528 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015)

-rpc/81-regional-resettlement-arrangement mon Islands Police Force (rsipf). It .html [accessed 16 Feb 2015] was also an election after civil society PNG Post-Courier. Daily. Port Moresby. ­organizations aired frustrations with http://www.postcourier.com.pg a Parliament that had legitimated the channeling of state resources into the PNG Post-Courier. 2014. Polye Appointed hands of legislators who were alleg- New PNG Opposition Leader. 3 Decem- ber. http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/ edly not very prudent in their decision pireport/2014/December/12-03-13.htm making. Moreover, the election was [accessed 16 Feb 2015] the first to be conducted after new legislation on political parties’ integ- Radio Australia. 2013. Papua New Guinea rity was passed and implemented, Lawyer Paul Paraka Charged over $30 Million in Fraudulent Payments. 24 Octo- and it offers an opportunity to assess ber. http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/ the impacts and effectiveness of that international/2013-10-24/papua-new legislation. The election also offers -guinea-lawyer-paul-paraka-charged-over the chance to comment on political -30-million-in-fraudulent-payments/ stability and gender equality ideals in 1209478 [accessed 16 Feb 2015] the country. Finally, the review should Walton, Grant. 2014. PNG Anti-Corrup­ enable us to assess what the future tion Agencies Show Their Teeth. DevPoli- holds for the newly elected Demo- cyBlog, 4 April. http://devpolicy.org/png cratic Coalition for Change (dcc) -anti-corruption-agencies-show-their-teeth Government. -20140404/ [accessed 21 March 2015] I highlighted in the conclusion to Yalo, Nemo. 2014. Commentary: the 2013 review that Actions of a Dictatorial Government. there was anxiety and uncertainty The National, 15 May. over what 2014 had in store for the country (Nanau 2014). Certain events made 2014 seem like business as usual. Throughout the year, tertiary Solomon Islands students from regional universities Solomon Islands sailed through and local institutions continued to another turbulent and attention-grab- suffer from delayed allowances and bing year in 2014. Natural disasters stipends. At the University of the struck the country, arson and looting South Pacific and other Fiji-based marred efforts to national unity, and a tertiary institutions, students contin- new government was formed. Notable ued to be distressed by serious delays events on which this review focuses in their monthly stipends throughout are those leading up to and following the year (ssn 2014e). The same can be the national general election. Indeed, said for those studying in Papua New this was a critical general election for Guinea’s tertiary institutions as well as a variety of reasons. It was the first in the country’s own local university, election after the Regional Assistance the Solomon Islands National Uni- Mission to Solomon Islands (ramsi) versity (ssn 2014d). These students’ announced the commencement of its concerns highlight the fact that the transition and gradual handover of government failed to work within policing control to the Royal Solo- budgetary provisions earmarked for political reviews • melanesia 529 tertiary training. Part of the explana- lion was distributed to members of tion may be attributed­ to political Parliament to assist their constituents, interference by members of Parliament despite the fact that only parts of the and public officers in the selection country were devastated and in dire and awarding of scholarships. It was need of rehabilitation (One Solomon recently reported that two officers Islands dollar [si$] was equivalent of the National Training Unit (ntu) to ­approximately us$.13 in 2014.). were suspended for giving awards A Solomon Islander academic, Dr to a group of students outside of the Tarcisius Tara Kabutaulaka, noted National Training Council’s approved that “the ­Cabinet’s recent approval list (ssn 2015a). to release a total of 15 million to the Another set of practices that seemed 50 mps is fishy” (sibc Online 2014c). to continue in 2014 was that of the Difficulties faced in the evacuation looting and burning of businesses and centers and the lack of clear messages private properties. In the aftermath of coming from responsible authori- the devastating flash floods that struck ties regarding rehabilitation and and parts of north Guadal- resettlement led to uneasiness among canal in April 2014, 21 people died the ­displaced Honiara population. and 30 went unaccounted for; about A ­number of them refused to leave 52,000 people were displaced and the evacuation centers unless they moved to shelters (Business Advantage were assured of where they would PNG 2014; ssn 2014b). They were the be ­resettled or what rehabilitation first-ever flash floods that destroyed support they would receive. After homes, businesses, and buildings along weeks of confusion and frustration, the Mataniko River. In response to looters and arsonists destroyed a this, humanitarian support came in shop and a football academy build- both locally and internationally. The ing in the ­eastern end of Honiara in various embassies and international the King George VI school area on organizations such as the Australian 16 May 2014 (abc News 2014a). and New Zealand governments, Fiji, The Solomon Islands Police Force, Papua New Guinea, Red Cross Inter- with the assistance of ramsi, man- national, and Solomon Islands com- aged to quell the unrest after a night munities residing abroad, ­especially of standoffs and criminal activities. In student communities, responded in the process, the national government cash and kind. The Asian Develop­ was tight-lipped and failed miserably ment Bank (adb), for instance, to communicate with its citizens, thus gave us$200,000 toward the relief enabling mob activity (sibc Online effort (ssn 2014b). Locally, church 2014d). The looting and the partial organizations, the Forum Solomon burning and break-in at the football Islands International, the National academy contributed to the defeat of Disaster Council, and ­individual the country’s under-19 soccer team families contributed to alleviate the that competed in Fiji a few days hardships faced by citizens who lost later. For a soccer-crazy country like their homes and/or members of their Solomon Islands, this loss meant that families. A controversial si$15 mil- both national pride and the hopes of 530 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) participating in the World Cup finals were established and eligible voters were shattered (ssn, 18 May 2014). traveled to these registration booths to These events and other negative devel- register their names, have their photos opments seemed to continue unabated, taken, and be issued voter identifica- as similar activities had occurred in tion cards (siec 2014). The hope was 2013, making citizens anxious and that on Election Day voters would use uncertain about the country’s future. the identification cards to cast their The nationwide disapproval of the ballots. Darcy Lilo–led National Coalition The new system proved to be very for Reform and Advancement (ncra) effective in removing ghost voters government just before the 2014 elec- and people voting in more than one tions may be attributed to its lack of constituency. It was alleged that in initiative in addressing these and other the past, individuals could vote in a chronic national issues. Nevertheless, particular constituency in the morn- since there were also preparations ing and again in another constituency for a national general election taking in the afternoon. There was no way place that year, hopes were pinned of cross-checking and eliminating on the opportunities that may come registered voters from double regis- with the election into office of a new tration or, thus, double voting. The government. biometric registration removed a total By mid-March, the registration of of six thousand multiple registrations voters was already underway. In an and ghost names from the list (ssn effort to close the loopholes in the 2014a). Unfortunately, there were national registered voters list and certain concerns with the new system. taking into consideration experiences The first was the difficulty for voters, of past elections, the Solomon Islands especially the disabled and elderly, in Electoral Commission introduced traveling to registration centers to be changes to the voter registration registered. The previous system was process. One of the major changes easier because registration officers was the introduction of biometric actually moved from house to house voter registration. This was adapted to do the registration, thereby accom- from the voter registration process modating the elderly and disabled. used in Fiji in its first democratic elec- The second and more serious con- tions after the 2006 coup. The same cern was the practice wherein vot- Canadian company, Electoral Services ers allegedly sold their identification International, that provided techni- (id) cards to would-be candidates or cal expertise to the 2014 Fiji elections sitting members of Parliament. For also provided Solomon Islands with instance, there were allegations that this new biometric voter registra- certain individuals sold their voter id tion process. This was a change from cards to the member for Honiara for the previous practice in which voter cash returns (ssn 2014c). The inten- ­registrars moved from village to tion was that the candidate or member ­village in each constituency to person- would keep the cards and on Election ally register eligible voters. Under the Day return the cards to the owner, new system, voter registration centers who would then cast a ballot in favor political reviews • melanesia 531 of the candidate who gave money. it a total failure when implemented. It These allegations, however, were was originally a move to ensure that difficult to prove. Moreover, if it did elections are credible, free, and fair. happen, whether those whose cards Solomon Islanders have long called were ­purchased actually voted for the for this and were excited when it was ­“purchaser” is difficult to ascertain. passed and executed (ssn, 21 May Suffice it to say that the new biomet- 2014). Over the years, the quality ric system improved the registration of members entering Parliament has of voters and provided a better list of been far from desirable, and a few in voters than in previous elections. the house preceding the 2014 elec- Apart from the biometric voter tions were not even contributing to registration, another important parliamentary debates. In one of his development prior to the elections final contributions to the National was the hurried passage of the Politi- Parliament, then Leader of Opposition cal Parties Integrity (ppi) Bill. The Dr sarcastically made desire to see members of Parliament references to such members by saying minimize frequent floor crossing and that he had not heard some of them to discourage independent members sneeze or cough through the micro- switching allegiance in Parliament had phones. , another been evident for quite a while. For member of the Opposition bench at instance, during the reign of the Derek the time, stressed the importance of Sikua–led Solomon Islands Alliance amending the Electoral Act as a way for Change government from 2007 to avoid vote buying (ssn, 22 May to 2010, a similar proposal had been 2014). The ppi Act was subsequently brought up for debate. A draft bill was passed and came into force just in then created, only to be sabotaged by time to be implemented in the 2014 a faction in Sikua’s own cabinet led national ­general elections. Unfortu- by (Nanau 2010). nately, the outcome of implementation Incidentally, when Lilo became prime left much to be desired. Most of those minister, he pushed for the enactment who debated and passed it chose not of such legislation in the dying hours to abide by the provisions of the act. of his reign (sibc Online 2014f). The The 2014 general election was seen bill went through Parliament and as important in Solomon Islands for a became law just before the national variety of reasons. Apart from peo- elections in 2014. Two prominent pro- ple’s frustration with a leadership that visions of the ppi Act are the require- has legitimized the channeling of state ment for political parties to register in resources to itself (ie, to members of order to be officially recognized and Parliament) under the guise of “Rural for candidates to be members of a Constituency Development Funds” political party if they enter Parliament (see Dawea 2013), there were also as independent members (National concerns with political stability and Parliament of Solomon Islands 2014). gender equality in Parliament. Indeed The intentions of the ppi Act are the historical volatility of Parliament noble, but the members of Parliament necessitated the initial drafting of the who passed it were not, thus making ppi legislation. Moreover, with a bit 532 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) more structure to and formalization the fact that the Opposition side of of political party establishments, each the house boycotted the committee political party would accommodate stage of the bill, alleging that Speaker the need for gender equality and the was rushing through recruitment of a “better” lot of new the clauses and shutting off questions politicians. Solomon Islanders and from the group (sibc Online 2014e). the international community felt that A profound disappointment stemmed a free and fair election is important from the fact that almost 80 percent to attain the development aspira- of sitting members of Parliament who tions of a developing country. The were responsible for the passage of the new voter registration system and ppi ppi failed to campaign under regis- Act, at least to observers of Solomon tered political parties but ran instead Islands political development, have the as independents. It is mind-boggling to potential to address the deficiencies think why more than half of the then witnessed in previous general elec- members agreed to the critical role tions. Likewise, the secretary-general of the ppi as such an important piece of the Commonwealth, Kamalesh of legislation but went on to covertly Sharma, stressed the importance of protest against their own law when credible elections in shaping the type implemented. of society in which Solomon Island- A total of 443 candidates contested ers wish to live. He emphasized that the elections, a drop from 509 candi- “all concerned—the election manage- dates registered in the 2010 elections. ment body, political party leaders and Given the record of members of Par- their supporters, security agencies, liament who legitimated the allocation the media, civil society and the voters of various funds to themselves instead themselves should play their rightful of through the normal processes of roles on election day so that the pro- government administration, it was cess and results command the confi- hoped that many of the old members dence and trust of all” (sibc Online would be voted out. Unfortunately, 2014g). this was not the case. Although the ppi Although the voter registration Act increased the number of candi- ­system solved a lot of problems with dates affiliated with political parties the registered voters list, such as repeat to 45 percent from 22 percent of registration, ghost names, or the candidates in 2010, sitting members removal of names of deceased persons, had an upper hand. Indeed, 78 per- it had some issues. The alleged selling cent of the sitting members retained of voter identification cards was also their seats, a percentage higher than a concern, as was the ultimate non- the post­independence average of 54 requirement of the use of id cards on percent (Wood 2014a, 2). Part of the Election Day (Transparency Solomon explanation for this is the discretion- Islands 2014). The biggest concern, ary funding available to members of though, is the actual implementation Parliament. For instance, in 2012 each of the ppi Act that was rushed through member of Parliament was allocated Parliament just before the elections si$2 million per year to deliver con- on 19 November. This was despite stituency development ­projects at the political reviews • melanesia 533 member’s discretion (Haque 2012, 4). tions where all female candidates who It should be noted that since 2013, contested in twenty-one constituencies each constituency has been allocated then received only 4 percent of the si$5,998,000 (under the 2013 devel- votes (McMurray 2012, 2). opment budget); these funds cannot Terence Wood explained that be expended for any development the critical factors that contributed activity, even if it is administered by to the difficulty of women winning government ministries, unless the seats include the different standards constituency’s member of Parliament of behavior that women are held to, affixes his or her signature to sup- lack of money to support their elec- port it. tion efforts, and lack of support from The push for gender equality under ­influential brokers or local male the ppi, and efforts by those champi- figures (2014b, 1). A recent report oning the cause, fell flat on its face. by Karlyn T Roughan and Lisa Wini Political parties did not seriously highlights three reasons why women consider the critical role women play did not normally get more votes, in national political leadership. It including people not knowing the was expected that with the formaliza- candidates or their backgrounds well tion of political parties through legal enough, not hearing their campaigns, requirements to register them for con- and feeling that the women candi- test, more women candidates would dates were not qualified enough to be secure seats through the electoral elected (2015, 15–18). High Court process. Unfortunately, this did not Justice Stephen Pallaras also felt that happen, as only one out of the twenty- women’s organizations ought to six women candidates secured a seat. “unite in strength and fight for the Even so, Freda Soria Comua still has women of this country” (sibc Online an election petition hanging over her 2014h). The history of Solomon head by former member of Parliament Islands elections and gender equality and Foreign Affairs Minister Clay efforts show that there is little hope Forau Soalaoi, whom she unseated. for this happening under the current The first national female member, electoral system, even with a united Hilda Kari, contested the Central front by women’s organizations. A Honiara seat but secured fewer votes more realistic call would be to work than the other candidates in that toward a new electoral system that constituency. The only other woman, would advance the equal representa- , who was a member for tion of all Solomon Islanders, includ- North Malaita in the previous house, ing minority groups and women. did not contest her constituency The national general elections because her husband, Jimmy Lusibaea, generated mixed expectations and who was previously disqualified from outcomes. There was uncertainty as Parliament, was eligible to contest to how peaceful the elections would the 2014 elections. She neverthe- be because of previous experiences in less contested the East Honiara seat 2006 after the –led govern- but was also badly defeated. Similar ment was sworn in. As a contingency results were noted in the 2010 elec- plan, about ninety-six participating 534 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) police officers, including riot police tion in Solomon Islands politics (see from Australia, New Zealand, Cook Nanau 2010). Two camps emerged Islands, , Papua New Guinea, and engaged in horse-trading in the Tonga, and were brought in lead-up to the nomination and election to support the force (sibc Online of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. 2014a). The election was nevertheless It should be noted that Sogavare was peaceful except for minor incidents. elected as an independent member and A group of Commonwealth election had to join a registered political party observers headed by former PNG prior to his election as prime minister Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta because of the provisions of the ppi confirmed the peaceful conclusion Act, supported by a High Court deci- of the election (sibc Online 2014b). sion in mid-November 2014 (Radio Despite the high retention rate of sit- New Zealand 2014). ting members, some longtime, promi- The election of Prime Minister nent politicians, including former Sogavare and his dcc government Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo, was welcomed by many Solomon were booted out. Lilo was dethroned Islanders. Three former prime min- by a teacher and newcomer, Jimson isters are also in his cabinet: Derek Tanangada, by more than two hun- Sikua, Snyder Rini, and . dred votes (abc News 2014b). The Sogavare also toned down his previous others were Job Dudley Tauisinga, a anti-Australian stance to one that is long-serving member of Parliament, more conciliatory and engaging. The and former Foreign Affairs Minister dcc government came into power with Clay Forau, who was ousted by Freda the baggage left by the previous Lilo– Soria Comua by twenty-two votes led ncra government. One lingering (ssn, 27 Nov 2014). problem was the six-month standoff Whatever one thinks or says, the between Solomon Islands Airlines and reality is that Solomon Islands voted Fiji Airways (Fiji Times Online 2014). in fifty members of Parliament in The dcc government took swift action the 2014 general election from the to restore relations with Fiji by giving twelve registered political parties Fiji Airways the additional flight they and independent candidates. Out of requested into the country. This was these elected members, 66 percent despite the frustration expressed by contested as independent candidates, many Solomon Islands observers and while only 34 percent came from six airline personnel about the skewed registered political parties. The other nature of the deal, whereby Fiji Air- six registered political parties failed ways got what it wanted but Solomon to secure a single seat in the house. Islands Airlines got nothing (see abc The results made a mockery of the News 2015; ssn 2015b). In addition recently enacted ppi Act aimed at to this rushed decision in the airlines strengthening political parties. What saga, Prime Minister Sogavare went transpired from the results is the ahead and made political appoint- incredibly powerful role played by ments starting with his ­special secre- independent members of Parliament in tary and thirty-nine others. The debate government formation and disintegra- on these appointments and their political reviews • melanesia 535 suitability in their positions dragged years. The way ahead is in no way on into the beginning of 2015 (sibc more clear than what it was in 2014. Online 2015), but the dcc ­maintained Solomon Islanders can only hope that that the list of political appointees the “change” indicated in the name of leaked by the social media was not the current dcc government actually official. However, they failed to generates positive livelihoods for them submit a formal list of names of these and their children. appointees even after three months gordon leua nanau in office. The dcc government also released its policy statements in late January References (opmc 2015), a move that was both welcomed and snubbed. Most of the abc News, Australian Broadcasting policies listed and projects identified Corporation News. 2014a. Police Out in Force to Prevent Fresh Riots in Solomons have been indicated in many previ- Capital. 19 May. http://www.abc.net.au/ ous government policies. Skeptics news/2014-05-17/an-solomon-riots/ would like to see how different the 5460094 [accessed 17 Feb 2015] dcc government will be in addressing ———. b. Solomon Islands ­Election: these development issues. The dcc 2014 Caretaker pm Gordon Darcy Lilo Ousted policy strategy to undertake serious in Shock Result. 21 November. http://www fundamental reforms would hopefully .abc.net.au/news/2014-11-21/solomon result in national unity, stability, and -islands-election3a-caretaker-pm-lilo development. The challenge now is -ousted-in-shock-r/5908660 [accessed to find the money to deliver services 18 Feb 2015] and ensure that some projects in this ———. 2015. Disappointment Fiji- “development wish list” become Solomon Islands Flight Stoush Not realities. As 2015 progresses, the role Fully Rectified. 15 January. http://www of the thirty-nine political appoin- .radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/ tees (called “consultants”) is still not program/pacific-beat/disappointment clear, and the national Opposition -fijisolomon-islands-flight-stoush-not-fully is again at the government’s throat, -rectified/1406623 [accessed 18 Feb 2015] observing every move and decision Business Advantage PNG. 2014. Solomon made. Fighting corruption is said to Islands Businesses Counting the Cost of be the focus of the dcc government, a Devastating Flood. 9 April. http://www very welcome move in a country like .businessadvantagepng.com/si-business Solomon Islands. Whatever happened -counting-cost-devastating-flood [accessed in the government, the responsibility 17 Feb 2015] of the Solomon Islands voter has been Dawea, Elliot. 2013. Solomons Con- fulfilled with the election of represen- stituency Development Fund Bill Passed. tatives to Parliament. They can only Solomon­ Star, 29 March. Available online hope that some of the Rural Con- via Pacific Islands Report http://pidp stituency Development Fund revealed .eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2013/March/ earlier and development projects 03-29-03.htm [accessed 2 March 2015] and services listed in the dcc policy Fiji Times Online. 2014. Aviation Deal and plan reach them in the next four Fallout. 29 July. http://www.fijitimes.com/ 536 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) story.aspx?id=275705 [accessed 18 Feb .gov.sb/files/whatsnew/Voter_Behaviour 2015] _Report_.pdf [accessed 26 Feb 2015] Haque, Tobias A. 2012. The Influence of sibc Online, Solomon Islands Broadcast- Culture on Economic Development in the ing Corporation Online. 2014a. Addi- Solomon Islands. State, Society, and Gov- tional ppf Officers Arrived Ahead of Next ernance in Melanesia (ssgm) Discussion Week’s Elections. 12 November. http:// Paper 2012/1. Canberra: The Australian www.sibconline.com.sb/additional-p-p-f National University. -officers-arrived-ahead-of-next-weeks -elections/ [accessed 8 Feb 2015] McMurray, Christine. 2012. National Elections and Women Candidates in ———. 2014b. Election Observers Will Solomon Islands: Results from the People’s Be Independent, Impartial: Sir Mekere. Survey. Canberra: Centre for Democratic 15 November. http://www.sibconline.com Institutions. .sb/election-observers-will-be-independent -impartial-sir-mekere/ [accessed 8 Feb Nanau, Gordon Leua. . How Politi- 2010 2015] cal Parties Do and Do Not Contribute to Democratic Governance in the Solomon ———. 2014c. Local Academic Warned Islands. In Political Parties and Democ- against Politicising Disaster. 7 April. racy, vol 4: Africa and Oceania, edited by http://www.sibconline.com.sb/local Kay Lawson, Luc Sindjoun, and Marian -academic-warned-against-politicizing J Simms, 201–224. Santa Barbara, ca: -disaster/ [accessed 17 Feb 2015] Praeger. ———. 2014d. Mob Claiming to Repre- ———. 2014. Melanesia in Review: Issues sent Flood Victims Over React. 17 May. and Events, 2013: Solomon Islands. The http://www.sibconline.com.sb/mob Contemporary Pacific 26:516–524. -claiming-to-represent-flood-victims-react/ [accessed 17 Feb 2015] National Parliament of Solomon Islands. 2014. Political Parties Integrity Act ———. 2014e. Opposition Says It Is 2014 (No 9 of 2014). Honiara: National ­Boycotting Parties Integrity Bill. 28 May. ­Parliament. ———. 2014f. Political Parties Integrity opmc, Office of the Prime Minister and Bill Passed Second Reading. 21 May. Cabinet. 2015. Democratic Coalition for http://www.sibconline.com.sb/political Change Government: Policy Strategy and -parties-integrity-bill-passed-second Translation. Honiara: Prime Minister’s -reading/ [accessed 18 Feb 2015] Office. ———. 2014g. Solomon Islanders Have Right to Take Part in Free and Fair Elec- Radio New Zealand. 2014. Solomons Court Rules against Unregistered Political tion. 14 November. http://www.sibconline .com.sb/solomon-islanders-have-right-to Parties. 14 November. http://www.radionz -take-part-in-free-fair-election/ [accessed .co.nz/international/pacific-news/259393/ solomons-court-rules-against-unregistered 8 Feb 2015] -political-parties [accessed 8 Feb 2015] ———. 2014h. Women Organisations Combine to Be Effective: Pallaras. 15 Roughan, Karlyn T, and Lisa Wini. 2015. November. http://www.sibconline.com.sb/ Report on Voter Behaviour Towards women-organisations-combine-to-be Women Candidates Before and After the -effective-pallaras/ [accessed 8 Feb 2015] 2014 SI National General Election. 27 January. Honiara: National Parliament of ———. 2015. Opposition Worries over Solomon Islands. http://www.parliament Rence Sore’s Appointment as S.S.P.M. political reviews • melanesia 537

4 January. http://www.sibconline.com TransparencySI/posts/304333706390633 .sb/opposition-worried-over-rence-sores [accessed 18 Feb 201] -appointment-as-s-s-p-m/ [accessed Wood, Terence. 2014a. The 2014 Elections Feb ] 18 2015 in Solomon Islands: Did Anything Change? siec, Solomon Islands Electoral Commis- Will Anything Change? ­DevPolicyBlog, sion. 2014. Biometric Voter Registration. Development Policy ­Centre, The Austra- Vavaya, Honiara: siec. lian National Univer­sity, 22 January. http://devpolicy.org/the-2014-elections ssn, Solomon Star News. 2014a. 6,000 -in-solomon-islands-did-anything-change Fraudulent Voters Detected. 19 June. -will-anything-change- / [accessed http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/ 20150122 8 Feb 2014] national/2540-6-000-fraudulent-voters -detected [accessed 18 Feb 2015] ———. 2014b. Why Can’t Women Win? Impediments to Women’s Electoral ———. 2014b. adb Gives us$200k for ­Success in the Solomon Islands. Centre for Relief Effort. 18 April. http://www Democratic Institutions ( ) Discussion .solomonstarnews.com/news/business/ cdi Paper 2014/1. Canberra: The Australian 576-adb-gives-us-200k-for-relief-effort National University. [accessed 17 Feb 2015] ———. 2014c. Call to Ban Card Buying. 27 May. http://www.solomonstarnews .com/news/national/2081-call-to-ban-card -buying [accessed 18 Feb 2015] Timor-Leste ———. 2014d. Students Plan Boycott. For Timor-Leste, 2014 began with 14 July. http://www.solomonstarnews looming political uncertainty. In .com/news/national/2882-students-plan November 2013, Prime Minister -boycott [accessed 17 Feb 2015] José Alexandre “Xanana” Gusmão ———. 2014e. Students Renew Allow- announced that he intended to resign ances Call. 14 August. http://www from office in the coming year, with .solomonstarnews.com/news/national/ September floated as a possible date, 3470-students-renew-allowances-call ostensibly in order to promote gen- [accessed 17 Feb 2015] erational renewal of national leader- ———. 2015a. Award Fraud Uncovered; ship. According to some accounts, Two ntu Officers Suspended. 22 January. Gusmão’s plan was to establish a http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/ small council of senior advisors (of national/5692-award-fraud-uncovered which he would be a member) drawn -two-ntu-officers-suspended [accessed from across the political spectrum 17 Feb 2015] that would provide direction to his ———. 2015b. Core Issue of Air Dispute hand-selected replacement and new Not Solved, Says Solomon Airlines. government. But September 2014 16 January. http://www.solomonstarnews passed with Gusmão still in office and .com/news/5590-core-issue-of-air-dispute continuing to trumpet the benefits -not-solved-says-solomon-airlines of major development projects while [accessed 18 Feb 2015] dismissing criticism of corruption Transparency Solomon Islands. 2014. within his government and passage of Transparency Solomon Islands. Facebook new restrictions curtailing basic rights. post, 15 May. https://www.facebook.com/ After a flurry of new rumors in early