political reviews • melanesia 463 privatization came in the form of a number of potentially destabilizing Commission of Inquiry into the sale events, including a national election, of the PNG Banking Corporation to the jailing of a former prime minister Bank South Pacific. A Queen’s Coun- for fraud, and lengthy wrangling over cil from Australia was appointed and the appointment of the new commis- is expected to report by 2003. Many sioner of police. Although Vanuatu’s expect the commission to report economy has not been performing collusion among key decision-makers well, 2002 has largely been a success in the Morauta government and the for governance. new owners of the PNG Banking The year began with the death of Corporation. one of Vanuatu’s elder statesmen, As the year drew to an end, the George Kaltoi Kalsakau, on 31 general feeling in Port Moresby was December 2001. Kalsakau had been one of despair. The political system one of the primary leaders in the had not changed despite the general lead-up to independence, and in elections; the “new” prime minister 1978–1979 was the country’s first was in fact the founder of the nation; chief minister after the country law and order continued to deterio- became a self-governing British-French rate; and the economy had descended colony. Vanuatu lost three other nota- to new lows. According to almost ble politicians in 2002: the prominent every social and economic indicator, women’s leader, Grace Mera Molisa, the nation had gone backwards. But who died on 4 January; the second in true Melanesian style, the political chief minister, Father Gerard Leymang, elites still hope that “masta” Australia who died on 2 May; and Noel Maria- and other aid donors will again bail sua, a respected chief who had been out Papua New Guinea in 2003. The chair of the National Council of word “aid fatigue” was neither under- Chiefs, who died in October. stood nor heard in the corridors of Natural disaster also struck early in power in Waigani. the year, when an earthquake measur- james chin ing 7.3 on the Richter scale hit Port Vila. Some roads, buildings, and bridges were damaged, but overall Reference the capital city escaped lightly scathed, with no deaths. Repair of homes and Forbes, Mark. 2002. Somare Accuses Canberra of Bias. The Age (Melbourne), buildings continued over the year, 18 Nov. giving a lift to the building industry. While repairs were costly, in many respects the damage from this earth- quake had less human impact than the Vanuatu earthquake and subsequent landslides Some commentators continue to ques- in Merelava, in the northern Torba tion Vanuatu’s stability and wait for a province, in late November. Housing, collapse of order as experienced by its water supply, cash crops, and food Melanesian neighbors. However, Van- crops were all affected. As Merelava uatu has shown a good deal of cohe- is an outer island, this natural disaster siveness in a year that witnessed a received little media attention. 464 the contemporary pacific • fall 2003
Natural disasters aside, the first Minister of Infrastructure and Public potentially destabilizing event involved Utilities Jacklyn Ruben Titek, whose confusion over the date of dissolution application was dismissed because he of Parliament. The government was not officially registered on the thought that dissolution was to occur electoral roll. Titek appealed the deci- on 16 March, and in the final week sion (Titek v The Electoral Commis- was going to debate a supplementary sion 2002). During the court hearing appropriation bill to cover police it was found that Titek had never been underpayments of 95 million vatu. properly registered when the electoral After a careful reading of the Consti- registration system changed in 1999. tution, the opposition figured that When registration officers had called Parliament should actually dissolve at Titek’s house in 2001 to check the on 6 March. They took their challenge registration, Titek had not been home. to the Supreme Court and won, so The officers stated that they would Parliament was dissolved before the come back the next day, but never appropriation to pay the police could did. Titek believed his electoral card, be passed. While some police were issued in 1993, was still valid. The prepared to wait until after the elec- Supreme Court overturned the Elec- tions for the underpayment issue to toral Commission’s decision and be resolved, others threatened strike allowed Titek to be registered as a action, and there were fears of inade- candidate. This decision was based quate security during the elections. largely on the fact that the electoral The issue was defused at the end of officers had promised to return to March when Natapei’s caretaker gov- Titek’s house and had failed to keep ernment, which had been installed to this promise. (Titek retained his seat manage the country between the dis- in the election.) solution of Parliament and the elec- The Electoral Commission also tion, paid the outstanding money to disqualified three candidates a week the police. prior to the election. Atis Kalo Man- Once this issue was resolved the arato, Hollingson Issachar, and Dick- political focus turned to the elections, enson Hughug were all disqualified which were held on 2 May. The previ- when it was discovered that they each ous chair of the Electoral Commis- were serving suspended sentences. As sion, Charles Bice, had recommended a result, the Electoral Commission increasing the number of seats by apparently asked the police to screen fifteen. However this proposal was all candidate names for undisclosed rejected when the cost implications convictions (TP, 27 April 2002). The were realized, and the number of seats incident also prompted the Elections remained at fifty-two. More than 260 Observer Group (eog) to recommend candidate applications were received a strengthening of the eligibility crite- by the Electoral Commission. Most ria “to make ineligible the candida- applications were processed without ture of habitual criminal offenders, difficulty, and 257 candidates were people who have been convicted of accepted to stand for election. How- corrupt electoral practice, and people ever, among the rejected was Acting with significant debts” (eog 2002, political reviews • melanesia 465
23). However, this report did not rec- behavior, stating, “If I am in power he ommend that the Electoral Commis- [Rodot] will be deported. No ques- sion be required to liaise with police tion” (TP, 13 April 2002). In the same to screen candidate names for crimi- article he also advised that “if people nal records. have a problem with his posters on The campaign period was fairly their premises they should contact quiet. Voter behavior still seemed to him to discuss concerns and not pull be determined by loyalty to personali- down the posters as it causes prob- ties rather than support of particular lems.” It was not until early May that policies, and few parties or candidates Kaloris and his nephew Moise, who offered clear statements of their politi- led the assault, were arrested (TP, 11 cal platforms. Various rallies were May 2002). In the meantime Kaloris held, but the clearest indications of had polled 362 votes in the election, campaigning in Port Vila were the not enough to win him a seat, but thousands of posters plastered around still ranking him tenth of 31 candi- town (recognition of peoples’ faces dates in the Port Vila constituency. rather than their policies seemed more Polling itself was also a low-key, important in the race to attract votes) straightforward affair, except in and the truckloads of campaigners Luganville, Santo, where an error on driving around town dressed in party the ballot papers delayed voting for a colors, honking horns and chanting day. Voter turnout in the urban cen- slogans. In a number of instances ters of Port Vila and Luganville was business owners were allegedly threat- low, at 51 percent and 45 percent ened if they tried to remove posters respectively. Overall turnout was 63 stuck on their property. percent, slightly up from the 62 per- Posters led to the most unpleasant cent turnout in the 1998 elections. incident of the campaign period. An Besides the delayed voting in expatriate restaurant owner, Chris- Luganville, other election irregularities tophe Rodot, removed from his menu occurred. These were relatively well board a poster for Port Vila indepen- detailed as, for the first time in Vanu- dent candidate Willie Kaloris. Kaloris’s atu, an Elections Observer Group was supporters had placed the notice there set up. Errors in counting resulted in without permission. Rodot left other two candidates, Maxwell Maltok and posters of Kaloris on the walls. The Vatambe Reme, being declared elected next day a group of Kaloris’s support- in the unofficial results, only to lose ers went to the restaurant and badly their seats when the official results assaulted Rodot. They also forced were released. While the Electoral him to eat the poster that had been Commission maintained that the dis- removed and to pay 20,000 vatu in crepancies were due to human error, “compensation.” Kaloris was not some observers believed that the size present for the attack but turned up of the discrepancies called the credi- afterwards. He threatened that when bility of the Electoral Commission he was made a minister he would into question (TP, 25 May 2002). The deport Rodot. In the newspaper Election Observer Group also noted Kaloris was unrepentant for his potential difficulties with the integrity 466 the contemporary pacific • fall 2003 of the electoral roll. Using 1999 cen- try to avoid a vote of no confidence, sus data it estimated that there were and Irene Bongnaim, the first deputy 107,068 people over the age of eigh- Speaker at the time, also lost their teen in Vanuatu in 2002. However, the seats. electoral roll recorded 127,092 eligi- The reduction in vp seats may be ble voters (eog 2002, 39). Once this explained in part by tactical or cam- was discovered the Electoral Commis- paign errors. Each of the eighteen sion took steps to try to combat the constituencies in Vanuatu has one to lack of integrity in the electoral roll. seven seats. This means that parties Prior to the election a number of elec- must be careful, when standing multi- toral cards were confiscated from indi- ple candidates in a single electorate, viduals who were registered to vote in that these candidates do not split the two separate constituencies. In the vote among themselves and lose out Port Vila constituency about sixty to single candidates from less popular people were caught during the elec- parties. This split in voting may tion, either for having multiple regis- explain why in 1998 the Vanua‘aku trations or for voting using another Party won three of the four seats in person’s card (TP, 9 May 2002). the Efate constituency (Donald Kal- The Union of Moderate Parties pokas, Joe Carlo, and Foster Rakon), (ump) won 15 seats (up from 12 in but in 2002 only won one seat (Don- the 1998 national election); the ald Kalpokas). There was considerable Vanua‘aku Party (vp) 14 seats (down support for Kalpokas, as a number of from 18); the National United Party voters felt that he fell victim to “bad (nup) 8 seats (down from 11); the politics” when he resigned from the Vanuatu Republican Party (vrp) post of prime minister in 1999 to 3 seats (up from 1); and the Greens avoid a vote of no confidence. Kalpo- Confederation (gc) and the Melane- kas easily won his seat with 875 votes. sian Progressive Party (mpp) won Carlo and Rakon each polled over 2 seats each (gc was not listed in the 500 votes, which was insufficient for last election, and mpp won 6 seats). either of them to win a seat. Of the The Peoples Progressive Party, Fren other parties to win seats in this con- Melanesian Party, and Namangi Aute stituency, the Union of Modern Parties each claimed 1 seat. Five independent and the National United Party each candidates were also elected (com- stood one candidate only, both their pared to 4 in 1998). candidates being successful. Barak There was some evidence of “dead Sope won his seat for the Melanesian wood” being voted out. Stanley Regi- Progressive Party. Although there was nold (nup), whose drunken and vio- another mpp candidate, he was a rela- lent behavior was the subject of an tive unknown so did not significantly ombudsman’s report in 2000, lost his split the vote. The problem of vote seat in the Banks/ Torres to Nicholas splitting is something that may need to Brown, a new independent candidate. be considered in the event of a review Paul Ren Tari (nup) who had been of the Vanuatu electoral system. the Speaker of Parliament during the Isabelle Donald (vp) of the Maewo 2001 parliamentary maneuverings to constituency was the only woman to political reviews • melanesia 467 successfully contest the election and throughout 2002, despite the usual to stand as a representative of a major rumors of no-confidence motions cir- party. Of a handful of other female culating occasionally. It continued to candidates, mainly in the Port Vila progress along the path of the Com- constituency, none came close to prehensive Reform Programme. gaining a seat. With the elections out of the way, A vp/ump coalition similar to the attention turned to the trial of former one in power prior to the election Prime Minister Barak Sope on charges formed the new government. Edward of forgery. Sope, who was prime min- Natapei (vp) retained the position of ister from December 1999 to April prime minister, with Serge Vohor 2001, forged two government guaran- (ump) as his deputy and minister for tees near the end of his period in foreign affairs. The rest of the cabinet office. The first, for us$5 million, was was Sela Molisa (vp), minister for for the benefit of Vanuatu Investment finance; Wille Posen (ump), minister Corporation Ltd (vicl), which had for infrastructure and public utilities; been set up with Sope’s first political Jacques Sese (ump), minister for edu- advisor, Bakoa Kaltonga, and Aus- cation; Donald Kalpokas (vp), minis- tralian businessman Eddy Galea serv- ter for health; Nicholas Brown (vp, ing as directors. This guarantee was Ind), minister for Ni-Vanuatu business used as security for a loan of us$2.4 development; Jacklyn Ruben Titek million, although the source of this (vp), minister for lands, geology and loan is not a matter of public record. mines; Stephen Kalsakau (ump), The second guarantee, for us$18 minister for agriculture, livestock, million, was made out to Dynamic forestry and fisheries; Joe Natuman Growth Management Projects Pty Ltd, (vp), minister for internal Affairs; a company about which there is little Philip Boedoro (vp), minister for the public information. A New Zealand comprehensive reform programme; Serious Fraud Office expert could not Jean-Alain Mahe (ump), minister for determine whether this guarantee had industry and commerce; Raphael been used as security. Sope’s defense Worwor (ump), minister for youth was that he had no intention of per- and sports. The Speaker was Henry sonal gain from signing the letters of Taga (ump). guarantee; rather, he wanted to settle There were some rumors that some of Vanuatu’s debts, in particular donors had threatened to withdraw a us$5 million debt to the Common- aid if Natapei was not made prime wealth Development Corporation in minister, even though the Union of relation to the Belmol cattle project— Modern Parties had more votes than a project that remains somewhat the Vanua‘aku Party. However, the shrouded in mystery. The court Vanua‘aku Party retained the prime rejected this defense because the issue ministership because three indepen- was not whether Sope had acted for dent candidates pledged their support personal gain. It had been established for the party. One of them, Nicholas that Sope knew these documents to Brown, was made a member of cabi- be false but still signed them and sent net. This government remained stable them off, with the intent that they 468 the contemporary pacific • fall 2003 should be acted on as genuine. This was commander of the Vanuatu Mili- was all that was required to establish tary Force (vmf), had been appointed that the offences had been committed. acting commissioner of police in June On 19 July Sope was sentenced to 2001 following the retirement of Peter imprisonment for three years (Public Bong. By the end of January, vmf Prosecutor v Sope 2002). People from officer Major Aru Maralau was ques- Sope’s home island of Ifira immedi- tioning whether the Police Service ately protested the decision to jail the Commission had, in fact, advised former prime minister. Some, includ- President Bani to appoint Marikembo, ing opposition leader Willie Jimmy, as stated in the appointment letter. criticized New Zealand’s role in the Maralau was apparently suspended prosecution (New Zealand supplied because of his investigation into this fraud lawyers and special investiga- matter (TP, 31 January 2002). It later tors), claiming that New Zealand and turned out that the appointment was Australia were interfering with local indeed invalid. By the end of March, politics. These rumblings of dissatis- Api Jack Marikembo’s appointment faction grew along with rumors of as acting police commissioner was riots if Sope was not pardoned, but revoked, and Holi Simon, who was these rumors were soon overshadowed deputy commissioner for operations, by events of early August, when a was instead made acting police com- police crisis arose out of the appoint- missioner. The new chair of the Police ment of the new police commissioner. Service Commission, Mr Michael The murmurings of discontent and Taun, stated that this appointment calls for the ousting of Australian was made because “according to the Federal Police for interference in local police strategic review of 1997, the politics continued during August, giv- next senior person to the Police Com- ing an extra edge of instability to the missioner should be the Acting Com- unfolding events, but ultimately never missioner, and that person is the came to anything (pir, 28 Aug 2002; Deputy Commissioner (Operations)” TP, 6 Aug 2002). With most attention (TP, 4 April 2002). This caused dis- focused on the issue of the appoint- unity in the police and the military, ment of the new police commissioner, as some police supported Marikembo when Sope was pardoned by the pres- over Simon. Because the president had ident on 14 November because of ill not revoked Marikembo’s appoint- health there was only a small outcry, ment, the potential for a challenge as including a walkout from Parliament to the legality of the revocation was when the president tried to deliver his opened up. However, with the elec- official speech opening the budget ses- tion drawing nearer, Marikembo and sion (abc, 25 Nov 2002). Sope lost Simon put aside their differences to his seat in Parliament because of his work together to ensure security over conviction but intends to challenge this period. this in court in early 2003. Advertisements for the post of The potential for a crisis over the police commissioner went out amid appointment of the new police com- assurances that the Police Service missioner had been apparent early in Commission would act properly and the year. Api Jack Marikembo, who not allow any interference in the pro- political reviews • melanesia 469 cess. On 19 July, Mael Apisai was in the August arrests. On 26 August appointed the new commissioner of Arthur Coulton was made the acting police. This soon led to an outcry as police commissioner and on 27 there had initially been twelve candi- August approximately one hundred dates and Apisai’s name had not been armed paramilitary officers loyal to among them. Four of these candidates Apisai turned up at the police station had been short-listed and interviewed to arrest Simon and a number of by a selection panel made up of Jenny other police officers on charges of Ligo, Julianne Robvo, Bill Willie, and mutiny and inciting mutiny. The police Marcel Sam. Again Apisai’s name had refused to come out and a large crowd not come up. Holi Simon had been the of ni-Vanuatu gathered around the preferred candidate of the selection armed officers, threatening to riot if panel (TP, 27 July 2002). On 4 the officers created further violence. August a group of police, led by Holi That the “person on the street” Simon and Api Jack Marikembo (who wanted to head off trouble in the had ably buried their differences, it country could be seen as a positive would seem), arrested Apisai and sign. This desire by bystanders to fourteen other people thought to be stop the armed bullying tactics was involved in his appointment, including perhaps reinforced by the fact that Attorney General Ham Bulu, several a large number of tourists were in senior civil servants, three members town because of the arrival of a of the Police Service Commission, the cruise boat and the Melanesian Arts private secretary to the president, and Festival (pir, 29 Aug 2002). The a senior member of Natapei's staff. standoff was defused when the armed All were charged with seditious con- officers left, having obtaining a prom- spiracy and released on bail. ise that the twenty-seven officers Holi Simon then applied to the would appear in court in the after- Supreme Court to have the appoint- noon. Only seven of these officers ment of Mael Apisai quashed. This did actually present themselves at was granted on 8 August, and the court. All were charged and sus- Police Service Commission appointed pended from the police force. Simon as acting commissioner (pir, On 31 August a reconciliation 13 Aug 2002). Simon then turned ceremony was held between the police to focus on ensuring security for the and the Vanuatu Military Force. As Melanesian Arts Festival, being held part of this ceremony a number of in Vila from 18–28 August. police suspensions and arrest warrants On 19 August Magistrate Kawai were withdrawn (TP, 3 Sept 2002). Kawaiu quashed the charges of sedi- Michael Taun was removed as chair tious conspiracy against the fifteen, on of the Police Service Commission and the grounds that the arresting officers an interim commission was estab- did not have prior written consent of lished. Although the reconciliation the public prosecutor (pir, 21 Aug ceremony took place, the case against 2002). The next act of the drama the leading officers in the police unfolded when the Magistrates’ Court mutiny continued to court. granted a warrant for the arrest of Initially twenty-six officers were twenty-seven police officers involved charged with mutiny and incitement 470 the contemporary pacific • fall 2003 to mutiny but on 1 October, the first to help maintain order in the event of day of the committal hearing, the violence over the police situation. The public prosecutor dropped the charges prime minister denied that any militia against eighteen junior officers who had been formed, although later were not thought to be ringleaders reports indicated that a group had in the events of August. The eight been trained (TP, 8 October 2002). remaining defendants were charged A Radio Australia news story stated, with mutiny, incitement to mutiny, “Government spokesman Mr Daniel kidnapping, and false arrest. Midway Bangtor has confirmed the group of through the trial, Jean Yves Kali had young men from the island of Tanna, the charges against him dismissed on who now live near Port Vila airport, the basis of lack of evidence, leaving were employed and given training to seven accused to present their defenses assist the mobile force” (abc, 23 (abc, 19 Nov 2002). On 7 December October 2002). This report also indi- the matter finally came to a conclu- cated that, although the group was no sion, with four of the defendants, Holi longer employed, it was not disband- Simon, Api Jack Marikembo, Paul ing, which gave rise to fears that a Willie Reuben, and Eric Pakoa all new armed faction may arise. being convicted and given two-year Other stories that attracted interest suspended sentences. The other three during the year include the downturn —John Pakoa Tarimas, Lui Patu, and in the kava industry. Many countries Roy Seule—were all found not guilty now will not accept dried kava to be on the grounds that they had been used for making tablets and other following the orders of a superior and herbal remedies because it appears no evidence indicated that the officers that kava, when processed in this way, knew the orders were unlawful. Sus- can damage users’ livers. Agricultural pended sentences were given because exports have not been very successful all officers had long records of service in 2002, arising from difficulties with and good backgrounds prior to the the Vanuatu Commodities Marketing incident (TP, 7 Dec 2002). Board. Two side incidents of note were Football is the national sport, so triggered by the police mutiny events. ongoing confusion about the Vanuatu The first concerned Deputy Prime Football Federation’s football acad- Minister Serge Vohor’s statements emy project has affected many people. on the Australian television program, While details are still unclear, the SBS Dateline, that Australia, through Fédération Internationale de Football its Australian Federal Police presence Association (fifa) made a large pay- in Vanuatu, have been spying on local ment to the federation to support this politicians and tapping telephones project. This payment went into the (abc, 2 October 2002). Unsurpris- European Bank, which is a member of ingly, the Australian Department of the Bayer financial group and also Foreign Affairs denied this. The sec- involves Robert Bohn. Work on the ond incident surrounded the forma- academy has not progressed and there tion of a militia being trained by the are allegations that money has been Vanuatu Military Force, apparently misused, that the contract to build the political reviews • melanesia 471 academy was corruptly awarded, and the truth regarding the actions of that the Vanua‘aku Party has used Robert Bohn, Tom Bayer, and the these funds (TP, 5 Sept 2002). At European Bank. With a sluggish econ- least one person, Gilles Daniel, has omy over the past few years Vanuatu already appeared in court over this is also in need of economic growth, matter. Certain other “troublesome which should be a priority for 2003. names” have come up, including Guy anita jowitt Bernard (who was linked with the militia training) and Robert Bohn. The matter is now set to be resolved References in court, and it is hoped some light abc, Australian Broadcasting Corpora- will be shed on what actually tion Pacific Beat. occurred. Robert Bohn again found