face attacks

Palau women face attacks

Violent warnings for 30

Compact dissenters.

THE SITUATION in Palau, where, at time of going to press, a court de cision was awaited on the legality of the two recent referendums on the Com pact of Free Association between the US and Palau, took a grave and violent turn with a murder, arson and a bombing. As the victims in all three incidents opposed the plan to remove the constitutional ban on nuclear material entering, or being

stored or used in the country, blame has been directed at supporters of the plan to change the constitution.

Thirty women had entered a writ in the Supreme Court challenging the result of the referendum to remove the ban. A bomb exploded outside the home of one. The father of the women’s lawyer was shot dead at the door of his son’s office. The lawyer believes the bullet was meant for him. An abandoned clubhouse belonging to a Ko ror chief opposed to the Compact was de stroyed by fire. The women then withdrew the court action, but Judge Robert Hefner said the women should refile the case if fear prompted its withdrawal.

Palau President Lazarus Salii appealed for calm, saying his government was in control of the situation. He also expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would uphold the Compact approved by 73 per cent of the voters. Meanwhile, Palau funds are short and 900 government employees are on unpaid leave because the govern ment does not have the money to pay their wages. If the Compact of Free Association goes through, the Palauans will begin to share a portion of the SUSIOOO million which the US has promised to pay over 50 years in return for “eminent domain”, the use of bases and freedom to come and go without question. □