Speaking on condition of anonymity, elected leaders with both political parties — including Tomeing’s ruling coalition government — said they are planning to introduce a motion of no confidence against the president soon after the next session starts Monday.
Tomeing’s 18-month reign has been marked by repeated efforts to unseat him and a major cabinet shakeup, with the future of the multi-billion dollar American missile testing range at Kwajalein a key issue.
Kwajalein Sen. Tony deBrum, who was foreign minister for Tomeing in 2008 before being sacked in February, says Tomeing’s administration “has betrayed the Kwajalein people” by rushing to try to get Kwajalein islanders to agree to an unfair long-term deal with the United States without first trying to work with the new Obama administration in Washington.
Tomeing was elected with the support of Kwajalein leadership in January 2008, but in a move to beat a no-confidence vote initiated by deBrum and other former members of his ruling coalition in April this year, ejected the Kwajalein leaders from his party and made a deal with members of the opposition United Democratic Party — his former party — to remain in office.
Kwajalein is an important anti-missile facility where a vast array of technology has been molded into a coordinated system for identifying and intercepting incoming dummy “warheads” usually launched from California, a distance of about 4,200 miles. But a new long-term deal for American use of Kwajalein through 2066 has stalled because Kwajalein leaders have refused to accept the U.S. offer of $15 million annual rent, demanding $19 million.
A key issue is what happens in 2016, when the current Kwajalein lease runs out. Former President and paramount chief Imata Kabua says if the U.S. won’t meet landowner demands, the U.S. will be out after maintaining a base since the end of World War II. But Tomeing and other non-elected Kwajalein leaders have indicated their desire to get the current Kwajalein deal signed.
If the current political threats turn to action, it will be the third motion of no confidence in the 18-months that Tomeing has been president of the Marshall Islands — but notably the first involving MPs from both major parties.
The first one, in late 2008, was introduced by opposition United Democratic Party senators and then withdrawn the day of the expected vote.
The second was introduced by senators from the then-ruling Aelon Kein Ad party earlier this year. This led to protracted delays and procedural maneuvering that finally culminated in a vote that defeated the motion after the president enlisted his former colleagues from the UDP.
The difference in this possible third motion of no confidence is there appears to be support coming for the motion from senators identified with both parties, in contrast to the earlier one-party motions. But none of the possible motion of no confidence movers are naming a replacement candidate yet. president’s office officials declined comment on the subject.
