Haruo Ignacio Remeliik (1 June 1933 – 30 June 1985) was a politician from

Palau Palau,, officially the Republic of Palau and historically ''Belau'', ''Palaos'' or ''Pelew'', is an island country and microstate in the western Pacific. The nation has approximately 340 islands and connects the western chain of the Caro ...

. He served as the first

President of Palau The president of the Republic of Palau is the head of state and head of government of Palau. The president is directly elected to a four-year term, and can be reelected once in a consecutive manner. List of presidents Latest election ...

from 2 March 1981 until his

assassination Assassination is the murder of a prominent or important person, such as a head of state, head of government, politician, world leader, member of a royal family or CEO. The murder of a celebrity, activist, or artist, though they may not have ...

on 30 June 1985. He is buried at

Kloulklubed Kloulklubed, also spelled Klouklubed, is the main settlement on the Palau island of Peleliu. It is situated at the northern end of the island, located near Imelchol Village and Koska. The village was a centre of Japanese operations during World W ...

in his home state of

Peleliu Peleliu (or Beliliou) is an island in the island nation of Palau. Peleliu, along with two small islands to its northeast, forms one of the sixteen states of Palau. The island is notable as the location of the Battle of Peleliu in World War II. H ...

. Remeliik was of mixed Japanese and Palauan descent.

Early life

Remeliik studied priesthood in Truk. Later he returned to Palau and became an associate judge. In 1968, he won a seat in

Palau legislature Palau,, officially the Republic of Palau and historically ''Belau'', ''Palaos'' or ''Pelew'', is an island country and microstate in the western Pacific Ocean, Pacific. The nation has approximately 340 islands and connects the western ch ...

and became vice speaker. In 1970 he was appointed as deputy district administrator for the Palau district of the

Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) was a United Nations trust territory in Micronesia administered by the United States from 1947 to 1994. History Spain initially claimed the islands that later composed the territory of the Trus ...

. In 1978 he became a member and later also president of the constitutional convention. In 1980, he was elected as the first

, and he won re-election in 1984.

Death

Remeliik's killers remain unknown. Remeliik was shot in the driveway of his home by an unidentified gunman. Six months after the killing, two relatives of

Roman Tmetuchl Roman Tmetuchl (February 11, 1926 – July 1, 1999) was a Palauan political leader and businessman. He grew up in Japanese-controlled Palau and joined the Kempeitai, the Japanese secret police, during World War II. After the war, he became the ...

and another man were arrested in connection to the killing; however, they were later released. In March 2000, former presidential candidate and convicted felon John O. Ngiraked claimed responsibility for the conspiracy to kill Remeliik.

Allegations of CIA involvement

There have been persistent allegations that Remeliik was killed by the CIA due to his firm anti-nuclear stance.

References

External links

* 1933 births 1985 deaths Assassinated heads of government Assassinated heads of state Assassinated Palauan politicians Burials in Palau Deaths by firearm in Palau Male murder victims Palauan politicians of Japanese descent People from Peleliu People murdered in Palau Presidents of Palau Unsolved murders in Palau 20th-century Palauan politicians {{Palau-politician-stub

Early life

Death

Allegations of CIA involvement

See also

References

External links