Republic of the Marshall Islands: Freedom to know, freedom to think, freedom to speak

Go to “Selected Topics from Archives” at right for background documents on former RMI Foreign Minister Tony deBrum’s political partnership with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and discredited attorney E. Cooper Brown.   These materials were retrieved and posted in response to denial by deBrum that he had a corrupt relationship with Abramoff and Brown.  That was before deBrum was removed from office as RMI Foreign Minister.

Last Updates: Go to “Posts” link to the right of this page for most recent updates, prior to suspension of posting.

UPDATES SUSPENDED.  THIS SITE IS NOW AN ARCHIVE, NOT AN ACTIVE PROJECT.

READER COMMENT:

THE SAD FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.  THE RMI LOST TWO YEARS AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BY NOT BEING A GOOD FAITH PARTNER OF THE U.S. WHILE DEBRUM WAS FOREIGN MINISTER.   WHETHER THE LOST OPPORUNTITY CAN BE RECOVRED, EVEN PARTIALLY, IS NOT CLEAR.   A LOT OF DAMAGE WAS DONE.

TONY DEBRUM AND IMATA KABUA HAVE PREVENTED THE PEOPLE OF THE RMI FROM REALZING THEIR POTENTIAL FOR POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

THE RMI SHOULD HAVE DELIVERED AN LUA TO THE U.S. ON TIME, AND USED SUCCESS OF STRATEGIC ALLIANCE AS LEVERAGE FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR NUCLEAR TESTING.

RMI SHOULD HAVE MADE SUPPLEMENTAL NUCLEAR CLAIMS COMPENSATION LEGISLATION  IN U.S. SENATE ITS TOP PRIORITY IN 2007.   DEBRUM WAS FOREIGN MINSTER, HE FAILED TO ACT IN TIME TO SAVE THE BIPARTISAN BILL, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE BEST HOPE TO SET PRECEDENT FOR ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION.  SINCE THEN THE U.S. ECONOMY HAS NEARLY COLLAPSED, THE FEDERAL COURTS HAVE REFUSED TO RE-OPEN NUCLEAR TEST COMPENSATION ISSUES, AND THE PROSPECTS FOR A NEW NUCLEAR COMPENSATION MEASURE ARE DIMINISHED.

DEBRUM PRETENDED HE DID HIS BEST, BUT EVERYONE KNOWS BETTER.  HE SOLD OUT THE NUCLEAR VICTIMS TO TRY TO GET MONEY FOR IMATA KABUA.  DEBRUM WANTED FREE ASSOCIATION TO FAIL, AND HE WANTED TO BE AT CENTER OF ATTENTION, AS WELL AS TO GET RICH OFF KWAJALEIN LANDOWNER MONEY CONTROLLED BY IMATA KABUA.

IMATA KABUA AND TONY DEBRUM ARE IMPOISNG A CORRUTPED FORM OF CUSTOMARY POWERS THAT THE PEOPLE MUST FIGHT AND REJECT.   BY ABUSING TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP POWERS IMATA AND DEBRUM HAVE MADE CUSTOMARY POWERS ANTI-DEMOCRATIC.   THE RMI CONSTITUTION RECOGNIZES ROLE OF CUSTUMARY LAW,  BUT THE PEOPLE NEED TO END CUSTOMARY POWERS OVER PEOPLE AND PROPERTY THAT ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH DEMOCRATIC SELF-GOVERNMENT AND INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY.   CUSTOM SHOULD BE RESPECTED, BUT ONLY IF TRADITIONAL LEADERS RESPECT DEMOCRACY AND THE RIGHTS  OF ALL RMI CITIZENS.