Kasoapastemang
| Kasoapastemang | |
|---|---|
 Kasoapastemang in 2014 | |
| 33rd High Chief of the Chiefdom of Atameng | |
| In office October 1, 2014 – October 21, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Pamuakon |
| Succeeded by | Sotihao |
| 41st Chief of Akaso | |
| Taking office October 1, 1999 | |
| Succeeding | Retaisewoa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 26, 1961 Sipu, Akaso Province |
| Died | October 21, 2018 (aged 57) Mahongi, Omuta Province |
| Resting place | Miapuanepos Cemetary, Omaki |
| Citizenship | Atamengian |
| Nationality | Atamengian |
| Political party | Hose Party |
| Spouse(s) | Engerowoa (m. 1982 - 1983) Manahina (m. 2005 - 2018) |
| Children | None |
| Parents | Kasoasasu Kasoamaswa |
| Education | Tenguawuaso University |
| Religion | Not stated |
| Website | www.kasoasupitos.com |
Kasoapastemang (Amakane: Kasoapastemang [kasoapastɛmaŋ]) was the 33rd High Chief of the Chiefdom of Atameng. He is widely considered to be Atameng's first "modern president", instituting many progressive laws. While campaigning in Omuta, he was assassinated by Wengmaion.
Early life
Kasoapastemang was born on July 26, 1961, in Sipu, Akaso Province to Kasoasasu (née Mesa, 1932 - 2002), a local artist, and Kasoamaswa (1929 - 1965), a professional mutong player. Because both of his parents had spouses before, he had two half-brothers from his father and one from his mother, as well as an actual brother, Kasoasaing (b. 1955). Kasoasaing became an electrician, and one of his brothers followed his mother's footsteps. Kasoapastemang's early life was full of tragedy; when Kasoapastemang was four years old, his father died of pneumonia, and soon after, one of his half-brothers drowned.
In an interview with KIH, Kasoapastemang said: "...I always wanted to be [a politician], from back when I was eleven. That was when my brother died, and I thought to myself, I'm gonna get away from this place, if it's the last thing I do. So I wanted to become the High Chief and move to the big city."
Kasoapastemang attended Tenguawuaso University and got a masters in political science.
Career
In 1979, at the age of 18, Kasoapastemang began working as a local activist for Hose Party. In 1982, he married Engerowoa, and stopped working as an activist so he could raise a family. A year later, however, a fire erupted at Engerowoa's workplace and she died of smoke inhalation while carrying their unborn child. After her death, Kasoapastemang went back to college to study law at Tenguawuaso School of Law. After finishing in 1985, he began work as a secretary at Ngeangai and Nenge, and worked there until 1992, when he decided to go back into politics. In 1993, he was elected mayor of Sipu, and served until 1999, when he was elected Chief of Akaso. He resigned as chief in 2005 to marry Manahina. In 2014, he was unanimously elected High Chief of Atameng. During his four year term, he instituted many new laws, including the Prohibition of 2015, the Healthcare Act of 2016, and the Gun Ban of 2018.
Assassination
On October 20, 2018, Kasoapastemang was visiting Teworite School in Mahongi, Omuta Province. At 3 PM, he was talking to the children about his campaign promise, when one of the teachers pulled out a handgun and shot the High Chief twice in the head. The shooter immediately fled. Amesainan, the Chief of Omuta Province, cradled his head, while Ipanapaki, the history teacher, and Pametehang, the librarian, chased after the shooter.
Kasoapastemang was pronounced dead the next day.
It was later identified the shooter was not a teacher, but was simply posing as a substitute teacher. One of the teachers recognized the shooter as Wengmaion, a well known pro-gun radical. Wengmaion is yet to be caught.