Some Palau inhabitants are upset with their government’s decision to take the Guantanamo Uighur detainees:
Palau President Johnson Toribiong explained his decision to grant the Uighurs entry as traditional hospitality, but public opinion has appeared overwhelmingly negative. Some complained Friday that the government failed to consult the people.
“I totally disagree” with allowing the Uighurs onto Palau, Natalia Baulis, a 30-year-old mother of two, told The Associated Press by telephone.
“It’s good to be humanitarian and all, but still these people … to me are scary,” she said… “This is a very small country … and some are saying if the whole world doesn’t want these folks, why are we taking them?” (Fermin Nariang, editor of the Palau newspaper Island Times) said.
A report from Aljazeera:
See also past CDT posts on Palau’s decision.