Palau

Beluu er a Belau

( In Detail) ( Coat of arms)
National motto: Rainbow's End
Official languages	English, Palauan, Japanese (in Angaur)
Capital	Koror
President	Tommy Remengesau
Area - Total - % water	Ranked 179th 458 km² Negligible
Population - Total (Year) - Density	Ranked 190th 20,303 (2005 est.) 44/km²
Independence	October 1, 1994
HDI (2003)	NA – unranked
Currency	US Dollar
Time zone	UTC + 9
National anthem	Belau loba klisiich er a kelulul
Internet TLD	.pw
Calling Code	680

The Republic of Palau is a borderless country in the Pacific Ocean, located some 500 km east of the Philippines. Having emerged from United Nations trusteeship (administered by the United States of America) in 1994, it is one of the world's youngest and least populated nations. It is sometimes referred to in English under its native name Belau.

History

Early Palauans may have come from the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, and Polynesia, settling the islands as early as 1000 B.C. (1) Prior to the influences of colonialism, Palauans had well established matriarchal social systems, including matrilineal inheritance (2).

The Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos may have been the first European to sight the islands, in 1543. Spain officially claimed the islands in 1686, however significant European attempts to settle on or trade with the islands were not made until the 18th century when the English Captain Henry Wilson ship-wrecked off Ulong in 1783 (ibid). Palau was dubbed the « Pelew Islands » by Wilson.

Over the course of the next century, Spanish priests attempted (unsuccessfully) to establish the Roman Catholic Church on the islands, and Spain maintained a claim on the islands until 1875, when protests from Britain prompted a lapse in the claim. In 1885, after Germany occupied some of the islands, a dispute was brought to Pope Leo XIII, who legitimized Spain's claim to the islands (but with economic concessions for Britain and Germany). The Spanish met with resistance from the locals, and in 1899 ceded control of Palau to Germany (3) (4). In 1914 Japan invaded the islands, then after the Germans' defeat in World War I formally took them over under the Treaty of Versailles. Over three decades the Japanese effected major change in the culture of Palau, including the introduction of a market economy and private (as opposed to tribal) ownership of land (5). After the Second World War, the islands were handed over to the United Nations, and were administered by the United States as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. The Palauans voted in 1979 not to join the Federated States of Micronesia based on language and cultural differences, choosing independence instead. After a long period of transition, including the violent deaths of two presidents ( Haruo Remeliik in 1985 by assassination and Lazarus Salii in 1988 by suicide), Palau voted in 1994 to become freely associated with the United States while gaining independence under the Compact of Free Association.

Politics

The president of Palau, who is both head of state and head of government, is elected by the Palauans every four years. The government headed by the president consists of a bicameral parliament, known as the Olbiil Era Kelulau. The members of both chambers are chosen by the people; 9 are part of the Senate, and 16 of the House of Delegates. The current president is Tommy Remengesau. He was elected in 2000 and took office in 2001. He had previously served as vice president. He was re-elected in 2004.

States

Palau is divided into sixteen administrative regions, called states:

• Aimeliik
• Airai
• Angaur
• Hatohobei
• Kayangel
• Koror
• Melekeok
• Ngaraard
• Ngarchelong
• Ngardmau
• Ngatpang
• Ngchesar
• Ngeremlengui
• Ngiwal
• Peleliu
• Sonsorol

Geography

Palau's most important islands are Angaur, Babeldaob, Koror, and Peleliu, which lie together within the same barrier reef. About two thirds of the population lives on Koror. North of these islands, the coral atoll of Kayangel is situated, while the uninhabited Rock Islands (about 70 of them) are situated to the west of the main island group. A remote group of six islands, known as the Southwest Islands, some 600 km from the main islands, is also part of the country.

Climate

Palau enjoys a tropical climate all year round with an annual mean temperature of 82 °F (27 °C). Rainfall can occur throughout the year, averaging a total of 150 inches (3,800 mm). The average humidity over the course of the year is 82%, and although rain falls more frequently between July and October, there is still much sunshine. Typhoons are rare, as Palau is outside the main typhoon zone.

Economy

The economy consists primarily of tourism, subsistence farming, and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. Business and tourist arrivals numbered 50,000 in the financial year 2000/2001. The population enjoys a per capita income twice that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the key tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries, and the willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development.

In July of 2004, Palau Micronesia Air was launched with service from Palau to Yap, Guam, Micronesia, Saipan, Australia, and the Philippines. It ceased operations in December of the same year and has not restarted operations since.

Demographics

The population of Palau is approximately 19,000. The major ethnic group (70%) is the native Palauans, who are of Melanesian, Micronesian, and Polynesian decent. Indo-Europeans, Asians, and Europeans account for the minority groups. Two thirds of the population are said to be Christians (mainly Catholics and Seventh-day Adventists), but Modekngei (a combination of Christianity, traditional Palauan religion and fortune telling) and the Ancient Palauan Religion is still the most commonly observed household religions.

The official languages of Palau are Palauan and English, except for three states (Sonsorol, Hatohobei, and Angaur) where the local language is official instead of Palauan. In Angaur, Japanese is also official.