive Order was an honorable act by the Governor to “safe face” for the controversial Chuuk State Political Status Commission or a political play to give more time for actual public education remains to be seen.

What is abundantly clear from the document is the normal order of business in our Chuuk State government; namely, when all else fail, find someone else to blame. The latest victim of the usual finger-pointing leadership seems to be the Chuuk State Election Commission.

 

CHUUK STATE EXECUTIVE ORDER NO 02-2015

Severing the Chuuk State Plebiscite from the Chuuk State March 3, 2015 Mid Term Election

WHEREAS, Chuuk State Law No 11-12-08 as amended by CSL No 12-13-08 and CSL No 12-14-23, created the Chuuk State Political Status Commission with the mandate to recommend a future political status to the Chuuk State Legislature and also directed the Legislature to transmit to the Chuuk State Election Commission the recommended political status to be submitted to the Chuukese people for adoption in a plebiscite; and

WHEREAS, the same Chuuk State Law also directs the Election Commission to place the political status question “on the ballots indicating the names of candidates for the State mid-term election” which election is scheduled by law for March 3, 2015; and

WHEREAS, the Election Commission has failed to print the plebiscite ballot in the manner and quantity provided by law so as to satisfy the established timeline of the Mid Term election process; and

WHEREAS, with the Mid Term Election now less than two weeks away and the Election Commission being required by election laws to begin the transportation of ballot boxes to polling places not less than a week before the election day, thereby rendering implementation of the plebiscite legally impossible at this time; and

WHEREAS, the state’s political status question as adopted by the Chuuk State Legislature requires legal preservation until final resolution by the people of Chuuk; now therefore

BY THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AS GOVERNOR, I have hercby ordered and directed that the State’s Plebiscite ballot is severed from the March 3, 2015 Mid Term Election ballot for members of the Chuuk State Legislature and the said Plebiscite effectively postponed until a time to be provided by the law that addresses the defect with the Plebiscite ballot.

So ordered this 23rd day of February, 2015.

[signed]
Johnson S. Elimo
Governor

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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Comments

  1. Thank you very much Mr. Raatior, you are a great help to me, my family, our people, and to our very own state of Chuuk. Please continue to do what you are doing knowing that there are alot of us out here who are supporting you for doing the very right thing for us the people of Chuuk.

  2. I thank the Almighty and all Chuukese who humbly resisted the unprecedented movement to secede from the federation. Special thanks to Vid Raatior for keeping all updated on the issue and of course special appreciation of the leaders for granting the wishes of their people..

    Kilissou chapwur..

  3. Kinisou Gov Johnson Elimo. Yes we need time to educate our Chuuk public so they fully understand what they are voting for.

  4. What was that saying…. uh it was like.. “Ew koot mei funky”….. I say do not fall for it because it is a “ew koot mei funky”…..periot!!!!!!!!!.

    • Ikeir fitemon candidates ngeni kewe wis mine sipwe kuna iter won ballot non March 3, 2015

      1. Winipinat Bisalen
      2. Bonsiano Nethon
      3. Tiwiter Aritos
      4. Mark Mailo
      5. Innocenti Oneisom

      Fitemon pwan menun ewe commission nge use jek fat ika repwe pwan saa non ekan raan mwach nge just a heads up.
      1. Sabino Asor
      2. Kachu Paulus
      3. Redley Killion
      4. Joe Suka
      5. Julio Marar
      6. Johnny Meipen
      7. Cindy Mori
      8. Angelino Rosokow
      and many more…

  6. Ai luku mi eoj sipwe fat io kana jojon ena secession committee pwe sipwe fokun uweiir ou pwe si osukosuk…..

  7. I just wonder how the Election Commission was not ready for this since it has been the talk of the Nation for the past few months?? Not that I’m complaining but I am saddened at the usual finger-pointing. Thank you, Vid for this heads up. I am momentarily relieved. Kamochunuk won tongen Chuuk!

  8. Thanks Vid and all concerned citizens of chuuk and most especially Gov.Elimo pun apwan ekis fatafateoj aj ekiek non ei fansoun ..

  9. To All Candidates For The FSM Congress
    Please Let Us Know Whether You Support Secession From The FSM Or Not.Remember That If You Don’t Let Us Know Where You Stand On This Important Issue By March 1 2015, Your Vote Is YES..

  10. Let the finger- pointing shamefully pointed to where it should be. It is time for the Government of Chuuk to implement a Whistleblower Policy, and give the Government back to its people what is rightfully theirs. Our voices are even stronger as we unite as one with a full-throated and resonant guffaw.

  11. We want to thank God foremost for his divine Mercy. Needless I elaborate further…

    We want to thank the FSM President and his Unity Team of Leaders and Ordinary Citizens. On behalf of all of us, they heeded our call. They intercepted the movement with a message of unity which is and will always be the fundamental principle of this Nation our forefathers died and fought for.

    We want to commend the Governor of Chuuk for his better judgement stopping what could have been the most controversial election ever in the history of Chuuk.

    We want to thank all undying efforts from the Chuukese and friends of Chuukese who stood together for for a common good battling the inception of DISUNITY in this Nation whether in coffee shops, church congregations, schools, or social networks. To name a few, Vid, Dan, John, Pres, Keko, Dari and many, many others: You are guys are my heroes! In spite of the circumstances, you stood your grounds and repeatedly posted your strong opposition against secession and its culprits. Because of you, many people became aware and jumped on board to support the anti movement. Kudos! Kudos! Kudos!

    We want to thank all my fellow Chuukese for standing up for what you think is right. What you have just demonstrated these past weeks is a new message to the all leaders. Today, the people of Chuuk is a new force to reckon with. We will no longer go into the night. Instead, we will be there on the front line.

    We continue to ask that you don’t put your guards down. Please do not forget today. Although, there is a seize fire the war is far from over. Keep your eyes and ears open.

  12. People of Southern Namoneas region, you are the change and today is the time for change…time is not our friend right now…treat it as if it’s our worst enemy…go out and vote, vote for the best candidate(s) that share with us the same interests…

    One who cared about you and me…one who cares about everybody’s well being not only his/her constituents.,,
    One who cares about the good-health and development of our region…one who cares about our children and their education…

    DON’T vote for someone because he gave you FREE sack of rice, old motor boat, motor engine, sewing machine, plane tickets or other free stuffs like what our Congresman [Bonsiano] Fasi Nethon have been doing since he came into office..

    This is wrong, this not the right way to help the whole community…this kind of dirty practices must be STOPPED now and we need all off us-Tonowasese, Umanese,Ettenese,Fefanes,Siisese and Paremainians to fight for a same goal….

    A sack of rice or a motor engine is ONLY for today, it will not help us in the Long run for a sustainable Southern Namoneas..we need our representative to be competent and to understand that investing in our schools in the Best thing to do…

    So please vote Congresman Bonsiano Fasi Nethon OUT from office…!!!!

  13. To all who stood up and say NO to the secession movement..ennetin kikkinisou chapwur ren ami achocho me otturesi an ach aramas repwe weweoch me neanfichi ei mwokutukut. I agree with Vid that this executive order, while it gives a breather to everyone, it does nothing to address the real reason(s) why the plebiscite should be severed from March 3rd election.
    What Chuukese in his/her right mind would believe that this was a simple oversight by the election commission? Every political/official move made by anyone from the existing Chuuk leadership is suspect at this point…to say the least. Im not saying that out of spite or disrespect to our Governor, im saying it as i see it. Dont blame the election commission, just say you are issuing an executive order because the CSPC has failed to adequately address many issues and to move ahead with the plebiscite with that much uncertainty as to its purpose will be a diservice to all Chuukese.

  14. I still wonder: If the FSM Constitution finds Chuuk’s secession from the federation unconstitutional, why could not the FSM Supreme Court issue its position, initiated by the FSM AG, to stop the nonsense right after its inception? Instead, a FSM National Task Force was created where needed human (the FSM President, Secretaries, Directors, and the entire FSM Navy), fiscal (plane tickets, per diem, car rentals, POL for patrol boats, leaflets, posters, and billboards) and physical (Patrol boats, 01, 02,03, 04) resources were misused or wasted. And, oh yes, did somebody say Chuuk Political Status Conviction already burned more than $150, ooo dollars for this good cause, too? It was like fighting over something that does not exist! How creative could we be?!

    • If there was any provision within the FSM constitution that forbid secession, then it is unconstitutional for Chuuk to secede but to the understanding of some people, this is democracy and that means there is a freedom of choice.

  15. ewer Ina pwata kich chon Chuuk aakaaewin kich ekewe sia VOTE NO!
    Sipwe sopweno ne educate-ini atongeach kewe pwe repwe Wes me tungor ar project ika tingor nour moni seni ekewe nouwis pwe ekena moni re totou epwe no ngeni unusen ewe community nge Esapw jok ngeni iirr. ekena moni rakan ngengeni emon me emon individual Esapw Ina angangan me nounoun. Ikei ekei epwe pwan ekesiwin, ikaa pwe ei mwokutukut eh kouno epwe pwan pwung an ekewe Nouwis emwenikich.
    Na project a katou, epwe aniNisin ach kewe community meinisin nge Esapw jok ngeni ion mi kanengonuk