The
September 13 - 26, 2023
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Kaselehlie Press
The
September 13, 2023
Free bi-weekly publication
KASELEHLIE PRESS PO Box 2222 Kolonia, Pohnpei, FM 96941
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Vol. 23 Issue No. 21
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Vice President Aren B. Palik accepts handover of FSS Bethwel Henry on behalf of the FSM Government
FSM Information Services
August 28, 2023 Perth, Australia— Vice President Aren B. Palik of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) participated in the Handover Ceremony of the FSS Bethwel Henry in Perth, Australia, on August 28, 2023, at the HMAS Stirling Royal Australian Navy base. The ceremony marked the official donation of the FSS Bethwel Henry to the FSM, the second Guardian Class Patrol Boat received from Australia.
praised the evolving, mature, and mutually beneficial relationship that has flourished on multiple fronts, significantly contributing to the development and aspirations of both nations. Among the various areas of bilateral support, the Patrol Boat Program has remained a flagship project in FSM-Australia collaboration.
"I am pleased to note that it has been a commendable and successful program, indeed, in my humble view, one of the most successful foreign policy instruments that the Australian In expressing his gratitude, Vice Government has implemented," Vice President Palik acknowledged the strong President Palik said. diplomatic relations and partnership that have endured between FSM and Click here for continuation on page 4 Australia for over three decades. He
Legal battle ends: FSM Appeals Panel rejects revote request in Chuuk At-Large seat election By Bill Jaynes The Kaselehlie Press
Election Commissioner had not yet received "more than five" of the ballot boxes, a fact that Lambert made clear in his certification. Reportedly, Nimea had 203 more votes than the next highest candidate, Sabino Asor. As soon as the National Election Director officially certified the election results, a seven-day window opened for losing candidates to file an appeal.
September 9, 2023 FSM—The FSM Supreme Court Appellate panel upheld the decision of the National Election Director to deny a revote and recount in the July 10, 2023, special election for the Chuuk At-Large seat in the FSM Congress. The panel issued the judgment and legal opinion on the morning of September 8, 2023. On the day after the certification, Asor filed an appeal with the National Election The petitioners in the appeal case (C2- Director, containing several allegations of 2023) were Sabino Asor, Redley Killion, wrongdoing or at least incorrect conduct and Johnson S. Elimo. The respondent in the election and result certification. was Ausen T. Lambert, serving as the The first claim was that the certification National Election Director, with the Real was contrary to the law because it Party in Interest being Fabian S. Nimea. was made before all results had been received. Asor also alleged that the FSM On July 10, 2023, Lambert certified President had phoned the Acting Chuuk Fabian Nimea as the winner of the Chuuk Election Commissioner and ordered her election, even though Chuuk’s Acting to stop the vote count. He alleged ballot
stuffing in several polling places and claimed that the authorization of traveler voters in Pohnpei to cast traveler ballots was inconsistent with the law. Although no officially sworn affidavits and subpoenaed testimony were submitted with the July 11 appeal, Asor stated that they would be forthcoming. He did attach several statements labeled as "affidavits" from various alleged witnesses, but they were neither signed nor notarized. On July 14, he provided copies of two of the statements that had been properly signed and notarized but none for the rest of the statements. According to the Appeals Panel's legal opinion, during the oral argument, the counsel for the petitioners mentioned that they were uncertain whether the notarized affidavits had been received by the National Election Director. Furthermore, even if they had been received, it was
unclear whether the director considered them when making the decision to deny a recount or revote on July 21. In his decision letter, Lambert wrote that, under the preponderance-of-the-evidence standard of the election laws, he did not Click here for continuation on page 4