Palaos

The Palaos (in Paluan Belau , API /b ə.lɑʊ/    to listen to the prononciation; in English Palau , Republic of Palaos in long form), is a State Oceania N, located in the archipelago of the islands Carolines, in the Western Pacifique, at broad of the Indonesia, the Filipino and the New Guinea, including/understanding 26 islands and 300 small islands. Its capital is Melekeok since October 2006.

On the form of the name of the country used in French, to see Discussion on the name of Palaos.

History

See also: History of Palaos

There is 5  000 years (3  000 front J. - C), of the inhabitants of the littoral of the China of the South, farmers of millet and rice, start to cross the strait to settle with Taiwan. Towards 2  000 before J. - C., of the migrations take place of Taiwan towards the Filipino . New migrations start soon of Philippines towards Célèbes and Timor and from there, the other islands of the archipelago Indonesia N. Towards 1  500 av. J. - C., another movement carries out Filipino in New Guinea and beyond, the islands of the Pacifique, of which Palaos. The Austronésiens are undoubtedly the first navigators of the history of humanity.

See also: Settlement of Oceania

Occupied for at least thousand years front J. - C. by populations undoubtedly coming from the Filipino or others islands of the Probe, these islands have undoubtedly been redécouvertes by Spaniards (first once in 1543 by Ruiz Lopez de Villalobos, then in particular in 1710 by De Padilla).

They are quickly called “mow Islas Pais O Palaos”. The first navigators palauans met stated to come from the island from Feed or Make, and the archipelago is then baptized Pais by extension. So some think that Palaos comes from the Castilian word for mast, it is more probable than it comes (according to Kramer) from a corruption of “Paraos” (dugouts). Another assumption, the word pulau which means " île" in Malayan and Indonésien. About 1710, the two terms of islands Carolines and islands Palaos are equivalent.

They are then visited by British (in particular in 1783 at the time of the stranding of the Antelope of the captain Henry Wilson), which involves a British claim of 1784 with 1800, under the name of “Pelew Islands”. They are again occupied by the Spain in 1875 under the name of “Islas Palaos” (the pope Leon {{XIII}} confirms Spanish sovereignty on the islands Carolines in 1885, with the detriment of Germany). Spain does them évangéliser by capuchins who introduce the Alphabétisation, until their defeat in the war Spanish-American, where Palaos are sold with the Germany in 1899 with the other Carolines islands. They form then part of the German New Guinea.

They are occupied by the Japan the October 8th 1914, then by the the United States (September 15th with the October 10th 1944), under the authority of the the United Nations (starting from the July 18th 1947), like part of the the Trust Territory off the Pacific Islands (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands).

Four of the districts of the territory form a Federal state in 1979 but the districts of Palaos and Marshall Islands refused to take part in it. Palaos voted at the time of a referendum to obtain their independence in 1979, approved a new constitution which came into effect on January 1st 1981 and signed a free treaty of association (in English Compact ) with the the United States in 1982. After eight referendums and an amendment with the Constitution of Palaos, the Compact one is finally ratified in 1993 and between in force on October 1st 1994 (which marks the passage of the supervision to effective independence). Admitted in the United Nations in 1994, it is today the youngest State of the world.

The national festival is fixed at the July 9th, date of the first constitutional referendum of 1978 where the inhabitants of Palaos decided to disjoin other districts of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

Policy

See also: Political of Palaos

The national Parlement of the Republic of Palaos is called Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK), which means the Maison of the murmured decisions . This Parliament consists of two rooms which sit during four years. The Room of the delegates has 16 members, one coming from each State of Palaos. The Senate has 9 senators who are elected according to the population of each district.

The executive power (government) of Palaos consists of a president, a vice-president and the Council of the chiefs. To help them in their functions, they have of the ministers and the administration. The vice-president is also one of the ministers.

The Council of the chiefs is composed by one of the usual chiefs of each State of the Republic. The Council advises the President about the common law in relation to the constitution and the laws of Palaos.

The Constitution of Palaos gives the supreme judicial power to the Supreme court. Under its jurisdiction, it there at the national Court ( National Court ). The constitutional government of Palaos was established at January 1st 1981, with the first OEK of 1981 to 1984. Currently, it is VIIe OEK which has just been indicated (2005-2008).

Constitution (in English)

Preamble (Preamble) In exercising our inherent sovereignty, We the people off unmemorable Palau proclaim and reaffirm our right to supreme Be in thesis islands off Palau, our homeland. We renew our dedication to preserves and enhance our traditional heritage, our national identity and our respect for peace, freedom and justice for all mankind. In establishing this Constitution off all the sovereign Republic off Palau. Future We venture into with full reliance one our own efforts and the divine guidance off Almighty God.

Federate states

There are 16 federate States (in English States ) with the Palaos, which are the following:
  • Aimelik (on the island of Babelthoap)
  • Airai (on the island of Babelthoap)
  • Anguar (or Angaur)
  • Hatohobei (island of Tobi)
  • Kayangel
  • Koror
  • Melekeok (on the island of Babelthoap)
  • Ngaraard (on the island of Babelthoap)
  • Ngarchelong (island located at the north of Babelthoap from which it is separated from a channel)
  • Ngardmau (on the island of Babelthoap)
  • Ngatpang (on the island of Babelthoap)
  • Ngchesar (on the island of Babelthoap)
  • Ngeremlengui (on the island of Babelthoap)
  • Ngiwal (on the island of Babelthoap)
  • Peleliu
  • Sonsorol (in the South West Islands which includes/understands the island of Sonsorol or Sonsoral, Pulo Anna and Merir)

The new capital is in construction in the State of Melekeok, which replaces since the October 7th 2006 Koror (where 67% of the population reside, the goal being to better distribute the political power among the various States of the country).

Geography

See also: Geography of Palaos

It is about an archipelago of the Pacific Ocean, in the south of the sea of Philippines and the north of New Guinea. The archipelago belongs to the arbitrary geographical unit called Micronesia.

The principal islands of Palaos are Anguar, Babeldaob, Koror and Peleliu which are close to the same coral barrier. About two thirds of the population lives in Koror. In the north of these islands, the atoll of Kayangel. The islands Rock (approximately 70) are uninhabited. A group isolated from six islands, islands of the South-west (Southwest Islands), whose Sonsorol, with more than 600 km of the principal islands, also form part of Palaos.

In the southernmost part of the archipelago, the Islands Rock'n'roll amount per hundreds. Some are hardly more important than a reef, others, long several kilometers, are covered with thick a Mangrove.

Palaos are the paradise of the plungers. On coral reefs, in the maze of the channels and the lagoons, an incomparable fauna and a flora developed. The underwater funds of Palaos conceal an aquatic life of an extraordinary diversity which justifies the reputation of the archipelago near the plungers of the whole world.

Economy

See also: Economy of Palaos

Demography

See also: Demography of Palaos

Culture

See also: Culture of Palaos

The language mainly spoken in Palaos, the Paluan or Palau, is well a language austronésienne - but contrary to the majority of the spoken languages in Oceania, it is definitely closer to the spoken languages in Southeast Asia (and in particular with the Filipino ) that other languages of the Micronesia. It is thus a Western language Malayo-polynésien like the Tagalog or the Chamorro.

See too

External bonds

  • Official site of Palaos
  • Tourism Palaos
  • Flags of the 16 States, represented on stamps
  • linguistic Situation of Palaos, University Laval

Beats-smg: Palau Simple: Palau Zh-min-nan: Palau

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