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Home , Honiara, Vanuatu, Walter Lini

POLITICAL REVIEW.

Vanuatu in signing the Principles of the VP to a solid victory in the general Cooperation that formalized their rela­ elections of November 1987, thus con­ tions as members ofthe Melanesian solidating the political control he had Spearhead group. Under the terms of exercised since the country achieved the document, signed in Vila on 14 independence in 1980. , spearhead members agreed to However, the VP suffered some loss conduct cultural exchanges; to pro­ ofsupport in the 1987 elections. Al­ mote local and regional culture; to though its members won 26 ofthe 46 undertake economic and technical seats in Parliament, the predominantly cooperation; to work toward arms francophone Union ofModerate Par­ control, disarmament, and the reduc­ ties (UMP), led by Maxime Carlot, cap­ tion ofinternational tensions; and to tured 42 percent of the vote, signifi­ limit super power influence in the cantly more than the 33 percent it had (SN, 18 March 1988, 1-2). attracted in the 1979 elections. Further­ DAVID WELCHMAN GEGEO more, for the first time in three victori­ ous elections, Lini faced a challenge to his leadership ofthe VP. Barak Sope, longtime secretary-general ofthe party What to many outsiders has been the and member ofParliament for the capi­ unpredictable course ofVanuatu poli­ tal, , was left out of the new tics continued on its turbulent way nine-member cabinet after an unsuc­ through much of1988. The year was cessful bid to replace Lini (PIM, Jan marked by a bitter leadership struggle 1988,13-15). Sope was eventually between Prime Father Walter appointed minister for transport, tour­ Lini and Barak Sope, the two most ism, and public works in January 1988, prominent individuals in the ruling but the resultant political peace proved 'aku Pati (vp). At year's end, Lini short-lived. was the apparent victor with Sope, On 16 Mayan antigovernment dem­ four ofhis supporters, and the young onstration in Port Vila erupted into a republic's president all in police cus­ major riot that caused extensive dam­ tody facing serious charges. age to city shops and resulted in the The leadership struggle began at the death ofone man (lB, June 1988, 13; end of1987, a year of difficulties that PR, 26 May 1988, 1,3). The protest included a devastating hurricane, was a response to the abolition by the growing external concern over Libyan minister for lands of the Vila Urban and Soviet influence, an apparent loss Land Corporation (VULCAN), which ofconfidence in the country's financial had managed urban land in Vila on center, a decline in the price ofcopra, a behalf ofthe government and the land­ slump in , and a cut in French owners since independence. The aboli­ in retaliation for Vanuatu's support tion was justified by the government on for the Kanak independence struggle in grounds of cost efficiency and sus­ . Despite these prob­ pected financial irregularities, but it lems, and the effects of a serious was widely perceived to be primarily a stroke, managed to lead political move aimed at Barak Sope, a . SPRING/FALL 1989

VULCAN board member, who used the cases brought before the Supreme corporation as a power base. Fearing Court. Justice Gordon Ward found all further violence that the small Vanuatu the sackings to be lawful, despite the Mobile Force would be unable to con­ lack of a in Parliament when trol, Father Lini sought and received the first group was expelled (PR, 4 Aug guarantees ofmilitary support from 1988 ,1). , , and Domestic discontent resurfaced in New . Barak Sope was sacked October when the Vanuatu Appeals from the cabinet, and further violence Court restored Sope and his four sup­ followed, with Sope threatening to porters to their seats in Parliament but bring down the VP government unless upheld the dismissal of the eighteen there was a change in its land policy. opposition members ofthe UMP. In the He argued that the appropriation of same month, the Vanua'aku Pati Con­ VULCAN was "the way communist gov­ gress expelled 128 party members, ernments work," and rebuked the Aus­ allegedly for their support ofthe newly tralian government for intervening in formed Melanesian Progressive Pati domestic political issues by, among (MPP) led by Barak Sope (IB, Dec 1988, other things, flying in riot control 28). By-elections were held on 12 De­ equipment (PIM, July 1988, 10-12). cember to fill the seats formerly held by A month later Father Lini moved to the expelled UMP members ofParlia­ have Sope and four other VP members ment, but were boycotted by the UMP expelled from Parliament after they and Sope's MPP, whose members had had joined sixteen members of the resigned from their newly restored par­ opposition in a no-confidence motion liamentary seats early in November. against the government. In addition, The VP won 14 ofthe seats, 6 unop­ eighteen Melanesian exiles from the posed, giving them control of 35 ofthe Indonesian province of Irian Jaya, 46 seats in Parliament. The small Tan including members ofthe Black Broth­ Union party won 3, and 1 seat ers rock band, were ordered to leave remained vacant for want of candi­ the country because oftheir association dates. with Sope. Initially Lini could not raise A dramatic new dimension was a quorum to expel the rebel MPS, but added to the conflict late in November late in July some twenty-three mem­ when Vanuatu's president, Ati George bers, still only half ofthe full house, Sokomanu, whose constitutional role voted to expel Sope and four ofhis sup­ is largely ceremonial, warned that porters. Later the same week, the Vanuatu was in danger of becoming a entire opposition UMP was expelled on one-party state and called for an early the grounds that its members had general election. Lini angrily rejected refused to take their places in Parlia­ both suggestions, but on 16 ment on three consecutive days;-These Sokomanu declared Parliament dis­ decisions precipitated a constitutional solved and two days later swore in a crisis and, in the absence ofVanuatu's five-man interim government led by his chief justice, the chief justice ofthe cousin, Barak Sope. The Supreme was asked to hear the Court quickly judged these actions ille- POLITICAL REVIEW. MELANESIA gal, and proceedings to dismiss Soko­ his alliance with the UMP opposition, manu from office were initiated in Par­ and the government muted its attacks liament. On 20 December Sope and his on French policy in New Caledonia four colleagues in the abortive interim after the Matignon Accord was signed government were formally charged in August. All ofVanuatu's political with sedition. The following day Presi­ leaders expressed a desire to normalize dent Sokomanu was arrested and relations with and to end the charged with inciting members ofthe animosity arising from the expulsion of police and mobile force to mutiny, a the French ambassador in October charge that carries a maximum sen­ 1987 and the subsequent abrupt decline tence oflife imprisonment. However, in French aid. Vanuatu's foreign policy until there is an effective opposition in thus became much more like those of Parliament, Lini's victory must be other members ofthe Melanesian regarded as a hollow one. Spearhead group during 1988.

The political disturbances of1988 JOHN CONNELL did little to help Vanuatu's ailing econ­ omy. The expected growth of the tax­ ABBREVIATIONS haven-based financial sector, previ­ ously the only thriving source of IB Islands Business, monthly, income for Vanuatu, failed to material­ ize, and the country's other main PIM Pacific Islands Monthly, Suva income earners, and tourism, PR Pacific Report, fortnightly, declined. The trade deficit increased, domestic and foreign investment were SN Solomon Nius, weekly, Gov­ hesitant, unemployment increased, ernment Information Service, particularly in Port Vila, and infra­ structure deteriorated, especially in the SS Solomon Star, weekly, Honiara transport sector. Although foreign aid TPNG The Times ofPapua New and European Economic Community Guinea, weekly, copra price supports helped reduce the balance oftrade problem, the general References economic decline further weakened the position ofthe Vanua'aku Patio Backgrounder. 1988. Weekly publication of The combination ofeconomic and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Canberra. 9 November. political crisis led to a mellowing of some of the more radical strands of Connell, John. 1988. New Caledonia: The Vanuatu's foreign policy. The one-year Matignon Accord and the Colonial Future. fishing agreement with the Soviet Occasional Paper no. 5. Canberra: RIAP. Union lapsed early in 1988 and negotia­ Crocombe, Ron. 1988. Prepare for Your tors failed to agree on terms for its Future. Solomon Star, 22 July, 12. renewal. There was little evidence of Fraser, Helen. 1988. New Caledonia: Anti­ any dealings with during the Colonialism in a Pacific Territory. Peace year. Most dramatically, Barak Sope Research Centre Monograph no. 3. Can­ became less critical ofFrance following berra: Australian National University. I66 THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC. SPRING/FALL I989

Rilifia, A. S. 1988. Private View: Choiseul High-Level Seminar on the 1986 Population for a Separate Province. Solomon Star, 14 Census of Solomon Islands, Honiara, 14 October, 9, 13· June 1988. Solomon Islands. 1988a. 1987 Constitu­ -. 1988c. Draft Population Policy ofSolo­ tional Review Committee Report. Solomon mon Islands. Honiara: Ministry ofHealth Mamaloni, Chair. Honiara: Government and Medical Services. Printer. -. 1988b. Towards a National Population Planning Policy. Paper presented to the