Pacific Magazine > Magazine > April 1, 2005

Pacific Archives

Pacific Archives

20 Years Ago In Pacific Magazine


Twenty years ago, the talk was of newly independent nations. But it wasn't all positive: our September/October 1985 issue carried a full report on the funeral of Palau President Haruo Remeliik, who was gunned down by assassins in front of his home in Koror that June. Our report noted: "On that Sunday morning of June 30, as the news spread throughout the small community of Koror, Palau that President Remeliik has been fatally shot by unknown assailants, the sense of gloom and shock was almost palpable in the air. People talked in whispers, buttonholing anybody they met for confirmation, and even when they knew for sure, they still shook their heads in disbelief."

Other stories that we covered in that issue included:

o On The Air: "Tonga's only broadcasting station, Radio Tonga, increased its public service by broadcasting non-stop for 16 hours every day except Sunday. The Government-owned radio used to broadcast three separate sessions daily before it decided to increase its services to provide more news and education programs to specific audiences such as schools, farmers and housewives."

o Got Guns? "The Guam Legislature has held public hearings on gun controls and capital punishment. The bill would present the Guam Election Commission with allowing firearms for household protection and calling for the death penalty for aggravated murder….Previous years have found the island's Catholic majority against the death penalty. But times are changing."

 

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