Palau’s senate offers land for U.S. Pacific base

In the 1980s, the people of Palau fought very hard to institute a nuclear free constitution. But the U.S. refused to accept the nuclear prohibition and made Palauans revise their constitution.   In the end, after a campaign of political terror, a constitution was ratified that did not contain the nuclear free clause.  It is a tragic irony that the present leaders in Palau are actively courting the same military power that once derailed their self-determination efforts.

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Palau’s senate offers land for US Pacific base

Last Updated: Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:54:00 +1000

Palau’s Senate has asked President President Johnson Toribiong to offer the state of Angaur as an alternative location for the US Futenma air base in Okinawa, Japan.

The Marianas Variety reports that under the Compact of Free Association, the US military has the option to use lands in Palau.

The senators also noted that two Japanese politicians recently visited the CNMI to look at a site being considered by Japan as a likely relocation site for Futenma.

Okinawa residents are protesting at Japan’s 2006 agreement to relocate the US base to a coastal part of the island.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama vowed to review the agreement but has struggled to find an alternative location.