March 7, 2012
Palau
In an effort to close the U.S. Detention Center in Guantanamo Bay, Obama sought refuge for the Chinese Uighur detainees who otherwise risked mistreatment if they were repatriated to China. In an act that some characterized as a great humanitarian gesture and others as a brilliant diplomatic move, the President of Palau offered its assistance to the U.S. in its time of need by extending asylum to the Uighurs.
The President of Palau now faces a lawsuit over issues surrounding the Uighurs’ resettlement to the Pacific island nation of Palau.
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On March 7, 2012, Five Senators of the Republic of Palau filed a private civil suit against Palau’s President and Vice President in both their official capacity and private capacity over the use of the funds provided by the Government of the United States to the Government of Palau in the amount of approximately $500,000 for the resettlement of five Uighurs.
The suit alleges that President Toribiong took personal charge of the Uighur funds and that the funds were ordered only to be disbursed pursuant to the President’s authorization. The lawsuit contends that approximately $250,000 of the funds were disbursed in large lump sum payments to Toribiong Enterprises and to the President’s sister- in -law, Sandy Toribiong, for housing, renovation, and furniture for the Uighurs’ residences. These payments were allegedly made without any competitive bidding and contrary to Palau’s procurement laws. The lawsuit claims that the President’s conduct was an ethical violation in that his immediate family members directly financially benefited from these disbursements.
The lawsuit also alleges one cause of action unrelated to the Uighurs, but is also another issue of financial mismanagement, claiming that 2009 audit reports show that the President and Vice President spent more funds then the Executive Branch were authorized by Congress to spend and such spending was in violation of the Republic’s laws.
The full complaint in .pdf format is available here:
complaint-uighurs-palau-president