Tommy Remengesau
Encyclopedia
Thomas Esang Remengesau, Jr. (born 28 February 1956) is a Palau
an politician who served as president
of Palau
from 2001 to 2009.
He became vice-president
in 1992 and was elected as president in 2000; he took office on January 1, 2001. He wished to make Palau less dependent upon United States
aid, and to promote limited tourism
and fishing activities. In Palau's foreign affairs, Remengesau has been active in maintaining Palau's presence in international organization. He has led official delegations to Taiwan
(Republic of China
) multiple times, and hosted the first Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit in September 2006.
, another Palau politician who served as acting president twice. Remengesau was educated at Grand Valley State University
in Allendale
, Michigan
, in the United States
.
he won the presidential election, defeating ex-senator Peter Sugiyama
by a margin of 52% to 46%. He easily won re-election in 2004, defeating Polycarp Basilius by a margin of 66.5% to 33.5%, in a race dogged with rumors of improper financial influence from Taipei and Beijing.
Remengesau announced in 2008 that he would seek a seat in the Senate of Palau
in the general elections that year
. His term limited to just two terms in office. He came in 11th in the election.
Remengesau was succeeded as President by Johnson Toribiong
on January 15, 2009.
In 2009, Remengesau faced 19 counts of violating Palau's code of ethics for his failure to disclose his interests in real properties and other assets in 2002 and 2003. Remengesau had at least US$185,538 in accounts in his own name at the time, as well as other monies held by his wife and children. In April 2010, Associate Justice Kathleen Salii imposed a fine of US$156,400 on Remengesau, just one-eighth of the fine recommended by prosecutor Michael Copeland; however, Copeland would go on to express his satisfaction with the sentence in media interviews.
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
an politician who served as president
President of Palau
-List of Presidents of Palau:-Latest election:-See also:*Vice-President of Palau*High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands...
of Palau
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
from 2001 to 2009.
He became vice-president
Vice-President of Palau
-List of Vice Presidents of Palau:...
in 1992 and was elected as president in 2000; he took office on January 1, 2001. He wished to make Palau less dependent upon United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aid, and to promote limited tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
and fishing activities. In Palau's foreign affairs, Remengesau has been active in maintaining Palau's presence in international organization. He has led official delegations to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
(Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
) multiple times, and hosted the first Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit in September 2006.
Early life
Remengesau was born in Koror, Palau. His father is Thomas Remengesau, Sr.Thomas Remengesau, Sr.
Thomas Ongelibel Remengesau, also known Thomas Remengesau, Senior is a politician in Palau. He was Vice President of Palau twice , and acting President of Palau twice , following the violent deaths of two presidents.His son Tommy Remengesau was the 6th President of Palau .- References :*...
, another Palau politician who served as acting president twice. Remengesau was educated at Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...
in Allendale
Allendale Charter Township, Michigan
Allendale Charter Township is a charter township of Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 20,708...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Political career
In 1984, at 28 years old, Remengesau was elected to the Palau National Congress (Olbiil Era Kelulau), becoming the youngest senator in the nation's history. In 1992, he was elected Vice-President and served a full two terms. In 2000, with the support of outgoing president Kuniwo NakamuraKuniwo Nakamura
Kuniwo Nakamura was the President and foreign minister of Palau from 1993 until 2001.-Background and early life:Nakamura is the son of a Japanese immigrant from Matsusaka, Ise Province and a Palauan chieftain's daughter. He was studying in his second year of primary school when the surrender of...
he won the presidential election, defeating ex-senator Peter Sugiyama
Peter Sugiyama
Peter Lawrence Naoya Sugiyama was a Palauan politician.-Personal life:Sugiyama's father was a Japanese immigrant...
by a margin of 52% to 46%. He easily won re-election in 2004, defeating Polycarp Basilius by a margin of 66.5% to 33.5%, in a race dogged with rumors of improper financial influence from Taipei and Beijing.
Remengesau announced in 2008 that he would seek a seat in the Senate of Palau
Senate of Palau
The Senate of Palau is the upper house of the Palau National Congress . The Senate has 9 members serving four-year terms in single-seat constituencies. In the elections held on 2 November 2004 only non-partisans were elected. No political parties exist.-Presidents of the Senate:...
in the general elections that year
Palauan general election, 2008
General elections were held in Palau on 4 November 2008.- Presidential election :Incumbent President Tommy Remengesau was term limited and could not seek another term...
. His term limited to just two terms in office. He came in 11th in the election.
Remengesau was succeeded as President by Johnson Toribiong
Johnson Toribiong
Johnson Toribiong is a Palauan attorney and politician who is the current President of Palau, following his victory in the November 2008 election.-Background and earlier career:...
on January 15, 2009.
In 2009, Remengesau faced 19 counts of violating Palau's code of ethics for his failure to disclose his interests in real properties and other assets in 2002 and 2003. Remengesau had at least US$185,538 in accounts in his own name at the time, as well as other monies held by his wife and children. In April 2010, Associate Justice Kathleen Salii imposed a fine of US$156,400 on Remengesau, just one-eighth of the fine recommended by prosecutor Michael Copeland; however, Copeland would go on to express his satisfaction with the sentence in media interviews.