Chuuk State Separation Initiative

For a Modern, Healthy, and Productive Chuuk

Federated States of MicronesiaA Response of Unity

Chuuk Political Status Commission Points for Separation

The Commission wants to secede based on the following major points:

Political

Economic

Cultural

Political

FSM Constitution under-represents Chuuk’s population majority

• 2nd reading requirement is unfair

• There is no popular election for the Chief Executive

Chuuk has no voice as to foreign affairs or direct access to foreign economic resources

Chuuk’s priorities are not the priorities of the FSM government

Current Compact of Free Association is unfavourable to Chuuk

The FSM Constitution under-represents Chuuk’s population majority through the requirement of a second reading, which is based upon one vote per State.

Chuuk controls 6 votes of the 10 required votes for first reading; therefore, Chuuk’s majority population is adequately represented because Chuuk has control on the first reading of any bill in the FSM Congress.

The framers of the Constitution recognized that all States, large and small, should have equal representation as to the second and final reading.

The FSM Constitution under-represents Chuuk’s population majority through the requirement of a second reading, which is based upon one vote per State.

In the case of Chuuk, there are two houses: the House of Representatives is based on population, and the Senate, based on equal representation. The framers of the Chuuk State Constitution also recognized that all regions should be equally represented in the second and final reading of all proposed Chuuk State bills.

Under the current FSM constitutional arrangement, there is no popular election of the Chief Executive

Yes, this is true. However, this was a compromise decision agreed to by the framers of the Constitution, including the Chuukese representatives, in order to allow each State an opportunity to hold this Office.

Additionally, the President has submitted a constitutional amendment to elect the President and Vice President by popular vote. But does this promote unity and stability?

Chuuk has no voice as to Foreign Affairs or direct access to foreign economic resources

While it is true that a state cannot conduct foreign affairs for a nation, it does not mean that Chuuk does not have a voice as to whom the nation speaks. For instance, Chuuk takes part in all the leadership and investment efforts where they are represented at the National level, for example, SNLC, MCES, APIL, investment symposiums, etc.

These same leadership and investment conferences allow Chuuk the opportunity to seek foreign investment funds through the National government.

Chuuk priorities are not the priorities of the FSM government

The priorities of the Nation are not set in a vacuum. The Strategic Development Plan is a compilation of all the State priorities, which included input from the State of Chuuk.

However, in the absence of a Chuuk State Development Plan, which to this day is still lacking, it is hard to determine all the priorities of Chuuk.

Chuuk does have an Infrastructure Development Plan (or “wish list”) that the National government follows.

The current terms of the Compact of Free Association are unfavourable to Chuuk

The first funds from the Compact of Free Association were squandered, and therefore, the United States placed more stringent requirements on the use of Compact funds for all the States.

But, Chuuk shares in the positive aspects of the Compact for all the States, such as favourable immigration, employment, educational, and passport terms with the United States.

Economic

Under the FSM arrangement, Chuuk’s infrastructure and health/education systems remain weak:

Education

Transportation

Communication

Health

Revenue allocation formulas disadvantage Chuuk

Chuuk receives an unfair distribution of resources

Under the FSM arrangement, Chuuk’s educational system remains weak

The FSM Strategic Development Plan makes Education a priority.

Education is a shared responsibility with the States taking the lead on primary and secondary educational systems.

However, Chuuk State has failed to address the land issue affecting its ability to construct new schools or repair existing schools. Compact Funds favour both the Education and Health Sectors. But these funds have more stringent requirements, including land documentation, which Chuuk State has failed to meet.

Under the FSM arrangement, Chuuk’s transportation infrastructure remains weak

Weno Road has been under construction for years now. The FSM government could have gone beyond its contractual responsibilities to improve communications, which may have avoided delays and improved time efficiencies.

However, the makeup of the Chuuk State islands causes the most transportation difficulties.

Under the FSM arrangement, Chuuk’s transportation infrastructure remains weak

The National government provides intra-state transportation through Caroline Voyager, search and rescue operations by Surveillance boats, and health outreach services by local contractors. What happened to your MV Chief Mailo?

On inter-island transportation, if the land issues are resolved, the National government can assist in construction of ferry boat terminals.

Under the FSM arrangement, Chuuk’s communication infrastructure remains weak

We agree that Chuuk has communication infrastructure problems. However, $47 million has been approved in World Bank IDA grants to support fiber optic connectivity for the States of Yap and Chuuk.

Additionally, the DHSA currently pays $47,000 per year to maintain the IT personnel and IT system in Chuuk for health services.

Under the FSM arrangement, Chuuk’s health infrastructure remains weak

As noted above, the Compact Funds favour the Education and Health Sectors. If Chuuk State resolves the land issue, then the National government can help seek additional funding for health facilities.

But beyond the infrastructure, Chuuk State refused to install dialysis machines given to the State of Chuuk by the Government of Israel despite the high number of patients needing it.

Compact funds and domestic revenue allocation formulas disadvantage Chuuk

The distribution formula for Compact funds is as follows:

• 42.22% - Chuuk;

• 12.10% - Kosrae;

• 28.13% - Pohnpei

• 17.55% - Yap

The distribution formulas for National taxes are as follows:

• Fuel imports = 80% for the State where collected; 20% for the National government

Compact funds and domestic revenue allocation formulas disadvantage Chuuk

All other taxes = 50% for the States where collected; 50% for the National government

On the distribution of taxes collected in the States, we agree that the distribution should be revised, and an amendment changing the formula to reinstate the 30%/70% distribution formula is with Congress.

If Chuuk becomes a Republic, what will be the proposed distribution formula for local revenue and ODA assistance for the 40 municipalities?

Chuuk receives an unfair distribution of resources

Fishing access agreements:

• 100% goes into the General Fund, which in turn funds the Public Projects. Of the 14 members, 43% goes to Chuuk.

Citations/fines:

• 100% of the citation payments goes into the General Fund.

• The national patrol boats are funded by the fines collected in the FSM EEZ and by Congressional appropriation.

Chuuk receives an unfair distribution of resources

Fishing access fees help pay for the following amenities for the States:

Customs & tax

Immigration

Search and rescue & medical evacuations

Food inspections

Cultural

Under the FSM arrangement, the National government has failed to protect and preserve Chuuk’s rich and distinctive culture

Chuuk risks loss of cultural identity

The lack of equal access to land resources throughout the States makes it impossible to have a Federation based on equality

The National government has failed to protect and preserve Chuuk’s rich and distinctive culture

The National government promotes unity, preservation of culture and traditions. For example, the President signed Public Law 16-27 on March 17, 2010, designating the thirty-first day of March of each year as Micronesian Culture and Tradition Day.

Additionally, the President has been invited to and participated in cultural activities in Pohnpei and Yap.

Also, the President respects individual State holidays by authorising national employees time off work to participate in these cultural/traditional events.

Chuuk risks loss of cultural identity

Normally, cultural identity is lost through acceleration of economic development. But it is uncertain how Chuuk will lose cultural identity when there has been little economic development.

Chuuk’s cultural identity could be lost if Chuuk doesn’t do something to preserve and promote its own culture in accordance with Article IV of the Chuuk State Constitution.

The lack of equal access to land resources throughout the States makes it impossible to have a Federation based on equality

It is difficult for the Office of the President to respond to this idea. For land that is up for purchase, it is very risky as there are no documents to support the sale of land.

Land is a State issue in their Constitutions. In the case of Chuuk, even Chuukese, have difficulty gaining access to land due to the difficulty of determining who owns the land, the boundaries of land, and therefore the Certificate of Title.