Embattled Island: Palau's Struggle for Independence

Palau was the last trusteeship, not only of the United States but the last trusteeship in the world. For 25 years the United States tried to negotiate an agreement—a compact—with Palau. Under this compact, Palau would gain its independence as a Freely Associated State and a large amount of money, $500 million; while the U.S. obtained certain military base rights and passage of nuclear power ships and submarines. The compact took on enormous symbolic importance throughout the world because of a provision in the Palau Constitution that Palau could not grant the U.S. nuclear rights without the approval of 75% of the people of Palau. A number of groups fought against ratification of the compact by Palau. They viewed Palau as the symbol of a nuclear free Pacific and the hope for an environmental preserve against great power imperialism and military intrusion in the Pacific. Three Congressional committees with different views toward the compact engaged the ratification issue. In Palau, the Executive and Palauan Congress were equally divided. President Remeliik, the first elected President in Palau, was assassinated. Lazarus Salii, the second elected President, committed suicide. Why these events occurred and how they linked to compact ratification is part of the story of this book. The book moves between the U.S.-Washington scene and the local Palau scene. The end of the book discusses the reasons for Salii's suicide and discloses who killed President Remeliik. The book ends with the 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of Peleliu, the final ratification of the Compact of Free Association, and the description of the Independence Day ceremonies in Palau.

Table of Contents:
Preface Introduction Note on Pronunciation of Palauan Names The Cast of Characters Chronology of Events in Palau The Suicide of President Salii: The Strange Funeral Palau's Universe: The West Intrudes The U.S. Invasion: The Brutal Battle for Peleliu The "Nuclear Free" Constitution; The Compact Fails Remeliik's Reelection Campaign; The Role of the Compact The Power Plant Purchase; Great Britain Seeks a U.S. Guarantee The Assassination of Palau's First President; The Controversial Acquittal An Unusual Legal Assignment; Greenpeace Enters the Fray Two-Thirds of the Government Furloughed; Palau Amends Its Constitution; Salii Testifies Under Oath Before the U.S. Congress The Ibedul and Salii Settle the Compact Case; The Palau Women Refile the Lawsuit The Case Proceeds to Judgment; Bedor Bins is Murdered The Women Suddenly Withdraw; Judge Hefner Suggests Intimidation Washington Reacts; De Lugo and Farrow Mobilize Against the Compact Salii Stars at the Solarz Committee Hearing; the Women Testify Before the Senate The Case Filed Once More; Judge Hefner Overrules the Popular Vote; Salii Reluctantly Appeals Farrow Tries Secret Diplomacy; De Lugo Introduces His Compact Bill and Hoodwinks the GAO The Appellate Court Argument; The Changed Mood in Palau The Unthinkable Occurs The Case is Finally Decided; I am Disappointed, Palau is Not; Greenpeace Bitter Congress Fails to Approve the Compact: An Unexpected Successor to Salii The GAO Report; The Evaluation of Salii; Political Paralysis in Palau Bedor Bins' Murderers Named; Remeliik Assassins Revealed At Last: Ratification of the Compact; New Lawsuits are Filed Commemoration of the Battle of Peleliu: The Special Palauan Conference Resolution of the Lawsuits Independence Day Endnotes Bibliographical Note Index

About the Author :
ARNOLD H. LEIBOWITZ has written extensively about the territories, Commonwealths, and Freely Associated States of the United States, and has represented almost all of them before the Federal government since 1964 when he was General Counsel of the U.S. Commission of the Status of Puerto Rico. His book, Defining Status: A Comprehensive Analysis of U.S. Territorial Relations, is the leading reference work in the field, having been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and a number of lower courts. He represented the Trusteeship of Palau from 1986-1988.

Review :
"Wonderful, and quite readable....this book is a poignant and exciting account of part of the formation of one of the world's newest and smallest nations. All Pacific-philes will want to read it."-Professor Dirk Anthony Ballendorf Micronesian Area Research Center, University of Guam ?A participant-observer, Liebowitz blends personal knowledge of persons and events with an objective analysis of the political dynamics of the decolonization process. Heavily documented, the work will stand for a long time as the definitive work on Palau. Liebowitz's book represents a valuable case study in the negotiations of the Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US. It belongs in academic libraries with significant holdings in the Pacific region or international relations.?-Choice ?Arnold Leibowitz has insightfully touched upon the country's more intimate matters with the unique deftness of a sympathetic federal status negotiator. Involved with U.S. territorial matters since 1964, the author has written extensively on the subject, including the critically acclaimed Defining Status: A Comprehensive Analysis of U.S. Territorial Relations, which has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and a number of lower courts. The two books have much in common--politically oriented, articulate and scholarly, very comprehensive and unusually balanced--which, undoubtedly, should serve as a standard bearer for Pacific scholars.?-Pacific Magazine ?Embattled Island is a must read for those interested in Pacific affairs.?-Pacific Sunday News "A participant-observer, Liebowitz blends personal knowledge of persons and events with an objective analysis of the political dynamics of the decolonization process. Heavily documented, the work will stand for a long time as the definitive work on Palau. Liebowitz's book represents a valuable case study in the negotiations of the Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US. It belongs in academic libraries with significant holdings in the Pacific region or international relations."-Choice "Embattled Island is a must read for those interested in Pacific affairs."-Pacific Sunday News "Arnold Leibowitz has insightfully touched upon the country's more intimate matters with the unique deftness of a sympathetic federal status negotiator. Involved with U.S. territorial matters since 1964, the author has written extensively on the subject, including the critically acclaimed Defining Status: A Comprehensive Analysis of U.S. Territorial Relations, which has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and a number of lower courts. The two books have much in common--politically oriented, articulate and scholarly, very comprehensive and unusually balanced--which, undoubtedly, should serve as a standard bearer for Pacific scholars."-Pacific Magazine