Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia

FSM Congress News, January 20, 2004

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Congress): January 20, 2004 –
Congress met in a brief session this morning and received
a bill introduced by Floor Leader Henry C. Asugar, by request. The bill
aims to grant amnesty to certain classes of people who are being accused, or
yet to be accused, and prosecuted of certain types of crimes against the
nation, but not yet convicted.

The bill claims that the national government has constitutionally
impermissibly singled out certain classes of people for investigation and
prosecution based on the exercise of their political right. It also claims
that there are other classes of people who are similarly situated, but not
investigated and not prosecuted. The bill states that such exercise
violates the FSM Constitution and at the same time offends the basic
foundation of underlying the culture and tradition of the people of the
Federated States of Micronesia.

On the bill calendar, Congress passed on 1st Reading a bill that would amend
an existing public law to provide new allottee to certain funds appropriated
in the same law in the State of Yap.

Senator Isaac Figir of the State of Yap introduced a resolution requesting
the 13th Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia to hold a
congressional session in his State of Yap. Floor Leader Asugar introduced a
bill, by request, to allow the Federated Development Authority to continue
to manage certain funds received by the FSM under the original compact.