Who Gains or Loses from an Independent Chuuk?

In my last post, I asked the rhetorical question: Who stands to gain financially if Chuuk leaves the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)? I asked that question out of sheer curiosity since everything about this secession movement makes absolutely no sense for the Chuukese people based on the final report from the Chuuk Political Status Commission (CPSC).

Is there something else that is driving this movement that the commissioners have not revealed? After all, the final report contains no economic plan, no promissory note of foreign aid from any country, no exit strategy for all the Chuukese citizens in the United States who will surely lose their legal status protected by the Compact of Free Association (COFA) between the FSM and the United States Government, no understandable timeline, no cost-benefit analysis, no quantitative or qualitative research data from the public hearings. There is not even a simple bullet point breakdown of the advantages and disadvantages of any other options besides secession from the FSM.

Since there is no clear strategic plan as to how becoming a Republic of Chuuk will benefit the majority of citizens in Chuuk, then one wonders who exactly will benefit from such a move. Are there tactics being discussed in the Chuuk State leadership to lure foreign investment or aid to Chuuk? The commissioners have made it abundantly clear that Chuuk is better off negotiating its own fishing license fees, collecting taxes, and managing its own foreign relations. Yet, they have not shown any actual figures to back up the viability of their beliefs. Perhaps there are strategies that have been discussed among the commissioners which they have not shared for public scrutiny.

It is within this realm of possibility of secret dealings that has alarmed me even more than the real possibility of deportation from the US if Chuuk secedes from the FSM. This week my concern was confirmed when I obtained notarized copies of TWO Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Kachutosy Paulis, Mrs. Marilyn Manibusan, and Chinese companies for over $200 million dollars worth of capital improvement programs.  In this first MOU  the then Senator Kachutosy Paulis (now CPSC Chairman) who led the Faichuk secession movement assured Mrs. Marilyn Manibusan the ex-Republican Senator from Guam and a representative of Chinese companies to deliver lands for the development of infrastructures. Did they seek the support of landowners especially if private lands were intended to be purchased/leased for those millions of dollars worth of infrastructures?

One could argue that the MOU is a business deal between Mr. Paulis, Mrs. Manibusan, and some Chinese companies.  After all, MOUs are part of every day business transactions to safeguard one’s interests and investment. That is true in any other business transaction, but this was no ordinary business deal.  Given the magnitude of the investment, were Faichuk landowners and the public given opportunities to ask questions to understand the pros and cons, perhaps challenge the environmental impact, and other areas of needs.

It’s important to note that this MOU involved Mrs. Manibusan who was convicted on 22-counts of  wire fraud, misuse of government funds, money laundering, extortion, bankruptcy fraud among others as reported by PDN. Why does that matter in this case? It matters because it calls to question why Mrs. Manibusan helped the CPSC with its newsletters and other marketing documents. Who invited the convicted ex-Senator to be part of the CPSC support team? How much was she paid by Chuuk State funds to work for the CPSC? Given her history as shown in this MOU with the Faichuk movement, one wonders what is she stand to gain from an independent Chuuk? Is there some secret dealings with her that is not made public? Why weren’t these transactions disclosed to the Chuuk State government as well as the FSM National governments as required by laws? Was the whole movement led by Mr. Paulis to separate Faichuk from Chuuk State a cover for these type of secret business investments to move forward without national and state oversight?

Is there a connection between the Chuuk secession movement and the Faichuk secession movement? Should we be concerned about the MOU between Chinese investors, Mr. Kachutosy Paulis Mrs. Senator Manibusan as a possible tactics that could be employed if Chuuk becomes a Republic? Will a Republic of Chuuk better protect its average citizens from the unscrupulous few savvy opportunists who may benefit financially from a chaotic transition from Chuuk State to a Republic of Chuuk? You make that judgment for yourself.

Do I believe that all members of the Chuuk State Legislature, their honorable leaders President Mark Mailo and Speaker Innocente Oneisom, and all members of the CPSC are part of a conspiracy to get rich at the expense of the Chuukese people?  Absolutely not! Inspite of these newly available documents showing questionable financial transaction between the Chair of the CPSC when he headed up the  Faichuuk secession movement, I still believe that there are many honorable leaders in our beloved Chuuk State who may have accepted the Final Report out of the Chuukese sense of respect to the leadership.

Do I believe that our Chuuk State leadership are making a mistake in rushing the Chuukese citizens to vote on a Chuuk independence without clear understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of either a Yes or No vote? Absolutely yes!  The views of over 800 Chuukese citizens who have signed our online petition and the strong opposition on social media should be enough to tell our leaders that perhaps we ought to slow down. Hopefully the Senate President Honorable Mark Mailo, House Speaker the Honorable Innocente Oneisom, and Honorable Governor Elimo should take the honorable road and call for a stop to this referendum in March to give more time for the CPSC to conduct a more thorough job of investigating the financial viability beyond 2023 as was originally intended.

•  Click here to download the Faichuk MOU and return soon for the Southern Namoneas MOU involving the same individuals.
• Click here to sign our online petition to the Chuuk State Legislature and Governor Elimo to stop the Chuuk independence movement until we have thoroughly studied all angles of such a move.

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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