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Political Reviews • M Ela N E S I a 551 Solomon Islands

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Political Reviews • M Ela N E S I a 551 Solomon Islands political reviews • m ela n e s i a 551 Conan, Eric. 2000. “Les Désaccords de endearingly dubbed) would go an Noumea.” L’Express, 25 May. extra mile to help another wantok. Gorodey, Déwé. 2000. Interviewed in Solo had long fiercely defended Solo- Noumea, 22 June. mon Islands’ sovereignty and the right of Solomon Islanders to “do their own Kanak. Periodical of the Parti de Libéra- thing.” If they learned from their mis- tion Kanak (Palika). takes, they should not fear making Moleana, Atélémo. 2000. Interviewed in them. His experience during British Noumea, 16 June. colonialism taught him an important NC, Les Nouvelles-Calédoniennes. lesson—it was far better for Solomon Noumea. Daily. Islanders to carve their own futures NH, Les Nouvelles-Hebdo. Noumea. and destiny than be subject to igno- Weekly. minious racism, vacuous high-minded- ness, and mindless arrogance, which Pabouty, Sylvain. 2000. Interviewed in Solomon Islanders detested. Mama- Noumea, 17 June. loni has left a leadership lacuna that p i r, Pacific Islands Report. will be difficult to fill for a long time, http://pidp.ewc.hawaii.edu/PIReport/ as events that unfolded in subsequent Sako, Aloisio. 2000. Interviewed in months have attested. Noumea, 23 June. The 1999 census revealed that Wapotro, Billy. 2000. Interviewed in the population of the country had Noumea, 15 June. increased by 43 percent overall, from 285,176 in 1986 to 409,042. The Washetine, Charles. 2000. Interviewed in growth rate declined markedly from Noumea, 15 June. 3.5 percent per year to 2.8 percent per year. Some 41.5 percent of the popu- lation is aged under fifteen years. But Solomon Islands the census showed that only 23 per- Solomon Islanders have not experi- cent of the population (57,472) were enced a worse start to a year in paying taxes. Conversely, 45 percent decades. In January 2000, Solomon (111, 905) were involved in unpaid Sunaone Mamaloni, one of the coun- labor (SS, 8 Sept 2000, 3). try’s veteran politicians and its first The sporadic ethnic fighting that leader, passed away. Sir Peter Kenilo- began in late 1998 between the rea’s approbation of his friend and Malaita Eagle Force (m e f) and the schoolmate as “the father of modern Isatabu Freedom Movement (ifm) politics in Solomon Islands” could not continued. However, it was limited have been more apt (SS, 18 Jan 2000, mostly to areas around and peripheral 5). In politics, Mamaloni was an all- to Honiara. In February, the Malaita rounder. He was a real “man of the Eagle Force claimed responsibility for people.” He would fit most Solomon several killings at Pelaha and Lunga Islanders’ honor list. When in need, areas (SS, 23 Feb 2000, 1). These Solomon Islanders, especially ordinary intermittent insurgencies and killings villagers, found him most accessible, merely escalated animosity between even when he was prime minister. the two groups. In early July, the And without fail, Solo (as he was Malaita Eagle Force mounted opera- 552 the contemporary pacific • fall 2001 tion “Eagle Storm.” A bulldozer was It was clear from the start that the converted into a “tank,” which helped foreigners were not the target. It was them mount raids. The Malaita Eagle a row between Solomon Islanders. Force was able to gain greater control On 30 June an election was held of the area from Alligator Creek to to choose a new prime minister. Solomon Island Plantations Limited Three candidates, Manasseh Sogavare, (s i p l; SS, 4 July 2000, 1). Bishop Leslie Boseto, and former On 5 June a “civil takeover” of the prime minister Billy Hilly stood. The government of the Solomon Islands first two were from Choiseul, and Alliance for Change occurred. Prime Billy Hilly from Western Province. He Minister Bartholomew Ulufa‘alu was later decided to withdraw. In a close put under house arrest and asked to election, Manasseh Sogavare emerged “voluntarily” resign within forty-eight as the new prime minister, with 23 hours by the newly formed Joint Mili- votes to Bishop Boseto’s 21 (SS, 30 tary Operation (jm o), which com- June 2000, 8–9). prised the Malaita Eagle Force and From the start, Sogavare was clear. members of the Paramilitary Force His new government would concen- (SS, 4 July 2000, 6). The main reason trate on “regaining peace.” It would given for the takeover was Ulufa‘alu’s strive for a cease-fire, followed by the delay in seriously and urgently signing of a peace agreement, surren- addressing the ethnic uprising. The der of arms, and then the return of Joint Military Operation claimed he police to their normal duties of main- seemed to have done very little to taining law and order. Compensation stop the conflict. Meanwhile the Isa- demands would be addressed, not tabu Freedom Movement continued from legalistic concerns, but by using to harass or kill innocent people and Melanesian perspectives of “conflict brew mayhem around the capital. resolution” (SS, 11 July 2000, 3). The Joint Military Operation The Isatabu Freedom Movement seized the Rove police armories and lost no time in contesting the legiti- weapons on patrol boats and con- macy and legality of the election, trolled the country’s telecommunica- which they alleged was undemocratic tion facilities. It also called for the because it was carried out under removal of the police commissioner duress. The Isatabu Freedom Move- who, like the prime minister, seemed ment had learned that, because of fear not to have done much to abate the for their security, six members of the conflict (P I M, June 2000, 12). former prime minister’s team were The expulsion of the prime minis- unable to attend and vote. To accept ter instilled fear in the capital. Later the result of such an election would in the month there was a mass be a mockery of democratic principles “release” of prisoners from Rove and processes. The Isatabu Freedom prison. Soon foreign nationals began Movement decided to refuse any deal- leaving the country. Australians, New ings with the new government (SS, 5 Zealanders, and Canadians were July 2000, 4). evacuated by h m as Tobruk (SS, 4 July So g a v a r e ret o rt e d th a t th e go v e rn o r - 2000, 6). Many Solomon Islanders general had given members of parlia- found this confusing, if not amusing. ment plenty of time to attend. The political reviews • m ela n e s i a 553 election itself was carried out in a lost it to arson. Andrew Nori’s Bridge proper democratic manner without Law Firm was housed there. The per- intimidation. “I was democratically petrator sought protection in police elected,” Sogavare declared (SS, 5 July custody, but members of the Malaita 2000, 4). But the election for a new Eagle Force forced their way in and prime minister was held after the ille- shot him. gal ouster of Bartholomew Ulufa‘alu, Due to damage, the reopening of a fact that should not be easily erased the Gold Ridge mine was delayed. from the “national memory.” Resource owners have decided to As time goes on, crime increases, revise the mining agreement, claiming affecting the country in many ways, that they were not adequately com- particularly national investments. A pensated under the previous agree- vessel of Solomon Taiyo, the biggest ment. As the member of parliament fishing company in the country, was responsible for that area explained, raided. Three armed men boarded a the returns to his people were severely pole-line fishing boat in Maravovo underestimated. There were more Lagoon and forced the captain to take gold reserves than had been projected them to Honiara (SS, 1 Aug 2000, 1). (SS, 24 Nov 2000, 5). Resource own- Solomon Taiyo decided to suspend ers also claimed that compensation operations in August. It was further ought to be paid for the tailing-dam alleged that lives, safety, and the secu- area, timber trees, taboo sites, and rity of its employees and property had loss of income from alluvial mining. been threatened by militants (SS, 23 Furthermore, former i f m members Jan 2001, 1). The government would demanded s i$120,000 from the mine just have to take control of the opera- for providing security during the eth- tion. nic crisis. As Patteson Tara explained, In early July a more heinous human “without our presence, Gold Ridge atrocity was perpetrated on the weak- Mining Ltd could have lost everything est in society. Gunmen walked into because some have decided to burn the national referral hospital and shot down the whole site” (SS, 30 Nov dead two patients who were members 2000, 6). of the Isatabu Freedom Movement Although other provinces expres s e d (SS, 11 July 2000, 1). The killings were interest in becoming independent in retaliation for other murders. states, the Malaita premier committed Later in August, a group of men the province to remaining part of a in camouflage uniform forced their united Solomon Islands. During a way into Honiara Casino and stole Malaita Leaders Conference, he called s i$100,000 (SS, 29 Aug 2000, 1). The on Malaita people to be more self- mid-afternoon incident highlighted reliant. He called on other provinces the immediate and critical need for to understand the position of his peo- law and order in the capital. On 5 ple, adding that “if we have done you Oc t o b e r, a prominent furni t u r e factory wrong forgive us, and we will do our was burnt. The owner, one of the few best to bring peace once again in Solo- successful Solomon Islands business- mo n Islands” (SS, 17 Aug 2000, 1).
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