パラオ地元紙Tia Belauにあった、クアルテイ医師による気になるコメンタリーである。
FYI: FOR YOUR ISLAND, WHO?
By Stevenson Kuartei, MD
Words from Orakidorm, Tia Belau
12 Nov 2015
（全文は下記に）
あなたの島のために。で始まる３つのショートコメントである。がどれも中国人による観光業などのパラオへの負の影響に警鐘を鳴らしている。
下記、要約します。
あなたの島のために。その１
数ヶ月前にパラオの海に現れたなぞのフェリー。
フィリピンのサルベージ会社が引き取る事になったが、その前にネズミ駆除が必要との噂。
この船、パラオの招待で来たらしいがその前にパラオ船籍登録をしているとの噂。
フィリピンのサルベージ会社は遅延料として毎日千ドル払うかすぐに引き上げるよう通告されているとの噂。
どこで犯罪が行われているの？それともこれは全て本当の噂？
あなたの島のために。その２
非市民がパラオの観光業に大きく関わっているという噂。
これらの非市民が申告不要な $9,999.99をパラオに持ち込んでいるという噂。
このお金で、観光用のボートを購入し、バスを購入し、土地のリース契約を締結しているという噂。
たとえ＄10,000持ち込んでも３％だけ罰金を取られ、なんの罪も課されないと言う噂。
これって全て本当の噂？
あなたの島のために。その３
新しい友好協会が設立された、との噂。
その友好協会は、「私たちはお金のために来たのではなく友好のために来た」と言っている噂。
パラオの友人である米国、日本、台湾はこの友好協会を歓迎しているという噂。
このPalau-China United Association にはパラオ人の理事が入る、という噂。
パラオ人所有のバングラデシュ人が経営するショップはそのバングラデシュ人が亡くなったら閉店するという。
これって全て本当の噂？
これが全て噂だとしても吐き気がする。
本当の話。
１。なぞの観光フェリーXian Ni は最初から違法行為としてパラオに入ってきた。
２。違法な非合法な中国人の観光業への関与はパラオの観光の評判を落とし、パラオ人の機会を奪う。
３。goodwillの名でパラオ人を食い物にする大国の動きに注意すべし。また年月をかけて構築された外国（台湾、日本の事かと思います）との関係を尊重すべし。
FYI: FOR YOUR ISLAND, WHO?
By Stevenson Kuartei, MD
Words from Orakidorm, Tia Belau
12 Nov 2015
The following 3 articles were writing recently in our local newspapers and forwarded to the Pacific Island Report. The 1st article was on October 6, “Salvage Company To Remove Abandoned Cruise Ship from Palau: Philippines company to take possession of Chines ‘Xian Ni’.” The 2nd was on November 10, 2015, “Palau Senate Calls For Investigation Into Non-Citizens In Tourism: Impact of heavy involvement of foreigners in sector needs exploration.” And the 3rd is November 11, 2015, “Chinese Nationals In Palau Form Association: Group to strengthen relations between Palau, PRC.”
For Your Island: Rumors has it that the Chinese ship Xian Ni is currently embarked at the Malakal port getting “refurbished” before its forbidden voyage to the Philippines. Rumors and published in the newspaper is that it was “rat infested” but now embarked without rat guards. Rumors has it that it was here at Palau’s invitation and after being registered by the Palau Ship Registrar and then “abandoned” close to Kuabesngas for many months. Rumors have it that it was given a last ultimatum to be removed or pay $1,000/day and has violated that ultimatum. So was there criminal violation somewhere or not? Or may be all of these are just true rumors.
For Your Island: Now there are rumors that Non-Citizens are “heavily involved in the tourism industry”. There are also rumors that “business people from a certain country are splitting their money and giving $9,999.99 to other passengers” to bring through customs so that they do not have to declare it. After arrival to Palau they collect it back and pay commission to the carriers. It is rumored that this is how they buy all of these huge boats, gigantic buses, buildings and lease lands. It is also rumored that even when they bring more than $10,000 knowingly violating the law, they are charged merely 3% and they the money are returned and the violators are not convicted. Or maybe all of these are just true rumors.
For Your Island: Rumors have it that a new association is being formed for goodwill and corporate responsibility. Rumors and published in the articles said, “we are not here for money only but for friendship”. Rumors have it that Palau’s friends, the US of A, Japan and the Republic of China, Taiwan are extremely happy about this. Rumors have it that the new Palau-China United Association will have Palauan board members. Rumors have it that the reason why all the Palauan owned Bangladeshi managed stores closed when the man Bangladesh died at the hospital is because the Palauan owners decided so. That tells you who the real owners are, the Banglauans. Or maybe these are just true rumors.
Orakidorm, all these rumors are nauseating. The truth is that Xian Ni is in Palau illegally in the first place. How is it getting out without anyone being held accountable? Secondly the tourism industry is inundated with lots to illegal and irregular activities that need cleaning up because it is damaging Palau’s reputation and pushing local people to the periphery. And thirdly, Palau need to accord due respect and commitment to those countries that it has diplomatic relationship with, that have been established through out the years. It is easy for Small Island Developing States like Palau to sit by and allow big countries to come in and push their agenda in the name of “goodwill” while exploiting the local populations. Someone has to take charge and it can’t be the Banglauans. Or may be these are just true rumors.
