Freedom in the World 1998 - Kiribati

1998 Scores

Status: Free
Freedom Rating: 1.0
Civil Liberties: 1
Political Rights: 1

Overview

Following September parliamentary elections, incumbent President Teburoro Tito was reelected in November over Amberoti Nikora of the opposition Boutokan Te Koaua party and veteran politician Dr. Harry Tong.

The Republic of Kiribati consists of 33 inhabited islands of the Gilbert, Line, and Phoenix groups scattered over two million square miles of the central Pacific Ocean, as well as Banaba Island in the west. The country, with a Micronesian majority and a Polynesian minority, achieved independence from Great Britain in 1979.

The first post-independence legislative elections were held in March 1982. In July 1991, President Ieremia Tabai, who came to office at independence, served out his third and final term and then threw his support in the presidential election behind Tetao Teannaki, who defeated his main competitor, Roniti Teiwaki. In May 1994, however, Teannaki was forced to resign after his government lost a vote of no-confidence introduced by the parliamentary opposition, which accused his administration of financial irregularities. In accordance with the constitution, government authority passed to a three-member caretaker Council of State, consisting of the speaker of parliament, the chief justice, and the chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), pending new elections. A brief constitutional crisis ensued after acting head of state Tekire Tameura was removed forcibly on the grounds that his tenure as chairman of the PSC had expired three days earlier.

In early parliamentary elections in July 1994, the Protestant-based Christian Democratic Party (MTM) won 13 seats; the incumbent Gilbertese National Progressive Party (GNPP), seven; and independents, 19. The MTM and the GNPP later merged to form the Christian Democratic Unity Party. In September, Teburoro Tito won the presidential election, in which all four candidates represented the MTM, with 51 percent of the votes.

A record 191 candidates competed in the September 1998 general elections, in which the opposition and the government each lost seven seats. Among the main issues of the campaign were economic and constitutional reform, the sale of Kiribati passports to foreigners, and the foreign establishment of a rocket launch facility in international waters just east of Kiribati. In the subsequent presidential election in November, Teburoro Tito was reelected with 52 percent of the vote.

A five-member committee, established in late 1994, continues to review the 1979 constitution. The 1994 constitutional crisis, although minor, highlighted the fact that many clauses relating to key issues are vague and ill-defined.

In recent years, Kiribati has sought economic benefits due to its location along the equator, which is ideal for monitoring satellite launches and operations. In October 1997, China completed construction of an aerospace tracking station in Tarawa, the capital city. Because of the low elevation of most of its islands, Kiribati has also become increasingly concerned about the impact of the global greenhouse effect on surrounding sea levels.

Political Rights and Civil Liberties

Following September parliamentary elections, incumbent President Teburoro Tito was reelected in November over Amberoti Nikora of the opposition Boutokan Te Koaua party and veteran politician Dr. Harry Tong.

The Republic of Kiribati consists of 33 inhabited islands of the Gilbert, Line, and Phoenix groups scattered over two million square miles of the central Pacific Ocean, as well as Banaba Island in the west. The country, with a Micronesian majority and a Polynesian minority, achieved independence from Great Britain in 1979.

The first post-independence legislative elections were held in March 1982. In July 1991, President Ieremia Tabai, who came to office at independence, served out his third and final term and then threw his support in the presidential election behind Tetao Teannaki, who defeated his main competitor, Roniti Teiwaki. In May 1994, however, Teannaki was forced to resign after his government lost a vote of no-confidence introduced by the parliamentary opposition, which accused his administration of financial irregularities. In accordance with the constitution, government authority passed to a three-member caretaker Council of State, consisting of the speaker of parliament, the chief justice, and the chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), pending new elections. A brief constitutional crisis ensued after acting head of state Tekire Tameura was removed forcibly on the grounds that his tenure as chairman of the PSC had expired three days earlier.

In early parliamentary elections in July 1994, the Protestant-based Christian Democratic Party (MTM) won 13 seats; the incumbent Gilbertese National Progressive Party (GNPP), seven; and independents, 19. The MTM and the GNPP later merged to form the Christian Democratic Unity Party. In September, Teburoro Tito won the presidential election, in which all four candidates represented the MTM, with 51 percent of the votes.

A record 191 candidates competed in the September 1998 general elections, in which the opposition and the government each lost seven seats. Among the main issues of the campaign were economic and constitutional reform, the sale of Kiribati passports to foreigners, and the foreign establishment of a rocket launch facility in international waters just east of Kiribati. In the subsequent presidential election in November, Teburoro Tito was reelected with 52 percent of the vote.

A five-member committee, established in late 1994, continues to review the 1979 constitution. The 1994 constitutional crisis, although minor, highlighted the fact that many clauses relating to key issues are vague and ill-defined.

In recent years, Kiribati has sought economic benefits due to its location along the equator, which is ideal for monitoring satellite launches and operations. In October 1997, China completed construction of an aerospace tracking station in Tarawa, the capital city. Because of the low elevation of most of its islands, Kiribati has also become increasingly concerned about the impact of the global greenhouse effect on surrounding sea levels.