pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 597 to them (NC, 6–7 Oct, 12 Oct, 24 Oct that it could get only short-term con- 2006). tracts overseas (NC, 19 Dec 2006). After a month-long blockade, the david chappell police liberated Doniambo, but only two of its four ore sources upcoun- try were functioning. The rpcr and References ae traded barbs over alleged politi- Frogier, Pierre. 2006 Speech at rpcr cal plotting behind the strike, while Congress. 20 May. the cstnc adopted ustke’s tactic IHT, International Herald Tribune. Daily. of on-again, off-again picketing and Paris. http://www.iht.com blockages (NC, 14 Dec, 17 Oct, 20 Oct 2006). The cstnc even shut down the kol, Kanaky Online. http:// fr.groups local newspaper temporarily for what .yahoo.com / group / kanaky it considered unfair reporting (pir, 7 NC, Les Nouvelles-Calédoniennes. Daily. Nov 2006), while repeated negotia- Noumea. http://www.info.lnc.nc / tions stalled. Nea went to court for pir, Pacific Islands Report. his appeal of a conviction from the http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org / pireport previous year of blockades that had rnzi, Radio New Zealand International. condemned him to three months in http://www.rnzi.com prison. The judge upheld the convic- tion and sentence, but told Nea that TPM, Tahiti-Pacifique Magazine. Monthly. he could appeal to a higher court, and Papeete. that there would likely be a “more or less generous” amnesty granted after the 2007 presidential elections for union-related offenses. By mid- November, Nea was softening his For Solomon Islands, 2006 brought general strike demands, was arrested a lot of expectations for positive for diverting sln funds and, with two change, especially with regard to associates, was fi ned us$20,000, and political leadership at the national soon was offering to resign from the level. Many Solomon Islanders hoped sln (but not his union) if the company that the national elections, scheduled did not fi re nine of his union mem- for April, would bring about a change bers. After three months of striking of government. The government that and often-paralyzing rush hour traffi c had ruled since 2001 under Sir Allan jams, the Filipinos were still working Kemakeza was perceived by many as for Goro, the ae was still in power, incompetent and had failed miser- and nearly every organization in New ably on the credibility scale. There Caledonia was fed up with Nea, even was hope, therefore, that the election if it supported aspects of his concerns would usher in a new government. (NC, 23 Nov, 20 Dec 2006). The sln, These expectations were backed by which actually had little to do with his the fact that the 2006 election was the specifi c strike demands, claimed that fi rst truly free and fair election. It was it had lost us$110 million from work the fi rst election since the deployment interruptions and so much credibility of the Regional Assistance Mission 598 the contemporary pacifi c • 19:2 (2007) to Solomon Islands (ramsi), which New Year. But as most people enjoyed disarmed most of those involved in the holidays, those intending to stand the years of civil unrest from late 1998 for offi ce were busy preparing for the to mid-2003. Although the previous elections. By the time registrations national election (in 2001) had been closed, a record number of 453 candi- declared free and fair by international dates were signed up to contest in the and domestic observers, many Solo- fi fty constituencies. This was an aver- mon Islanders knew that because of age of 9.1 candidates per constituency, the widespread presence of guns in the up from 6.6 in 2001. The election, communities at that time, voters had held on 5 April, was declared a success not really been free to choose. There by international and local observers. had been evidence of intimidation of By the time the votes had all been voters in some places. Much of this counted, half the sitting members occurred before and after the election, of Parliament had lost their seats. and thus was never seen by observers Among them were , who were present mainly on the day the leader of the Labour Party, and of the election. Alfred Sasako, the outspoken member The 2006 election, however, for East Kwaio on Malaita. Some of brought drama that dominated most the prominent fi gures in the previous of the year. Much of it emanated from Kemakeza-led government, however, dissatisfaction over the outcome of the retained their seats. These included Sir election of the prime minister. Further, himself; , the newly elected Solomon Islands his deputy in the previous govern- government engaged in a protracted ment; Laurie Chan; and Peter Boyes. diplomatic row with its Australian The other Big-men of Solomon Islands counterpart. This was largely a result politics who were also reelected of what saw as Canberra’s were Job Dudley Tausinga (who ran interference in Solomon Islands unopposed in his North New Geor- domestic affairs. There were also gia constituency), , debates about the regional assistance Bartholomew Ulufa‘alu, Manasseh mission and ’s dominant role Sogavare, and Patterson Oti. in it. In the days following the national These events and debates high- election, members of Parliament light the vulnerability of post-confl ict gathered in Honiara to prepare for societies and the challenges of rebuild- the “second election”—the election of ing societies and states that have been the prime minister, which would also traumatized by confl icts. They also determine who formed the govern- demonstrate the challenges for inter- ment. This period, as usual, was char- national intervention and the role of acterized by intense lobbying, both foreign governments in post-confl ict among the members of Parliament and reconstruction. from lobbyists outside. This is also The year kicked off on an upbeat a period during which, in the past, note as many people joined families there were allegations that powerful and friends in villages around the individuals with big money would country to celebrate Christmas and often bribe members of Parliament to pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 599 ensure that any government that was The Chinese — or waku, as they formed would favor them. Members are known locally—were targeted of Parliament usually form coalitions because of a widespread perception or “camps” and try to lure enough that it had been Asian businesses who other members to make up suffi cient bankrolled Rini’s group and infl uenced numbers to form a government. the result of the election. Francis Billy The election of the prime minis- Hilly, for example, alleged that large ter was held on 18 April, with three sums of money changed hands to win candidates up for the post: Tausinga, over the support of certain members Rini, and Sogavare. Rini eventually of Parliament. He claimed that as emerged as winner, bringing back into much as si$30,000 to si$50,000 had power the old Kemakeza-led govern- been offered to individual members to ment. This was a coalition between vote for Rini (Solomon Star, 18 April the People’s Alliance Party, Lafari, 2006). This assertion, like similar and the Association of Independent allegations in the past, has never been Members. Also with the group were substantiated. Sogavare and four of his followers In the days that followed, pro- who had defected from the other side testors continued to demand Rini’s only days before. resignation. The newly elected prime The hundreds of people who minister, however, refused to give gathered outside Parliament that day in, arguing that he had been elected found the result unacceptable. They through a constitutional process and jeered at the newly elected prime could only be ousted through that minister, demanding that he step down process. But despite his persistence, on and allow Tausinga to take over the 26 April — only eight days after being reigns of power. Some demanded that elected into offi ce — Rini was forced the members of Parliament go back to resign on the fl oor of Parliament. into the chamber and vote again. The This became necessary after Sogavare crowd soon became rowdy and their and his followers crossed the fl oor and actions quickly deteriorated into vio- joined the Opposition. In announc- lent confrontations with the police. ing his resignation, Rini said that he When the police deployed tear gas, did so “because I did not have the the protestors moved into the main numbers this morning in parliament, streets of Honiara, destroying and I had no option but to resign to give looting Asian (mostly Chinese) busi- way for the election of a new Prime nesses. By the end of that day, most Minister. I did not resign as a result of of the shops in Chinatown had been calls by the protestors. I did not yield looted and burned. The destruction to the calls of the protestors because went on into the next day, prompting I did not want to set a bad precedent hundreds of Chinese families to fl ee. for future Prime Ministers of this Australia sent in troops from Towns- country” (Government Information ville, Queensland, to help local and Service, 26 April 2006). ramsi police stop the violence. It was Rini’s resignation made way for the worst public destruction ever seen another election. Manasseh Soga- in Honiara. vare and , the member for 600 the contemporary pacifi c • 19:2 (2007)

Central Kwara‘ae, contested, and accusing the Australian government Sogavare was elected as prime minis- of interfering in Solomon Islands ter. He subsequently chose Job Dudley domestic affairs. The Solomon Star (9 Tausinga to be deputy and moved to May 2006), for example, reported that form a Grand Coalition Government Sogavare had accused Foreign Min- with a number of political parties and ister Downer “of interfering with the some independents. domestic affairs of Solomon Islands.” In announcing his cabinet, Soga- Sogavare said that “Australia’s con- vare included Charles Dausabea and demnation of the ministerial appoint- Nelson Ne‘e, two Honiara members of ments of two Members of Parliament Parliament who had allegedly incited is clearly an interference in local poli- and organized the riots. At the time tics.” He even threatened to terminate of their appointment, both had been ramsi, arguing that it was dominated charged and were in jail awaiting trial. by Australia. Dausabea was appointed minister of This triggered a tense diplomatic Police and National Security, while standoff between Australia and Solo- Ne‘e was minister for Culture and mon Islands that eventually led to Tourism. Their appointments attracted the declaration of Australian High widespread criticism, both locally Commissioner Patrick Cole as a and internationally. The criticisms persona non grata. He was accused intensifi ed when, in setting up a com- of interfering in local politics and mission of enquiry into the riots, the was expelled from Solomon Islands Prime Minister’s Offi ce included in the in September. This tension between commission’s terms of reference items the two countries dominated political that were perceived as prejudicial to discussions throughout 2006 and into the court processes and were seen as 2007, marking the lowest period, so aimed at exonerating the two contro- far, in the history of diplomatic rela- versial cabinet ministers. Among those tions between Solomon Islands and who expressed concern about the Australia. terms of reference was then Attorney To add salt to the wound, in General Primo Afeau. December, Commissioner of Police Criticism also came from the Aus- Shane Castle (an Australian national), tralian government through Foreign while on holiday in Australia, was Affairs Minister Alexander Downer, declared an “undesirable immigrant” who expressed disappointment and and banned from reentering Solomon concern over the appointment of Islands. Minister of Foreign Affairs the two controversial members of Patterson Oti said that the decision Parliament as cabinet ministers. But was made “after long deliberations Canberra was also concerned that the based on the Police Commissioner’s terms of reference for the commis- conduct on several instances, includ- sion of enquiry were designed to place ing his role in the 2006 riots and the blame on Australian Federal Police well-publicized raiding of the Prime serving on ramsi. Minister’s Offi ce” (Department of Sogavare, who has never been a fan Prime Minister and Cabinet 2007). of Australia, lashed out at Canberra, Throughout 2006, the diplomatic pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 601 row with Australia overshadowed in by PNG and Aus- Solomon Islands foreign relations in tralian authorities. He appeared in a particular, and political discussions Port Moresby court, and was taken more generally. A new Australian high into custody while awaiting arrange- commissioner was not appointed until ments to be extradited to Australia. In early 2007. Peter Hooton presented early October, however, Moti escaped his credentials to Prime Minister Soga- to Solomon Islands on a clandestine vare in March 2007, after waiting for PNG Defense Force fl ight. Canberra almost two months to be received. then lashed out at Port Moresby, The situation between Australia banning PNG politicians from enter- and Solomon Islands was exacerbated ing Australia. Allegations that people by the appointment of high in the PNG government assisted as attorney general, replacing Primo in Moti’s escape led to the establish- Afeau, who was sacked for opposing ment of a commission of enquiry to the terms of reference for the commis- look into Moti’s escape and how rules sion of enquiry on the riots. Moti, an had been broken to facilitate it. The Australian citizen, is a lawyer with a commission’s report pointed to wrongs shady past. In 1997 he was charged committed as far up as the Prime for statutory rape in , but was Minister’s Offi ce. It put Prime Minis- later acquitted. Moti is close to Soga- ter Sir in a diffi cult vare, with whom he shares a dislike political situation. of the Australian government and its By October the Moti affair had set policies in Solomon Islands. the stage for a standoff between the Not long after he was appointed Melanesian countries and Australia at attorney general, Canberra announced the Pacifi c Islands Forum meeting in that Moti was wanted in Australia for Nadi, . Solomon Islands demanded the 1997 rape case in Vanuatu. This a review of ramsi, with the objec- raised questions about Canberra’s tive of scaling down the Australian motives: Why did the Australian involvement. While the Forum agreed, authorities wait until now to charge nothing has yet been done. In the him? Canberra’s action was seen as meantime, the diplomatic tension with politically motivated — an attempt Australia persists, although offi cials to ensure that Moti, who publicly from the two countries have been expresses anti-Australian views, working to mend relations. Australia does not become attorney general has come to realize that dealing with and thereby exert more infl uence in its Melanesian neighbors will not be Solomon Islands government policies easy. toward Australia. Politically, the Sogavare-led govern- In an interesting twist to the Moti ment is united. But there is general saga, neighboring Papua New Guinea public discontent in Solomon Islands (PNG) was dragged into the diplo- over its poor diplomacy, especially in matic standoff with Australia after relation to Australia, whom many peo- Moti escaped from Port Moresby ple view as saving the Solomons from while waiting for extradition to Aus- militant control. In particular, there is tralia. In September he was arrested concern about the anti-ramsi rhetoric 602 the contemporary pacifi c • 19:2 (2007) and the threats to expel ramsi. Public approach.” The verdict on whether or dissatisfaction with the Sogavare-led not it succeeds will, however, come a government’s policies has been exacer- few years down the road. bated by the government’s intention to The government’s rural develop- rearm the Close Protection Unit of the ment focus is being supported by aid Solomon Islands Police Force. Many donors and international funding Solomon Islanders still do not trust the agencies. The World Bank, European police because of the involvements of Union, and AusAID, for example, some offi cers in criminal activities dur- have funded the Agriculture and Rural ing the civil unrest. Development Strategy, which focuses All this negative publicity and poor on facilitating rural people’s participa- diplomacy overshadowed the govern- tion in the cash economy. This will be ment’s positive initiatives. The focus implemented jointly by donors and the of its policy, for example, was on rural Ministry of Planning and Aid Coordi- development—an attempt to involve nation. the majority of people, who live in In terms of economic develop- rural areas, in the development pro- ment, the economy is growing slowly. cess. Although this is not an entirely This is due to smallholder producers new initiative—the rhetoric has been as well as the reopening of some of used before by successive govern- the major industries like the oil palm ments—the Sogavare-led government plantation in the Guadalcanal Plains. believed it could deliver development The plantation was abandoned by its to rural people through its “Bottom former owner, the Solomon Islands Up Approach” strategy. In his speech Plantation Ltd (a subsidiary of the marking the country’s twenty-eighth Commonwealth Development Corpo- anniversary of independence, Prime ration) during the height of the civil Minister Sogavare pointed to the fact unrest. It has since been bought by that Solomon Islanders had benefi ted the Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Ltd, only marginally from development a subsidiary of Kulim Bhd, a Malay- in past years. He attributed this to sian-registered company that also has the fact that Solomon Islanders never plantations in New Britain in neigh- really participated in the development boring Papua New Guinea. It put a process. Consequently, he stated that lot of money into the rehabilitation of his government was “determined to the plantation, started production, and improve the active participation of exported its fi rst crude oil to Europe Solomon Islanders in development by in mid-2006. It has recruited over one emphasising development at grassroots thousand local workers to rehabilitate level” (Solomon Star, 10 July 2006). and reconstruct the plantation. He said that development also depends By the end of 2006, negotiations for on people allowing their resources the establishment of another oil palm to be used for development and the plantation in Auluta on Malaita Prov- government to protect the rights of ince had been fi nalized and work on resource owners. By the end of 2006, it is expected to begin in 2007. This a strategic plan had been drawn for is a major breakthrough, given that it the implementation of the “bottom-up would be the fi rst large-scale develop- pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 603 ment on Malaita, the province with Despite police raids on kwaso produc- the largest population in the country. tion, the problem persists, because for In the meantime, the Gold Ridge many people it is their only source of gold mine, which had been destroyed income. This has led to other prob- during the civil unrest, was bought by lems, especially in the urban areas. an Australian consortium, the Austra- ramsi continues to work with local lia Solomons Gold, and is expected authorities to address this. to resume production by the end of In the meantime police continued 2007. Work on rehabilitating the mine to investigate allegations of corruption began in 2005. among elite Solomon Islanders. Earlier So, while the diplomatic debacle there were concerns that ramsi had between the Solomon Islands and not arrested the “big fi sh”—politicians Australian governments was going on, and public servants who were alleg- public servants and ordinary Solomon edly emptying government coffers. Islanders were hard at work trying to Among those whom people pointed rebuild the economy and their own to was former Prime Minister Kema- lives. It was, however, a diffi cult and keza. In April, then Police Commis- uphill battle. Life for average Solomon sioner Shane Castles told Radio New Islanders has become more diffi cult Zealand that Kemakeza was being because of the rapidly increasing cost investigated for allegations of fraud, of living (especially in urban areas) following the tabling of a revealing and the unavailability of or limited audit report by the country’s auditor access to social services. Those who general. This is with regard to money are employed fi nd that their income missing from compensation payment is often insuffi cient, and villagers when Kemakeza was the minister for have little or no access to sources of National Unity and Reconciliation. income generation. In January the It was alleged that more than us$5 national secretary of the Solomon million went missing and that many Islands Council of Trade Unions, of the compensation claims, which Tony Kagovai, acknowledged that in included one submitted by Kemak- 2006 many employees “would fi nd it eza, were excessive and falsifi ed. In diffi cult to meet their basic needs such October, Kemakeza was arrested and as food, shelter, clothing and educa- charged with robbery, larceny, intimi- tion” (Solomon Star, 8 Jan 2006). As dation, and demanding money with the year wore on, that became more menaces. The charges relate to allega- evident and has contributed to social tions that Kemakeza had instructed problems. former militants to intimidate and rob Law and order has improved a legal fi rm, Sol-Law, in 2002 (rnzi signifi cantly since the deployment of 2006). ramsi because guns have been taken Another issue that featured promi- away from the communities. However, nently in 2006 was the continuing new challenges have emerged relating debate about the relationship between to increasing use of drugs like mari- Solomon Islands and the Republic juana and home-brewed (and distilled) of China (Taiwan) and how that has alcohol, known locally as kwaso. infl uenced domestic politics. In the 604 the contemporary pacifi c • 19:2 (2007) past, concerns had been expressed resignation of Deputy Prime Minister that Taiwanese aid had a negative Job Dudley Tausinga. This followed impact because it was being used to disagreements between Tausinga and fi nance certain politicians. In fact, in the prime minister over the “illegal the lead-up to the April election Joses shipment” of logs by a company that Tuhanuku alleged, “Taiwan’s dirty operated in Tausinga’s North New money comes fl ooding forward for the Georgia constituency. In an inter- politician or candidate of the prime view with the Solomon Star (20 Dec minister’s choice. . . . Now in the past 2006), Tausinga said that he “had few months leading up to the election, been forced to take the action I did these Special Projects are being used as because certain people were forcing the chief source of campaign fund- me to apply a political solution to a ing for the Prime Minister’s favorites legal issue. For me, that is wrong. You whom are expected, once elected, to cannot continue to apply political back him and his Republic of China solutions to legal issues.” But despite cronies” (Solomon Star, 15 March Tausinga’s resignation, the government 2006). remained strong. Interestingly, when Sogavare came By the end of December 2006, the into power, he had indicated that he political wheels turned more slowly. would reconsider the country’s rela- But the year had been packed with tionship with Taiwan. But as Taiwan drama, especially in foreign relations. poured money into politicians’ slush In terms of development issues, it fund, or the Rural Constituency Devel- seemed as though the government was opment Fund, the government opted saying the right things, at least rhetori- to stick with it. Taiwan has, over the cally, through its rural development years, provided important source focus. Whether or not these policies of assistance to Solomon Islands will succeed is yet to be seen. One and cannot be disposed of easily by thing is certain, even if the Sogavare- politicians. The nature of Taiwanese led government dislikes Australia, they involvement in Solomon Islands and need Canberra’s assistance if they are the impact on the country’s domestic to successfully implement their poli- politics will continue to be an issue of cies and drag Solomon Islands out of debate in the future. the problems left behind by the civil The political highlight of Decem- unrest. ber was the provincial elections. In tarcisius tara kabutaulaka, Malaita, the provincial premier in louisa kabutaulaka the previous assembly, Reuben Moli, lost his seat, while the Guadalcanal provincial election saw only four pro- References vincial members retaining their seats. Isabel and Western Provinces elected Department of Prime Minister and Cabi- new premiers. The election results net. 2007. http://www.pmc.gov.sb /?q showed a desire for change of leader- =node /913 [accessed 19 March 2007] ship even at the provincial level. Government Information Service, 26 April The year was rounded off with the 2006. pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 605 rnzi, Radio New Zealand International. Melanesian Progressive Party had 2006. Former Solomons PM Kemakeza left the governing coalition. These Charged over Law Firm Robbery. 25 Octo- two parties, along with the Union of ber. http: // www.rnzi.com / pages /news Moderate Parties, formed an opposi- .php?op=read&id=27786 tion bloc that supported Solomon Star. Honiara. Daily. as the new prime minister (PVPO, 21 March 2006). Although politics in Vanuatu frequently appears to be dominated by personalities rather than Vanuatu policies, in this instance there were Perceived lack of government action clear policy motives for the proposed on various issues and indecisiveness or motion. They included “the delay in lack of coordination within the gov- appointing a police commissioner (for erning coalition led to three proposed more than 18 months), [the failure to motions of no confi dence against resolve] Air Vanuatu / Vanair’s strike Prime Minister Ham Lini during 2006. and the Vanuatu Commodities Mar- While Lini survived all of these chal- keting Board (vcmb) saga [relating lenges, the price of the government’s to listing kava as a prescribed com- survival was high. Large pay increases modity]” (PVPO, 14 March 2006). were awarded to public servants and Other issues included “unresolved police, while the Vanuatu Commodi- issues such as unsuccessful motions of ties Marketing Board (vcmb) declared non confi dences that cost a lot to the price increases for the purchase of people of Vanuatu, illegal terminations copra and kava. from the government . . . high school The Lini-led coalition government fees, the issue of the two new Chinese was fi rst established in December donated ships awaiting routes, the late 2004. Throughout 2005 there were start to operations of Pekoa Interna- several changes to the coalition. By tional Airport and the court case of February 2006 the government con- the termination of the former chief sisted of eight political parties, includ- executive offi cer of Air Vanuatu that is ing the National United Party (nup) costing millions of vatu in compensa- and the Vanua‘aku Party (vp); People’s tion” (PVPO, 21 Feb 2006). Underlying Progressive Party (ppp); National all of these issues was the perception Community Association Party (ncap); that the Lini-led government was Melanesian Progressive Party (mpp); indecisive or unable to make decisions (vrp); when needed. This is at least in part People’s Action Party (pap); and two due to the need to gain agreement of backbenchers from the Union of all members of the coalition before Moderate Parties (ump) (PVPO, 2 Feb decisions can be made. 2006). There were some legal maneuver- The fi rst major challenge the gov- ings prior to parliamentary debate ernment faced in 2006 was a motion on the motion of no confi dence, with of no confi dence in March. By early the government proposing a coun- March all the Green Confederation ter motion to censure the members (gc) members of Parliament and the involved. This was ruled to be uncon-