Several referendums on the Compact were held in the decade of the eighties but none met the high percentage required in the language of the Constitution until President Ngiratkel Etpison called for a popular referendum lowering that percentage.
The ratification became possible after the 1992 General Election when the people approved the Constitutional amendment lowering the percentage for approving the Compact Treaty from a very high seventy five percent vote (75%) margin to a simple majority of the votes cast on the question. A referendum was then called to approve the Compact Treaty with the US, which was approved with a comfortable vote margin. Our first Compact Treaty with the US took effect on October 1, 1994. We have been calling this date our Independence Day ever since.
Our journey to full independence was difficult. We had to overcome many obstacles, all of which were not of our making. Japan governed us with a mandate from the League of Nations. After the Second World War, we and our fellow Micronesians were assigned by the United Nations to the United States as a Trust Territory “to be prepared for independence or self-government”.
The Trust Territory Period in Palau lasted 47 years. From 1947 to 1951 (4 years) we were under the administration of the US Navy. And from 1951 to 1994, a total of 43 years, Palau was under the supervision of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Here were some important dates for Palau during the Trust Territory period.
July 18, 1947. Admiral Louis E. Denfeld became the first High Commissioner when the United Nations strategic trusteeship over Micronesia was established.Also in 1947, the Palau Congress was organized under the auspices of the US Naval Administration. Lomisang was its first President. Ibedul Mariur, Reklai Brel, Ngoriakl, and Rudimch, were some of its members.
1955. The name OEK first came into use. Organization of municipal governments commenced. 1960. The Council of Micronesia, forerunner of the Congress of Micronesia, was organized. Members from Palau included Fritz Rubasch, Toribiong Uchel, and David Ramarui.
1963. The Palau Legislature received its first charter from the High Commissioner. In the 70’s, the charter was amended to include two houses, House of Elected members and House of Chiefs. In 1964 the first elections to the Congress of Micronesia were held. In 1966 Peace Corps volunteers first arrived in Micronesia. First Micro Games were held on Saipan in 1969, Palauan athletes dominated the games.
A Micronesia-wide Constitutional Convention was organized in the Seventies. In 1978 Palau voted to separate from FSM. In 1979 the first Palau Con-Con met and wrote the Palau Constitution. In 1980 the first ROP elections were held and Haruo I. Remeliik was elected Palau’s first President.In 1981 the ROP Government under the Constitution was organized. In 1982 Palau status negotiations began followed by seven plebiscites on the Compact of Free Association with the United States. In 1994 Palau approved the Compact and became a sovereign Republic.
