Download - Yap State Government

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
Department of Youth & Civics Affairs
BRIEFS
May 26, 2010
UCOP LETTER TO PALAU COUNCIL OF CHIEFS
The Council of Pilung, in a letter sent to the Chairman of the Council of Chiefs in Palau Ibedul
Yutaka M. Gibbons expressed sincere appreciation of the people of Yap to the Council of Chiefs
and the people of the Republic of Palau for the generous hospitality being extended to the captain
and crew members of the “Simion Hokulea” canoe since their arrival in Palau.
The Council of Pilung stated in the letter that they are hoping that the welfare of the entire canoe
crew would fall under the cultural purview and custodianship of the Council of Chiefs, and if so,
they are very grateful and indeed indebted for the crewmembers protection provided by the
Council and the unmatched kindness and support to the crew while awaiting their return home.
The Council of Pilung also asked for the Palau Council’s assistance which anticipating that may
be undergoing repair and maintenance before it sets sail for Yap.
UYAPESE STUDENT SELECTED FOR UH LEGISLATIVE FELLOWSHIP
Ms. Melanie Legdesog was this year’s winner of the University of
Hawaii Patsy Mink Legislative Fellowship. The Fellowship will
enable Ms. Legdesog the unique opportunity to serve as an intern in a
senate or congressional office in Washington, D.C. during the
Summer of 2010. Ms. Legdesog is currently a law student at the UH
Richardson School of Law after graduating last year as the
Chaminade University class salutatorian with her master’s degree in
Criminal Justice. She is the daughter of Pam Legdesog and the late
Callistus Legdesog of Yap State, FSM.
UYAP EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM GRADUATES 19
Nineteen young children have been awarded for successfully completing all the requirements for
the early childhood education program during a graduation exercise on Monday.
Divisions & Offices
Civic Affairs Division Media Division Youth Services Division Historic Preservation Office

The ceremony for the 19 young children from the Domathing Center was held at the Colonia
Community Center with families, friends and representatives from the Department of Education.
Prior to the certificate awards, the children presented a number of songs they learned from the
program and their teachers throughout the school year.
Education Director Sister Margaret Margow thanked the 19 young graduates for their
achievement, their teachers for their dedicated commitment and their families for the tireless
support that they each have sacrificed for their children.
Margow also talked about the new ECE Center, the construction of which will soon begin in
Dinay.
The construction project has been awarded to T-Mart. It was among the infrastructure projects
for Yap that the U.S. government has provided for funding.
UGHW COMMITTEE DISCUSSED DUAL CITIZENSHIP
The Committee held a meeting this morning to discuss matters and issues pending before the
Committee and especially the issue of Dual Citizenship. The Dual Citizenship issue was
discussed with the US Ambassador when the Ambassador met with the Committee earlier this
month and the Committee wanted to first discuss the issue in Committee before releasing
information on how it planned to approach it, given the fact that it is clearly a national
government responsibility.
In his meeting with Committee, the U.S. Ambassador pointed to the continue difficulties
experienced by FSM citizens in the military as they are unable to be promoted to higher ranks
due simply to fact that they are not US citizens. Members of the Committee assured the
Ambassador that it has been for sometime the hope and desire of Yap State to have the right of
dual citizenship granted to our people so that those in the military can excel through the ranks
and those who live in the United States can also get the benefits of US citizenship while at the
same time retaining their FSM citizenship. The Committee is cognizant of the fact that the matter
is a matter for the National Government to address and for the Congress to propose by resolution
an amendment to the FSM Constitution, hopefully in time to be on the ballot in the March 2011
General Election.
They also agreed to draft a resolution calling on congress to take further action by placing on the
March 2011 national election constitutional amendments that allows dual citizenship.
The committee also met with the Governor and Lt. Governor to discuss this issue. The release
can be found online at http://www.yapstategov.org/downloads/YSL-Release-05-26.pdf
UBOAT SEIZURE WITHIN EEZ
Divisions & Offices
Civic Affairs Division Media Division Youth Services Division Historic Preservation Office

On May 5, 2010, patrol boat FSS Micronesia seized a Taiwanese fishing vessel operating within
the Economic Exclusive Zone (“EEZ”) in Yap without a fishing license. As the boat was pulled
into Yap Port by FSS Micronesia on May 8, 2010; its Captain, Chung I. Chen, and his seven
crew members were met by the Department of Justice attorneys, Pole Atanroai and Daniel
Rescue.
Rescue stated the boat was seized 5 miles inside the perimeter of EEZ. “We suspect the vessels
fish in and out of the very edge of the perimeter of EEZ to try and avoid being caught,” he said.
Nevertheless, radio signals are picked up by the onboard FSM patrol boat computers, and any
suspicious activity is immediately investigated.
On the evening of their arrival in Yap, Atanroai and Rescue reviewed the statements obtained by
the Commanding Officer of FSS Micronesia, Stuart Peter, and ensured that based on the
evidence they could pursue civil and criminal charges against the seized vessel. The FSS
Micronesia Second in Command, Kodak David, remained in Yap that evening to give sworn
affidavits to the Department of Justice attorneys, as the patrol boat had to immediately depart to
attend an outer island medical emergency.
The Department of Justice received tremendous assistance from the Yap National Immigration
Office, where the attorneys set up camp to finalize the preparation of their court filings, and from
Yap State Police who provided 24 hour monitoring of the seized vessel and its crew.
The language barrier between the attorneys and the vessel crew was a serious issue; fortunately
the Yap Police Department located a Yapese college student studying in Beijing, on vacation in
Yap for the summer, who after being deputized on Sunday, May 9, 2010, by Yap Attorney
General Victor Nabeyan, was able to provide translation services.
On Monday, May 10, 2010, a national holiday, Atanroai and Rescue were able to find a court
clerk who facilitated the filing of their civil and criminal cases against the vessel and its Captain
with the Supreme Court in Yap. The fines under FSM Code, Title 24 (“Marine Resources”),
range from $100,000 to $1,000,000.
Pursuant to the Joint Law Enforcement Agreement (“JLEA”), an agreement between the FSM
National government and each state government, Yap state will take over the case. Yap AG’s
office will negotiate the fines with Chen, owner of the fishing vessel. Typically, once the civil
case is settled, the criminal charges will be dropped. The amount of the fine will vary depending
on whether this was a first offense or a repeated offense for this vessel. If Chen is unable to pay
the fine, the boat will be sold and the proceeds applied towards the fine.
This incident highlights a smoothly performed operation, with efficient communication and
assistance between numerous national and states departments
-END-
Divisions & Offices
Civic Affairs Division Media Division Youth Services Division Historic Preservation Office