99-679: Chuuk State ( / ˈ tʃ uː k / ; also known as Truk ) is one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). It consists of several island groups: Nomoneas , Faichuuk , the Hall Islands , Namonuito Atoll (Magur Islands), Pattiw (Western Islands), and the Mortlock Islands . Chuuk is by far the FSM's most populous state, with 50,000 inhabitants on 120 square kilometers (46 square miles ). Chuuk Lagoon
198-594: A Compact of Free Association with the United States, which entered into force on November 3, 1986, marking Micronesia's emergence from trusteeship to independence. Independence was formally concluded under international law in 1990, when the United Nations officially ended the Trusteeship status pursuant to Security Council Resolution 683 . The Compact was renewed in 2004. In February 2021, due to
297-666: A bitter leadership dispute, the Federated States of Micronesia announced it would quit the Pacific Islands Forum in its formal process of withdrawal. However, in June 2022, the Suva Agreement was reached and the Federated States of Micronesia agreed to remain in the forum. The Federated States of Micronesia is governed by the 1979 constitution , which guarantees fundamental human rights and establishes
396-622: A lack of preparedness. The Chuuk State Legislature delayed the second planned referendum in 2019 for a year and also suspended the CPSC. The third delay in February 2020 pushed the referendum back two years to 2022, and the referendum did not take place that year. The CPSC has actively campaigned for independence, holding public hearings both in Chuuk and in areas with significant overseas Chuukese populations. Opposition has come from both civilians and
495-401: A majority of states as well as a majority of congressional members. Independence is also seen as a way to strengthen Chuukese identity and safeguard Chuukese culture. Independence advocates claim that an independent Chuuk would bring increased economic opportunity, including through control over its exclusive economic zone , generating up to $ 40 million per year. A new taxation system and
594-702: A network of canals, is often called the Venice of the Pacific. It is located on the eastern periphery of the island of Pohnpei and used to be the ceremonial and political seat of the Saudeleur dynasty that united Pohnpei's estimated 25,000 people from about AD 500 until 1500 when the centralized system collapsed. European explorers—first the Portuguese in search of the Spice Islands ( Indonesia ) and then
693-409: A separation of governmental powers. This constitution constructs the national government to be similar to – but not exactly alike – that of the United States. The unicameral Congress has fourteen members elected by popular vote. Four senators—one from each state—serve four-year terms; the remaining ten senators represent single-member districts based on population and serve two-year terms. Congress elects
792-592: A special session of the FSM Congress, one Chuuk senator introduced a resolution requesting a reconsideration of the independence referendum; however, it did not reach the floor . CSL 14-23, which served to postpone the 5 March 2019 referendum to March 2020, was passed in October 2018 by the Chuuk State Legislature. After it was subsequently vetoed by acting Governor Marius Akapito , it
891-625: A white star on the national flag. The capital is Palikir , on Pohnpei. Two terrestrial ecoregions lie within the country's borders: Carolines tropical moist forests and Yap tropical dry forests . It had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 7.55/10, ranking it 37th globally out of 172 countries. The major coastal communities are mangrove forests, seagrass beds, lagoons and coral reefs, biologically and physically linked. About 300 species of coral, 1000 species of fish and 1200 species of mollusks are recognized in Micronesia. In
990-534: Is a result of intermarriages between Japanese settlers and Micronesians during the Japanese colonial period. There is also a growing expatriate population of Americans, Australians, Europeans, and residents from China and the Philippines since the 1990s. English has become the common language of the government, and for secondary and tertiary education. Outside of the main capital towns of the four FSM states,
1089-464: Is a sovereign, self-governing state in free association with the United States of America , which is wholly responsible for its defense. The FSM National Police operates a Maritime Wing Unit. The Compact of Free Association allows FSM citizens to join the U.S. military without having to obtain U.S. permanent residency or citizenship, allows for immigration and employment for Micronesians in
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#17327752831821188-474: Is among the highest in the world, absorbing about 2500 grams of carbon per square meter per year, against 2200 grams in the tropical forest and 125 grams in the open sea. Inland, from the tidal zone to the top of the mountains there is a varied range of vegetation , cloud forest, upland, palm, plantation, areas dominated by climbers of the genus Merremia, savannas, native secondary forest, fragments of introduced trees, cultivated areas, freshwater swamps, swamps of
1287-450: Is expected to be adjusted following negotiations. Given Chuuk's closeness to Guam, it is considered a strategically important location. The United States has warned Chuuk against independence, amid concern China's influence may increase in an independent Chuuk. In addition to its strategic location, Chuuk contains one of the deepest lagoons in the Pacific. China has already paid $ 50 million towards building roads in Chuuk, and funded
1386-582: Is jeopardized by preservation issues, from rapidly disintegrating carcasses to dynamite fishing that rapidly destroys whole sections of the graveyard . Federated States of Micronesia The Federated States of Micronesia ( / ˌ m aɪ k r oʊ ˈ n iː ʒ ə / ; abbreviated FSM ), or simply Micronesia , is an island country in Micronesia , a subregion of Oceania . The federation consists of four states —from west to east: Yap , Chuuk , Pohnpei , and Kosrae —that span across
1485-499: Is one of the four federal states of the Federated States of Micronesia. As a democratic federation , each state has the ability to retain large number of power within the state as well as a certain level of sovereignty typical of federal states. The chief executive of Chuuk is the governor . Chuuk has a bicameral legislature. Chuuk State Department of Education operates public schools. Public high schools: Private secondary schools: Private primary schools: Chuuk State received
1584-559: Is primarily Chuuk's underwater assets that would bring tourism, including its marine diversity and the Second World War shipwrecks around the coast. Where tourism does exist, it is reliant on the diving industry, which was established in the islands by Kimiuo Aisek . A legacy of his work to make Chuuk a dive destination was the establishment of the Kimiuo Aisek Memorial Museum . The American attacks on
1683-407: Is served by four international airports. Economic activity in the Federated States of Micronesia consists primarily of subsistence farming and fishing . The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate . Long line fishing of tuna is also viable with foreign vessels from China that operated in the 1990s. The potential for a tourist industry exists, but
1782-548: Is the Chuuk Lagoon , a large archipelago with mountainous islands surrounded by a string of islets on a barrier reef . The two major geographical and dialectic divisions of the Chuuk Lagoon are Faichuuk, the western islands, and Namoneas, the eastern islands. Chuuk State also includes several more sparsely populated "outer island" groups, including the Mortlock Islands to the southeast, the Hall Islands (Pafeng) to
1881-542: Is voted for a new constitution would be drawn up by October 2015. The new constitution would be put to a referendum in March 2017, after which an election would produce a new government that could declare independence. The referendum was scheduled for 3 March 2015, to coincide with parliamentary elections . After the adoption of the CPSC's report, then FSM President Manny Mori , himself Chuukese, began to campaign against independence for Chuuk, giving his opinion that
1980-465: Is warm, humid and rainy all year round. The islands are located north of the equator and are affected by constant trade winds, which temper the climate. Minimum temperatures range all year round between 22 and 25 °C, and maximum temperatures between 30 and 32 °C. The abundant precipitations oscillate between 2500 and 5000 mm per year, although in the faces oriented to the wind they can surpass 6000 mm. Mount Nahnalaud, only 750 m high, on
2079-498: Is where most people live. Weno island, in the lagoon, is Chuuk's state capital and the country's biggest city. It may hold a referendum on independence in the near future, although this referendum has been repeatedly postponed. Chuuk was first settled by Austronesians , believed to be from the Lapita culture of Island Melanesia . Archaeological evidence indicates that islands of Feefen and Wééné Islands had human settlements in
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#17327752831822178-545: The Baháʼí Faith . There is a small group of Buddhists on Pohnpei, and a small group of Ahmadiyya Muslims in both Pohnpei and Kosrae. Attendance at religious services is generally high; churches are well supported by their congregations and play a significant role in civil society. In the 1890s, on the island of Pohnpei, intermissionary conflicts and the conversion of clan leaders resulted in religious divisions along clan lines which persist today. More Protestants live on
2277-564: The Caroline Islands in the wider region of Micronesia , which region consists of thousands of small islands divided among several countries. The term Micronesia may refer to the Federated States of Micronesia or to the region as a whole. The FSM was a part of the former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI), a United Nations Trust Territory administered by the United States from 1947 to 1994. On May 10, 1979
2376-416: The Federated States of Micronesia was originally scheduled to take place in March 2015. However, it has been delayed three times and it is uncertain if it will take place. The most populous of the four states within the FSM, Chuuk has high levels of unemployment and there are long-standing tensions over the distribution of funding within the FSM. Other concerns include political power within the federation and
2475-457: The Japanese fleet in 1944 were such that today Truk lagoon is the largest underwater military cemetery in the world (60 ships and 400 aircraft scattered over several kilometers), which attracts divers from all over the world. The diving conditions are very good (visibility 15–40 meters, variations in depth, minor currents, 700 varieties of fish, generous coral). However, this source of income
2574-649: The Marshall Islands , the Northern Mariana Islands , Palau , Pohnpei , and Yap State (Yap). Kosrae was later separated from Pohnpei. Discussions on self-government included an extensive debate over the power of a potential central government compared to the island groups. While the United States wished for the islands to remain united, local political pressure led to the Northern Mariana Islands being separated from
2673-409: The Marshall Islands . Teachers are both Jesuit and lay and come from Micronesia, the U.S., Indonesia , Japan , and Australia . Although Chuuk is an overwhelmingly Christian society, traditional beliefs in spirit possession by the dead still exist. Allegedly, these spirits overwhelmingly possess women, and spirit possession is usually brought on by family conflicts. The spirits, speaking through
2772-539: The Marshall Islands ; east of Palau and the Philippines ; about 2,900 km (1,800 mi) north of eastern Australia , 3,400 km (2,100 mi) southeast of Japan; and some 4,000 km (2,485 mi) southwest of Honolulu of the Hawaiian Islands . The country's total land area is relatively small; but FSM's waters occupy nearly 3 million km (1.2 million sq mi) of
2871-468: The Micronesian Games , the nation's football championship and the Micronesia national football team . The Federated States of Micronesia Athletic Association is the governing body for the country's sports and athletics. Each of the four states has its own culture and traditions, but there are also common cultural and economic bonds that are centuries old. Cultural similarities include
2970-564: The Pacific Islands Forum . However, in February 2021, FSM announced it would be formally withdrawing from the Forum in a joint statement with Marshall Islands , Kiribati , and Nauru after a dispute regarding Henry Puna 's election as the Forum's secretary-general. In February 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine , FSM severed its diplomatic relations with Russia and called the invasion "unjustified and brutal". The four states in
3069-477: The Pacific Ocean , giving the country the 14th-largest exclusive economic zone in the world. The island nation's capital is Palikir , located on Pohnpei Island ; the largest city is Weno , an island municipality located in the Chuuk Lagoon . Each of its four states is centered on one or more main volcanic islands , and all but Kosrae include numerous outlying atolls . The FSM spreads across part of
Chuuk State - Misplaced Pages Continue
3168-645: The Spanish —reached the Carolines in the sixteenth century. The Treaty of Tordesillas gave these lands to Spain and the Spanish incorporated the archipelago to the Spanish East Indies through the capital, Manila , and in the 19th century established several outposts and missions. In 1887, they founded the town of Santiago de la Ascensión in what today is Kolonia on the island of Pohnpei. In
3267-738: The Spanish–American War in which it lost its main colony in Asia, the Philippines . Germany incorporated the territory into its domain in the German New Guinea . During World War I, the Imperial Japanese navy was tasked with pursuing and destroying the German East Asian Squadron and protecting the shipping lanes of Allied trade in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. During the course of this operation,
3366-627: The United Nations from the end of the Second World War to the mid-1980s. The termination of U.S. administration of the Chuuk, Yap, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Mariana Islands districts of the TTPI occurred on 3 November 1986. The Federated States of Micronesia , including Chuuk, Yap, Kosrae, and Pohnpei, was established in 1979 and signed a Compact of Free Association with the U.S. (effective 3 November 1986). As of recent times, Chuuk has been pushing harder for independence . An independence referendum
3465-639: The 18 months following its inception in January 2013 and then submit its final report. In February 2014, the Chuuk State Government extended its mandate for public hearings by seven months. The final report was submitted in 2014. Comparing several options, this report recommended independence with a renegotiated CFA for the future of Chuuk. The report declared other options were "impractical, unrealistic or impossible". The CPSC claimed feedback obtained during meetings and internal discussions were
3564-550: The 1870s, Germany began extending its sphere of influence in the Caroline Islands, leading to the Carolines Question of 1885 in which Pope Leo XIII was asked to determine if Germany or Spain had authority over the islands. The result was a confirmation of Spanish authority over the islands, but Germany would have free access to the islands. Following defeat in the Spanish–American War , the Spanish sold
3663-420: The 2003 CFA negotiations, there were rumors that each state would negotiate separate compacts, although this did not happen. State identities are strong, with the central government often seen as distant, and those from other states sometimes considered foreigners. However, Chuuk is the only state in which the executive and legislative branches of government have officially taken up secession. State officials lead
3762-621: The Chuuk Independence Movement. Among Chuukese and within the Chuuk Government, concerns exist about the distribution of funds among the FSM states. While Chuuk is the most populous state, accounting for almost half of the country's population, it receives only 30% of the financial grants under the CFA. In 2000, its unemployment rate stood at 34.2%, the highest in the country and over 12 percentage points more than
3861-489: The Chuuk Reform Movement to advocate for continued federation. Public hearings in late 2014 and early 2015 in response to this report elicited opposition from communities both within and outside of Chuuk. Concerns were raised over the short timeframe between the report's submission and the proposed referendum date. The US Ambassador to the FSM rejected claims by one member of the CPSC that they had discussed
3960-568: The FSM Government . The potential timing of the referendum is significant, as parts of the current CFA agreement expired in 2023. The United States has stated that a similar agreement would not be offered to an independent Chuuk. Islands within Micronesia came under the jurisdiction of the United States in 1947, as the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands . This territory was divided into six administrative districts: Chuuk ,
4059-556: The FSM and abroad. In February 2015 the FSM Department of Justice issued a similar memorandum, claiming the constitution prohibited secession. In late February 2015, Chuuk Governor Johnson Elimo postponed the vote indefinitely through an executive order. The Public Affairs Office released a statement saying that more consultation and awareness was needed. The simultaneous elections were also postponed, because of election material not being ready. Also cited as reasons to delay
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4158-530: The Federated States of Micronesia are 97% Christian . More than half of the population follows the Catholic Church (55%) and about 42% follow various Protestant Christian groups. In general this is due to Spanish and German colonial history. Spanish rule meant that a large part of the population remained Catholic. During the German colonial period, until 1914, Catholic and Protestant missionaries from
4257-1045: The German Empire were deployed. Several Protestant denominations, as well as the Roman Catholic Church , are present in every Micronesian state. Most Protestant groups trace their roots to American Congregationalist missionaries. On the island of Kosrae, the population is approximately 7,800; 95 percent are Protestants. On Pohnpei , the population of 35,000 is evenly divided between Protestants and Catholics. Most immigrants are Filipino Catholics who have joined local Catholic churches, e.g. Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Pohnpei. On Chuuk and Yap, an estimated 60 percent are Catholic and 40 percent are Protestant. Religious groups with small followings include Baptists , Assemblies of God , Salvation Army , Seventh-day Adventists , Jehovah's Witnesses , The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and
4356-846: The Japanese Navy seized German possessions in the Mariana Islands, the Carolinas, the Marshall Islands and Palau groups by October 1914. Chuuk then became a possession of the Empire of Japan under the mandate of the League of Nations after the defeat of Germany in World War I. Chuuk was one of six districts of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) which were administered by the United States under charter from
4455-521: The President and Vice President from among the four state-based senators to serve four-year terms in the executive branch. Their congressional seats are then filled by special elections. An appointed cabinet supports the president and vice president. There are no formal political parties. In international politics, the Federated States of Micronesia has often voted with the United States concerning United Nations General Assembly resolutions. The FSM
4554-743: The U.S., and establishes economic and technical aid programs. FSM has foreign relations with 56 countries, including the Holy See and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta . FSM was admitted to the United Nations based on the Security Council 's recommendation on August 9, 1991, in Resolution 703 and the General Assembly 's approval on September 17, 1991, in Resolution 46/2. The FSM was an active member of
4653-533: The United Nations and has been a member of the Pacific Community since 1983. The ancestors of the Micronesians settled over four thousand years ago. A decentralized chieftain-based system eventually evolved into a more centralized economic and religious culture centered on Yap Island . Nan Madol , a UNESCO World Heritage Site , consisting of a series of small artificial islands linked by
4752-469: The United States currently funded social programs (including healthcare and college subsidies), provided defense and maritime security, and allowed free movement of Chuuk residents into the United States and its territories. As of 2018, there were around 45,000 eligible Chuukese voters. While the referendum was scheduled to coincide with the 2019 parliamentary elections , the CSPC and Elimo attempted to move
4851-421: The United States in 1982. This compact creates an alliance between the FSM and the United States, with the United States military able to enter the territory of the FSM. Under the compact, the United States agreed to provide financial grants to FSM and extend free movement into the United States to FSM citizens. The United States negotiated similar agreements with the now separate Marshall Islands and Palau. The FSM
4950-470: The archipelago to Germany in 1899 under the German–Spanish Treaty of 1899 . Germany incorporated it into German New Guinea . (A few remote islands, notably Kapingamarangi , were not specifically named in the treaty, but this remained unnoticed until the late 1940s and, while acknowledging the historical curiosity in 1949, Spain has made no modern claims to the islands. ) During World War I , it
5049-979: The arrival of various Protestant groups . The main religious building in the state is the Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral in Tunnuk, Weno , which is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of the Caroline Islands ( Diocese Carolinensium ) suffragan of the ecclesiastical province of Agaña in Guam . Other churches in the state include Sacred Heart Church on Lekinioch Island, Christ the King Church in Neiwe, Houk Catholic Church, Holy Family Church in Weno, St. Ignatius Church in Fonoton, among others. The people of
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#17327752831825148-453: The basis of its report. This, despite few meetings being held, with most of them taking place among overseas communities. The Chuuk State Legislature accepted the report on 19 December 2014 during a joint session, months before the expiration of the public hearing mandate. Planning then began for a referendum on independence. The timetable provided in the report was an independence referendum in March 2015, after which if independence
5247-622: The best navigators and ocean-going outrigger canoes in the Pacific. In the islands of the Pattiw Region, and some of the Islands of Yap, are the last two remaining schools of navigation, Weriyeng and Faaluush . Visiting the Pattiw Region in the west, however, is difficult due to the lack of reliable transportation. Houk probably has the most accessible airstrip in the Pattiw Region, with planes landing every one or two weeks. The state shares its longitude with Sydney , Australia, namely
5346-403: The census held on 4 April 2010, it had 48,654 inhabitants, compared with 36,196 for Pohnpei , 11,377 for Yap and 6,616 for Kosrae . The majority of the state's population is affiliated with Christianity as a result of the activity of missionary groups first from Spain and then from Germany and the United States. Catholicism was introduced during the Spanish colonization period, followed by
5445-473: The concerns underlying the independence campaign. On 19 November 2015, representatives of Chuuk within the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia sponsored a resolution to end the CFA. Sabino Asor remained chair of the CPSC during this new period. The CPSC continued to hold meetings to provide information on independence throughout Chuuk, and in areas with other significant Chuukese populations, such as Guam and Hawaii. They claimed over 50% of
5544-407: The constitution did not allow for a state to secede from the FSM, and warning a "yes" vote would lead not to immediate independence but to a protracted legal battle. Mori stated that individuals within the CPSC were the same as some involved in previous attempts to separate Faichuk from the rest of Chuuk into its own state. Videlino Raatior, a former Chuuk resident now living in Hawaii, formed
5643-408: The constitution has no provision to prevent secession. However, others note the constitution obliges all states "to promote the principles of unity". Changing the constitution requires 75% approval, along with the votes of 75% of the states. Even after a successful vote for independence, Chuuk would remain part of FSM for perhaps years as it negotiates its independence. The CPSC claims that Chuuk has
5742-412: The country speak the Chuukese language , a Micronesian language . The New York Province of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits ) maintains a mission school on the island of Weno in Chuuk. Xavier High School is housed at the former Japanese communications center. It is a coeducational institution, drawing students from all the island groups of the Federated States of Micronesia, as well as Palau and
5841-529: The eastern portion of the city including the CBD . On 2 July 2002, heavy rains from Tropical Storm Chataan caused more than thirty landslides that killed forty-seven people and injured dozens of others, in the state's deadliest weather disaster. The landslides occurred throughout the day, some within just minutes of each other. Chuuk is the most populous of the FSM's states. At the census held on 1 April 2000, it had 53,595 inhabitants, compared with 34,486 for Pohnpei , 11,241 for Yap and 7,686 for Kosrae ; at
5940-580: The federation are, from west to east: These states are further divided into municipalities . The Federated States of Micronesia consists of 607 islands extending 2,900 km (1,802 mi) across the archipelago of the Caroline Islands east of the Philippines . The islands have a combined area of 702 km (271 sq mi). The islands are grouped into four states, which are Yap , Chuuk (called Truk until January 1990), Pohnpei (known as "Ponape" until November 1984), and Kosrae (formerly Kusaie). These four states are each represented by
6039-412: The five regional groups present in the legislature and two by the governor. The State Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives participated in the CPSC as non-voting members. The new commission was tasked with determining the best future status for Chuuk in light of the upcoming expiry of the CFA. Under CSL 11-12-18, the CPSC was meant to conduct a public education program in
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#17327752831826138-446: The full retention of their taxes would generate further funds. They also claim an independent Chuuk would be able to claim some funds from existing Micronesian funds. They also claim a revised CFA would better suit Chuuk. Independence advocates saw the Compact renegotiation leading up to the 2023 expiration as an opportunity for Chuuk to negotiate with the United States on its own terms. Chuuk State Attorney General Sabino Asor has said
6237-427: The galleon patache San Lucas. As part of the Caroline Islands , Truk was claimed by the Spanish Empire , which struggled to control the islands in the late 19th century. The Chuuk Lagoon was then inhabited by Chuukese people (an Austronesian group) that participated in intermittent wars, as well as a small population of foreign merchants and missionaries, mostly linked to the Catholic Church . Spanish control over
6336-438: The importance of the traditional extended family and clan systems and are found on all the islands. The island of Yap is notable for its "stone money" ( Rai stones ), large disks usually of calcite, up to 4 meters (13 ft) in diameter, with a hole in the middle. The islanders, aware of the owner of a piece, do not necessarily move them when ownership changes. There are five major types: Mmbul , Gaw , Ray , Yar , and Reng ,
6435-447: The island of Pohnpei, receives an average of 10,160 mm, being one of the rainiest places on earth, with almost always overcast skies. In general, the rains are produced by showers and storms of short duration but very intense. The driest places are the flat atolls, where rainfall can drop below 3000 mm. The driest months are January and February, with no less than 250 mm and 20 days of rain. The Federated States of Micronesia
6534-401: The islands ratified a constitutional government and then became a sovereign state after attaining independence on November 3, 1986—under a Compact of Free Association with the United States. Other neighboring island entities (also former members of the TTPI), also formed constitutional governments, becoming the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau . The FSM has a seat in
6633-413: The islands was in part nominal. The Spanish stopped to raise a flag over Chuuk in 1886, and returned in 1895 as part of an attempt to assert control and negotiate peace between the tribes of Chuuk. No major Spanish settlement was established and traditional life continued until the German colonial era. The Caroline Islands were sold to the German Empire in 1899, after Spain withdrew from the Pacific after
6732-468: The issue with the United States in January 2015. On 27 January 2015, the legal counsel of the FSM embassy to the United States submitted a memorandum to Mori disputing many claims made in the CPSC's report. On the same date, Mori approved the creation of a task force to campaign against Chuukese independence. This task force included members of the cabinet and other national government officials. It began its own campaign through public hearings within
6831-436: The largest number of visitors of any of the Federated States of Micronesia. However, tourism is relatively under-developed. In the FSM's Development Plan for Chuuk, published in 2016, factors which disadvantaged the development of tourism in Chuuk included a lack of infrastructure, in particular irregular ferries between islands and a lack of regular electricity supplies on all islands apart from Weno. The report recognized that it
6930-403: The last being only 30 cm (12 in) in diameter. Their value is based on both size and history, many of them having been brought from other islands, as far as New Guinea , but most coming in ancient times from Palau . Approximately 6,500 of them are scattered around the island. Pohnpei is home to Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia , a UNESCO World Heritage Site , but
7029-400: The local languages are primarily spoken. In the Catholic mission of Pohnpei , among the Mercedarian missionaries, considered an institution in the country, Spanish is also spoken. Growth remains high at more than 3% annually, offset somewhat by net emigration. English is the official and common language. Aside from English, the following Austronesian languages are spoken: The people of
7128-682: The lower castes have some distinct dances, such as a woman's standing dance, but can only dance when authorized by a person of a higher caste. The following papers have been published in the FSM: There have been very few published literary writers from the Federated States of Micronesia. In 2008, Emelihter Kihleng became the first ever Micronesian to publish a collection of poetry in the English language. Government General information 2022 Chuukese independence referendum An independence referendum for Chuuk State to secede from
7227-537: The main concerns of the FSM. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure are major impediments to long-term growth. The indigenous population of the nation, which is predominantly Micronesian , consists of various ethnolinguistic groups. It has a nearly 100% Pacific Islander and Asian population: Chuukese 48.8%, Pohnpeian 24.2%, Kosraean 6.2%, Yapese 5.2%, Yap outer islands 4.5%, Asian 1.8%, Polynesian 1.5%, other 6.4%, unknown 1.4%. A sizable minority also have some Japanese ancestry , which
7326-434: The mangrove forests there are shrimps, crabs and fish, as well as birds that feed on them. Seagrass meadows appear offshore following the mangroves. The lagoons provide food for the reef inhabitants and contain various kinds of plankton. The biodiversity and complexity of the coral reefs increases markedly from east to west, with 150 species of hard coral at Kosrae, 200 at Pohnpei and 300 at Chuuk. Coral productivity in this area
7425-446: The matter. By 5 March, when the referendum was meant to take place, the new timeframe of March 2020 had already been decided. In February 2020 the vote was postponed for a third time, being rescheduled for 2022. Asor stated that this was to allow the FSM time to "correct some of the deficiencies". Mori believed that the independence referendum would not happen in 2022 either, noting there were still unanswered questions surrounding
7524-447: The movement seeks to replicate the CFA for an independent Chuuk. This idea was explicitly rejected by the United States, with its ambassador to FSM engaging in a media campaign to make it clear such an option would not be available. The legal mechanism by which Chuuk could obtain independence is unclear. One proposal is to ask the other states to amend the FSM constitution following a successful vote. Some independence advocates believe
7623-406: The national average. Furthermore, the national government does not share revenue from commercial fishing with the states. Another issue raised by independence campaigners is political power, with the composition of Congress and the presidential election systems designed to dilute the dominance the large population of Chuuk would have on a direct electoral system, and with laws requiring approval by
7722-481: The north, Namonuito Atoll to the northwest, and the Pattiw Region to west. The Pattiw Region is of particular interest in that it has some of the most traditional islands in the Pacific and is culturally related to outer islands of Yap . This group includes the islands of Pollap , Tamatam , Poluwat , and Houk . There are still traditional master navigators—Poluwat and Pollap are considered to have some of
7821-495: The others in the 1970s. Pressure from the Marshall Islands and Palau led the United States to agree that each island group could select its own negotiators; both island groups rejected the Federated States of Micronesia 's proposed constitution during a 12 July 1978 referendum. The remaining four island groups became the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). This federation signed the Compact of Free Association (CFA) with
7920-424: The palm Nypa fruticans , atoll forests, forests in rocky areas and beaches. There are about 1230 species of ferns and flowering plants, of which 782 are native, including 145 native fern species. On Pohnpei Island, there are about 750 plant species, of which 110 are endemic. Another 457 species have been introduced. The Federated States of Micronesia has a tropical rainforest climate ( Köppen : Af ). The weather
8019-519: The population supported independence. During this period, former FSM president John Haglelgam warned against independence. In 2018, the United States Ambassador to the FSM, Robert Riley, said that independence would mean an end to the CFA agreement, and that the United States would not negotiate a similar agreement with an independent Chuuk. Riley listed the benefits of the CFA that Chuuk would lose upon independence, noting that
8118-501: The preservation of cultural identity. In 2012, the Chuuk State Government created the Chuuk Political Status Commission (CPSC) to study potential future statuses for Chuuk. In 2014, the CPSC recommended independence with a separate Compact of Free Association (CFA) with the United States . In 2015, the governor of Chuuk postponed the initial referendum citing the need for greater citizen awareness and
8217-514: The referendum despite the multiple attempts at organizing one. By January 2022, the CPSC no longer had any staff or offices. While the referendum has not been officially abandoned, no relevant bill had passed in the FSM Senate, and it is not on the immediate political agenda. Northwest Chuuk Senator Matt Kuor has suggested that it may become relevant in 2023, when the Compact of Free Association
8316-443: The referendum forward to January 2019, eliciting concern among overseas voters. This proposal was suspended initially until 27 August 2018. One candidate for the FSM congress from Northwest Chuuk expressed a desire for the outer island regions in Chuuk to be able to separate from Chuuk to stay in the FSM in the event Chuuk as a whole voted for independence, either as a rump Chuuk state or by integrating into neighboring states. In
8415-432: The referendum had once again been postponed until an undetermined date. The Chuuk State Legislature's chief legal counsel stated that more time was needed to understand potential constitutional implications, while the FSM Government stated that secession as proposed in the referendum was illegal and would require constitutional amendments. The FSM Government also noted that the time could be used for further public education on
8514-409: The referendum were shortcomings in the work of the CPSC, and concerns over the feasibility of holding the referendum simultaneously with the federal elections. Elimo then asked the legislature to determine a new date for the referendum. In response to the postponement, Mori suspended the anti-independence task force, and called for tripartite talks between the FSM, Chuuk, and the United States, to address
8613-423: The remoteness of the location and a lack of adequate facilities hinder development. Financial assistance from the U.S. is the primary source of revenue, with the U.S. pledged to spend $ 1.3 billion in the islands in 1986–2001; when the Compact was amended in 2004, the United States committed to providing $ 110 million in development aid through 2023. The CIA World Factbook lists high dependence on U.S. aid as one of
8712-558: The right to declare independence under international law , following the Kosovo precedent . They have also claimed independence is also justified under the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights Article 15. The Chuuk State Government established the Chuuk Political Status Commission (CPSC) in 2012 through Chuuk State Public Law 11-18 (CSL 11-12-08). This commission had 12 voting members, 10 selected by
8811-593: The second and first century BCE. Later evidence indicates that widespread human settlements appeared in Chuuk during the 14th century CE, as the Chuukese culture was formed. The first sighting recorded by Europeans was made by the Spanish navigator Alvaro de Saavedra on board the Florida during August or September 1528. They were later visited by the Spaniard Alonso de Arellano on 15 January 1565 on board
8910-608: The site is currently listed as In Danger due to natural causes. The government is working on the conservation of the site. Traditional dances on the main islands includes "stick dancing" on Pohnpei , Chuuk and Yap , standing dances on Chuuk and sitting dances on Yap and Chuuk . The Yapese are particularly known for their skills in dancing. The Yapese stick dance is performed by men, women and children together, while standing dances are performed either by women or men and boys, but never both together. The men participate in various dancing competitions, which are segregated by caste ;
9009-485: The western Pacific just north of the equator , for a longitudinal distance of almost 2,700 km (1,700 mi). Together, the states comprise around 607 islands and a combined land area of approximately 702 km or 271 sq mi. The entire island nation lies across the northern Pacific accordingly: northeast of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea ; south of Guam and the Marianas ; west of Nauru and
9108-472: The western side of the island, while more Catholics live on the eastern side. Missionaries of many religious traditions are present and operate freely. The Constitution provides for freedom of religion , and the Government generally respects this right in practice. The US government received no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious belief or practice in 2007. Life expectancy
9207-479: The women, typically admonish family members to treat each other better. There are some references on the Chuukese language , treating guests, and on beliefs in the sci-fi book "Reefsong" from Carol Severance . Of the 40 municipalities of the state, 16 fall within the Chuuk Lagoon and 24 in the Outer Islands. In the table below, each is followed by its population at the 2010 Census: The State of Chuuk
9306-528: Was 66 for men and 69 for women in 2018. Pingelap in Pohnpei State is notable for the prevalence of an extreme form of color blindness called Achromatopsia , and known locally as maskun . Approximately 5% of the atoll's 3000 inhabitants are afflicted. Baseball is very popular in the FSM. The sport of association football in the Federated States of Micronesia is run by the Federated States of Micronesia Football Association . They control
9405-490: Was administered by the United States under United Nations auspices in 1947 as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands pursuant to Security Council Resolution 21 . On May 10, 1979, four of the Trust Territory districts ratified a new constitution to become the Federated States of Micronesia. Palau , the Marshall Islands , and the Northern Mariana Islands chose not to participate. The FSM signed
9504-594: Was captured by Japan . Following the war, the League of Nations awarded a mandate for Japan to administer the islands as part of the South Seas Mandate . During World War II , a significant portion of the Japanese fleet was based in Truk Lagoon . In February 1944, Operation Hailstone , one of the most important naval battles of the war, took place at Truk, in which many Japanese support vessels and aircraft were destroyed. Following World War II, it
9603-428: Was originally scheduled to coincide with federal elections on 3 March 2015, but was pushed back to 5 March 2019. The independence referendum was further pushed back to March 2022 , with a date to be announced, while the constitutional legality of the proposed secession is determined. To the west is Yap State . To the east are Pohnpei State and Kosrae State is further east. The main population center of Chuuk State
9702-404: Was passed again on 6 December 2019 by both houses of the legislature, overriding the veto. CSL 14-23 also "suspended CSPC from further carrying out its public education function on the state's Independence Movement". Following the 2019 postponement, the CSPC stated it would sue the state legislature in response, citing violations of free speech. On 22 February 2019, state officials announced that
9801-432: Was recognized as an independent state in 1986. Renegotiations between the two countries over the CFA concluded in 2003, extending the deal to 2023. On May 23, 2023, the FSM and the United States entered into another 20-year compact which includes $ 3.3 billion in funding over the life of the agreement. The FSM is a loose federation, and ideas relating to the secession of its states have existed since its creation. During
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