AP News, April 4th, 2007
Tosiwo Nakayama, who as the first president of the Federated States of Micronesia helped his country emerge from U.S. control, has died. He was 75.
Nakayama died Thursday at the Hawaii Medical Center West in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, Micronesian officials said Tuesday. No cause of death was given, but Bethwel Henry, postmaster general of Micronesia and a former legislative colleague, said Nakayama had been ill for a while.
"We consider him our George Washington," said Tadao Sigrah, the Micronesian consul general in Honolulu who was a former member of Nakayama's presidential staff. "He's one of the founding fathers of the country. He was a real leader."
Nakayama became the nation's first president in May 1979, when the constitution was drafted, then won a second term and served until 1987.
The islands, formerly part of the U.S.-administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, officially became an independent nation under a Compact of Free Association with the United States in 1986.
With a population of about 107,000, the Federated States of Micronesia consists of 607 islands extending 1,800 miles across the archipelago of the Caroline Islands.
"Nakayama's leadership, commitment and guidance during the nation's early efforts towards self-government earned him the respect of his colleagues and the people of the Federated States of Micronesia," the president's office said in a statement. "He is one of the nation's highly revered and deeply respected founding fathers."
Before becoming president, Nakayama served in the Congress of Micronesia and the interim Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia.
"I admire him for his strong conviction, love of his people and his belief in doing his best for his country," said Henry, speaker of the House when Nakayama was Senate president.
Originally from the Micronesian island group of Chuuk, Nakayama's survivors include children and grandchildren.
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On the Net:
Federated States of Micronesia: http://www.fsmgov.org/
