![Palauan police automobile 1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Palauan_police_automobile_1.JPG)
The
defense
Defense or defence may refer to:
Tactical, martial, and political acts or groups
* Defense (military), forces primarily intended for warfare
* Civil defense, the organizing of civilians to deal with emergencies or enemy attacks
* Defense industr ...
of
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 ...
is the responsibility of the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, but local
police
The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and t ...
matters are handled by the Palau Police, the national
police
The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and t ...
force. Some of the sixteen
states also had separate police departments during the 1980s and 1990s.
The Palau Bureau of Public Division of Marine Law Enforcement (DMLE)
is responsible for marine surveillance, maritime law enforcement, search and rescue in Palau's
territorial waters
The term territorial waters is sometimes used informally to refer to any area of water over which a sovereign state has jurisdiction, including internal waters, the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone, and potenti ...
and its 200 nm
exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
[ The DMLE operated a ]Pacific-class patrol boat
The Pacific class (also known as the Pacific Forum classToppan & Walsh, ''World Navies Today: Other Asia-Pacific Navies'' and the ASI 315 class) is a class of 22 patrol boats built by Australia and donated to twelve South Pacific countries. Th ...
, the PSS ''President H.I. Remeliik'' which has now been replaced by the PSS Remeliik II
PSS ''Remeliik II'' is a Guardian-glass patrol boat in the service of Palau's Division of Maritime Law Enforcement, built, and provided by Australia to replace the Pacific Forum patrol boat . In the late 1980s and early 1990s Australia helped ...
. They also operate the ''PPS Kedam'' for use in maritime surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of behavior, many activities, or information for the purpose of information gathering, influencing, managing or directing. This can include observation from a distance by means of electronic equipment, such as c ...
and fisheries
Fishery can mean either the enterprise of raising or harvesting fish and other aquatic life; or more commonly, the site where such enterprise takes place ( a.k.a. fishing ground). Commercial fisheries include wild fisheries and fish farms, both ...
control over Palau's EEZ. Its home port is Koror
Koror is the state comprising the main commercial centre of the Republic of Palau. It consists of several islands, the most prominent being Koror Island (also ''Oreor Island''). It is Palau’s most populous state.
History
In the oral tradition ...
. The DMLE also operate three smaller 15-meter inshore patrol vessels, ''Euatel'', ''Kabekl M'tal'' and ''Bul'', used for surveillance of inshore and territorial waters.
The ''Remeliik'' was donated and is maintained by Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
, who also provide training for the crew.
The other four vessels were donated by The Nippon Foundation and The Sasakawa Peace Foundation.[ In addition, DMLE have a search and rescue Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB) and a twin 85 hp boat.] They are used only for inshore operations. The Bureau of Public Safety Director is Aloysius Alonz. Palau has provided police officers to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands since May 2006. Palauan Police officer Bryson Ngiratumerang is contingent commander of the Palauan police serving as part of RAMSI's Participating Police Force (PPF).
The Palau Division of Maritime Law Enforcement has approximately 30 staff, 5 of which are paid for by The Nippon Foundation.
Equipment
Ships
* PSS Remeliik II
PSS ''Remeliik II'' is a Guardian-glass patrol boat in the service of Palau's Division of Maritime Law Enforcement, built, and provided by Australia to replace the Pacific Forum patrol boat . In the late 1980s and early 1990s Australia helped ...
* PSS Kedam
*PSS Euatel
*PSS ''Kabekl M'tal''
*PSS Bul
Former Ships
* PSS Remeliik
References
External links
Republic of Palau - The Executive Branch
Palau , Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands
Saipan Tribune
Politics of Palau
Law of Palau
{{Palau-stub