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374 THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC· FALL 1995

gation to Bougainville, 18-22 April 1994. 's long-serving representative Canberra: Australian Government Publish­ to the United Nations, Robert Van ing Service. Lierop, with Jean Ravo. Van Lierop ---. 1994b. Senate Daily Hansard, had established a good reputation, and 8 June. his replacement appeared to reflect concern over his earlier connections Dorney, Sean. 1994a. Division in the with Anglophone opposition politi­ Rank-s. Islands Business Pacific, March, 18-22. cians. Around the sam£time Vanua­ scope, which had been Vanuatu's only --. 1994b. A Chorus Unsung: The privately owned newspaper, closed Bougainville Peace Conference. Pacific down after a year of publication, Report 7 (20): 3-4· though apparently from poor profit­ IBP, Islands Business Pacific. Monthly. ability rather than political pressure. Suva. On 28 February Jimmy Moli Stephens (also spelt Stevens) died at his PC, Post-Courier. Daily. Port Moresby. home on , after a long PR, Pacific Report. Fortnightly newsletter. period of ill health. He had been Canberra. released from jail in 1991, following SMH, Sydney Morning Herald. Daily. his imprisonment for leading an abor­ tive secessionist attempt in Espiritu Spriggs, Matthew. 1994. The Failure of the Santo and nearby islands in 1980. Bougainville Peace Talks. Pacific Research Electing a new national president to 7 (4): 1 9-2 3. replace Fred Timakata, following the TPNG, Times ofPapua New Guinea. completion of his term, was a drawn­ Weekly. Port Moresby. out process. The opposition boycotted Weeks, Alan. 1994. Bougainville Demands the first poll on 14 February. They Peace. Pacific Research 7 (4): 25-29. complained that the electoral college had not been given appropriate formal Wesley-Smith, Terence. 1994. Papua New Guinea in 1994. The Contemporary Pacific notification, and were hopeful that 6 (2): 446-456. blocking the process might oblige the holding of early national elections. At a second vote on 16 February, neither candidate gained the required two­ VANUATU thirds majority. Finally, on 2 March, The coalition government of Maxim Jean-Marie Leye was elected president. Carlot Korman consolidated its posi­ The public servants' strike, which tion during 1994, overcoming opposi­ had begun on 24 November 1993, tion maneuvering and an extended continued into April 1994, attracting strike by public servants. It replaced some support from other employees. the district councils with six provincial The strikers had demanded a 16 per­ councils and attempted to improve cent pay raise, to compensate for the economic management and reduce erosion of their salaries by inflation irresponsible forestry exploitation. over the preceding five years. Follow­ In January the government replaced ing a court ruling that the strike was POLITICAL REVIEWS 375 illegal, because the union leaders had break their strike, for breaches of the failed to pursue negotiations suffi­ leadership code, and for poor eco­ ciently before calling it, the Public nomic management. Service Commission resolved to sack At the fifteenth annual conference all striking public servants, on the of the Union of Moderate Parties, held basis that they could reapply for their from 18 to 23 July on Atchin Island off positions once these were readver­ the eastern coast of Malekula, Korman tised. After the sacking of about six and his colleagues expressed confi­ hundred workers, the strike came to dence that their party was going from an end. strength to strength and would be able Father Lini and his National United to win government in its own right in Party (NUP) pursued cooperation with the next national elections, which are the other opposition parties during the due by late 1995. But the results of the year, but Lini also kept his options provincial government elections on 15 open by discussing the possible return November suggested that their confi­ of his party to the governing coalition, dence may have been excessive. in which Korman's Union of Moderate These elections had become neces­ Parties (UMP) remained the dominant sary following the implementation of a group. Lini and his supporters also decentralization bill, passed early in criticized NUP members Sethy Regen­ May, which replaced the eleven pro­ vanu, Edward Tambisari, and Cecil vincial councils established around the Sinker. These three members of parlia­ time of independence with six provin­ ment had remained with the govern­ cial councils. From north to south in ment when the coalition broke down the archipelago, the new provinces in August 1993, thus enabling the consisted of Torba (Torres, Banks, and government to retain office. At its nearby smaller islands), Sanma (Espir­ congress in May, the National United itu Santo, Malo, and nearby smaller Party expelled the three men and islands), Penama (Ambae, Maewo, their political staff. The expelled Pentecost, and nearby smaller islands), group formed itself into a new body, Malampa (Malekula, Ambrym, the People's Democratic Party, on Paama, and nearby smaller islands), 18 May. Shefa (Epi, Shepherds, , and Assisted by continuing tensions nearby smaller islands), and Tafea between and within the various oppo­ (Erromango, Tanna, Anatom, Aniwa, sition parties, which contributed to and Futuna). The powers of the new their failure to appear credible as an councils would remain limited, but the alternative and thus attract defectors government envisaged that the foster­ from government ranks, Prime Minis­ ing of commercial centers in the capital ter Korman comfortably defeated a of each province would provide an no-confidence motion on 2 June by 25 alternative for young people, checking votes to 19, with one member of par­ urban drift to . liament not voting. The proponents of The elections were held under a the vote had criticized the government newly introduced proportional voting for sacking civil servants in order to system that gave an advantage to w" • "'''''''''''9"+ e -

THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC· FALL 1995 larger and well-organized political of employment and their presence groupings while disadvantaging would have other negative effects on smaller parties and independents. The ni-Vanuatu interests. three groupings that contested the poll From the middle of the year each won control of two of the six new Vanuatu's new president, Jean-Marie provincial councils. The Union of Leye, attracted criticism. In July he Moderate Parties gained 19,509 votes pardoned a Taiwanese fishing captain overall and won office in Tafea and recently sentenced to six years' jail for Sanma. The United Front-a coalition illegal fishing in Vanuatu's exclusive of the Vanua'aku Pati, the Melanesian economic zone, and ordered the release Progressive Party, the Tan Union, and of the captain's impounded vessel. In Nagriamel-gained 19,995 votes and addition, the prisoners to whom he won control of Shefa, the most popu­ granted early release to mark Indepen­ lous province, and Malampa. For its dence Day on 30 July included one part, the National United Party, with criminal with a long record of rape 11,174 votes overall, won control of and other violent offenses. The rumor Torba and Penama. The minority party circulated that a five-million-vatu in the national governing coalition, bribe had been paid to secure the Sethy Regenvanu's People's Demo­ release of the Taiwanese captain and cratic Party, did not take part in the his vessel. Father Lini said in parlia­ poll. A party press communique ment that he understood that, with explained that this nonparticipation respect to their release, the president had been because the Korman govern­ had been following government ment had failed to gain full cabinet instructions. In November the govern­ approval for decisions relating to some ment took the president to court over of the election arrangements. But the the fishing case to establish whether he main reason for nonparticipation may had acted beyond his constitutional have been the party's failure to com­ jurisdiction (v~ 26 Nov 1994, 1). plete the required formalities within Concern continued during the year the prescribed time. over violence against and involving During the year the planned estab­ women. A Health Department repre­ lishment of the "Santo Mini-Township sentative, Louis Nako, told partici­ and Industrial Park" adjacent to pants in a workshop on women and (Santo Town) on Espiritu violence held on Tanna in July that Santo sparked controversy. Financed rape was becoming a game or competi­ by Taiwanese interests, the project tion played by men on Tanna (v~ 28 involves the settlement of up to three July 1994,9). In September Chief thousand Taiwanese in the new center. Justice Charles Vaudin d'Imecourt At the foundation-laying ceremony on said it appeared that assaults on 17 June, Prime Minister Korman had become almost stressed the development opportunities an accepted fact of life and were a offered by the project, but its oppo­ "growing disease" (v~ 24 Sept 1994, nents claimed that the proposed immi­ 5). Women also engaged in violence, grants would deprive local workers notably in attacks on unfaithful hus- POLITICAL REVIEWS 377

bands. During the year to August including France, Australia, and the 1994, more than 40 percent of the other Melanesian countries, but also defendants in violence-related court consolidated and diversified Vanuatu's cases were women (VW; 6 Aug 1994, other international links, notably with 5). In November, the Vanuatu Malaysia. In May the prime minister National Council of Women claimed took part in the first world conference that the status of women was very low on sustainable development in small in Vanuatu compared to other coun­ island countries, in Bridgetown, Bar­ tries (VW; 6 Nov 1994,5). bados. (Ms Hilda Lini, MP, also took Corruption and maladministration part, as a member of an Eminent Per­ also remained a cause for concern. In son's Group.) In July, Mr Korman's December 1993 the government had government accredited, for the first disbanded a commission of inquiry, time, an Israeli ambassador, who will headed by Clarence Marae, who him­ serve on a nonresident basis. The non­ self had earlier been subject to corrup­ resident ambassadors of the United tion charges, which had reported States, Japan, Italy, and Spain also evidence of high-level corruption. visited during the year. Rumors and allegations continued to In July Prime Minister Korman surface during 1994, but the govern­ attended the eighth meeting of the ment was mostly reluctant to pursue Melanesian Spearhead Group, held at them. The government did, however, Auki in Malaita, Solomon Islands, and establish Vanuatu's first ombudsman endorsed efforts to encourage further on 7 July, in an apparent effort to cooperation between the Melanesian improve administrative standards and countries. In August he took part in protect citizens' rights. Madame Marie the South Pacific Forum, held in Bris­ Noelle Ferrieux Patterson, a French­ bane, Australia, and supported initia­ born citizen of Vanuatu, was tives to improve regional and country­ appointed. She has legal and other aca­ level management of fisheries, forests, demic qualifications, and previously and other natural resources. On his had been a partner in a real estate busi­ return from the Forum his government ness. More controversially, the govern­ foreshadowed legislation to ban the ment appointed Mr Luke Siba as chief export of unprocessed timber, in of police on 9 September. He had order to oblige foreign timber com­ served as a French police officer before panies to invest in processing facilities independence, and afterward as a ni­ in Vanuatu. The ban is to be phased Vanuatu police officer until 1981. But in gradually, however, and may prove he also, as opposition politicians com­ less effective than would at first plained, had served time in prison for appear. dangerous driving in 1979, theft in Forestry exploitation was a major 1982, and misappropriation of funds theme of the prime minister's visit to and theft in 1983. Malaysia in early November. Visiting During the year the Korman gov­ there on his way back from France, he ernment maintained constructive rela­ received, according to the Vanuatu tions with traditional partners, Weekly, "an exceptional welcome" ill.;; J'14,M";;: &;;;;44 '4·';&&9$4";G 'w'¥ "4'.+@I'- -'-''''W'

THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC· FALL 1995

(v~ 19 Nov 1994, 3). He had several actions between local people and the discussions with Prime Minister Fijians and Tongans. Mahathir and engaged in other consul­ Copra remained Vanuatu's most tations. After visiting the Forest lucrative export crop, despite generally Research Institute of Malaysia, Mr poor prices on the international Korman said that Vanuatu had sought market. Other exports included timber, Malaysia's technological expertise to beef, cocoa, kava, and coffee. The assist in Vanuatu's sustainable develop­ economy remained sluggish, with ment. He welcomed Malaysian invest­ hopes for improvement centered on ment in forestry and other ventures, forestry, tourism, and economic but noted that his government's policy restructuring, notably the trimming of was to preserve 50 percent of the the public sector. In November the virgin forest on each island (v~ 19 government foreshadowed a planned Nov 1994, 5). Some observers were reduction during 1995 of 20 percent of concerned, however, about the record public service jobs. of some Malaysian timber companies. Overall during 1994, the Korman Doubts also arose about Vanuatu's government demonstrated, compared ability to monitor major logging with 1992 and 1993, greater assurance projects effectively (see v~ II June in its handling of Vanuatu's domestic 1994, I). and external affairs. It remains to be Consistent with its membership of seen whether this serenity will be the South Pacific Forum and the Mela­ maintained in the lead-up to the nesian Spearhead Group, Vanuatu wel­ national elections in late 1995. comed the opportunity to deploy STEPHEN HENNINGHAM members of the Vanuatu Mobile Force in peacekeeping operations in Bou­ gainville in early October. Fifty person­ References nel were sent to join those of Fiji and lBP, Islands Business Pacific. Monthly. Tonga in the South Pacific Peacekeep­ Suva. ing Force. The deployment received broad support in Vanuatu, and the PlM, Pacific Islands Monthly. Suva. conduct of the Vanuatu Mobile Force PRo Pacific Report, Fortnightly newsletter. members was well regarded in Bou­ Canberra. gainville. They proved especially useful vw, Vanuatu Weekly. Vila. as Pidgin-English interpreters in inter-