Melanesia in Review: Issues and Events, 2009

FIJI meeting, attended instead by Attorney Fiji’s three coups have each occurred General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, settled in two stanzas: first an illegal over- on yet another ultimatum to Fiji’s throw of the elected government, and interim government, insisting that then a later abrogation of the con- a credible timetable for elections be stitution. Unlike its predecessors, the drawn up by 1 May. Australian Prime 5 December 2006 coup took twenty- Minister Kevin Rudd said “a line in eight months to reach the second the sand” had been drawn (Post Cou- denouement. On 10 April 2009, the rier 2009). Bainimarama responded constitution was ditched, the judiciary that he had no intention of complying sacked, and the scheduled date for with the ultimatum and said that the elections was pushed back to 2014. inevitable suspension should have been The military was digging itself in for immediate (FijiLive, 29 Jan 2009). the long haul, in defiance of domestic His nonattendance at the pif summit and international protest. Domestic generated some controversy within the criticism was to be silenced by stiff ranks of the interim administration. media censorship, public emergency Permanent Secretary in the Ministry regulations, travel bans, corruption of Foreign Affairs Ratu Isoa Gavidi charges, clandestine firebombs, as well and Fiji’s High Commissioner to PNG as cancellation of pensions. The inevi- Ratu Isoa Tikoca were both sacked table storm of international protest after urging Bainimarama to make an after 10 April was less easily silenced. appearance in Port Moresby. Gavidi In response, military commander and said later that Bainimarama’s familiar- interim Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe ity with top-down military authority Frank Bainimarama claimed to be a made it difficult for him to accept victim of Australian and New Zealand advice (Fiji Times, 3 March 2009). “bullying” and appealed for solidarity Over the course of 2009, other regime from the Melanesian Spearhead Group insiders urging a more conciliatory states. Over 2009, as Bainimarama’s stance—including Permanent Secretary enemies faltered, he visibly grew in in the Prime Minister’s Office Parmesh domestic self-confidence. On the inter- Chand, as well as Robin Nair and national stage, he projected an image former Citizen’s Constitutional of a wronged and misunderstood Forum activist Jone Dakuvula—also champion of modernism in Fiji. found themselves demoted, sacked, or In January 2009, Bainimarama marginalized. refused to attend a meeting of Pacific During late 2008, hopes for Islands Forum (pif) leaders in Port some resolution to the coup-related Moresby, insisting that severe flood- impasse had focused on the scheduled ing in Fiji required him to stay home President’s Political Dialogue Forum, to assist clean-up operations. The pif which the United Nations and the

416 pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 417

Commonwealth had been invited to Far from embracing pressures for a chair. But preliminary dialogue ses- restoration of democracy, the interim sions with political parties—assisted government was busily dismantling by interlocutors Hawai‘i-based Ton- yet another tier of elected leadership. gan academic Sitiveni Halapua and In January, Fiji’s town and municipal Robin Nair, a Fiji Indian who formerly councils—the country’s only elected worked in the Australian Department bodies for which all Fiji citizens vote of Foreign Affairs and Trade—gave together without race-based electoral little cause for optimism. Through rolls—were dissolved, and administra- early 2009, meetings were regularly tors were instead appointed to run the canceled or delayed, and Bainimarama urban authorities. This was another made clear that he wanted to exclude blow for Fiji’s political elites, still Laisenia Qarase’s Soqosoqo Duavata reeling as a result of the dissolution ni Lewenivanua (sdl) party and any of Parliament in 2006. The councils others who refused to sign up to his had been important bases for the sdl, government’s People’s Charter (for nfp, and the Fiji Labour Party (flp). details, see Fraenkel 2009). Qarase’s For the flp in particular, the shift SDL, together with the National Fed- in position over 2009 was dramatic. eration Party (nfp), and former Oppo- Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry sition leader Mick Beddoes, as well as had joined the interim cabinet as trade unions and civil society organi- finance minister in January 2007, as zations, met under the auspices of the well as taking responsibility for sugar, Democracy Movement in January, but national planning, and public sector this too was soon silenced. In March, restructuring. His departure in August there were attacks on the homes and 2008 had been due to a rift with the vehicles of prominent government crit- cabinet and the Military Council, ics, including Democracy Movement ostensibly over a bungled attempt to President Attar Singh, Fiji Times editor impose punitive duties on the bottled Netani Rika, and Colonel Sakiusa mineral water industry. The subse- Raivoce, a former army officer who quent break with Bainimarama had is also head of Global Risks Fiji, a not been complete, but it sharpened recruitment organization for security in early 2009. In February, Chaudhry personnel bound for Iraq. Qarase trav- criticized the interim prime minister eled to Australia in February, where he for showing “an apparent lack of con- claimed his life was at risk in Fiji, but cern for the poor in our society,” and he nevertheless returned to face trial in response, Bainimarama accused the on corruption charges in March. The flp leader of failing “to understand deposed prime minister spent much the dynamics of the world’s economy” of 2009 away from Suva on his home (Fiji Times, 14 Feb 2009). Efforts to island. In January, he was installed as heal that breach, reportedly includ- the new chief of his Mavana village on ing an offer that Chaudhry rejoin the Vanuabalavu. Reports of that event cabinet, proved unsuccessful (FijiLive, were carried back to Suva by the new 26 Feb 2009). Tui Kubuca’s traditional herald, Daily Not only had flp-run councils in Post editor Mesake Koroi. Labasa, Lautoka, and Nasinu been 418 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010)

liquidated, but Nasinu Mayor Rajesh- old hands from the 1980s, Gautam war Kumar, a close ally of Chaudhry, Ramswarup and Rasheed Ali, both was also being pursued by the Fiji post-1987 coup émigrés. Sugar down- Independent Commission Against sizing was not primarily an attack on Corruption for alleged misappro- the farmers’ unions or the flp. It was priation of funds. In addition, the an inevitable retrenchment given the flp’s power base in the sugar indus- ratcheting down of European Union try was under threat. In February, (EU) preferential pricing. But the con- the interim government dismantled sequences were the same. the Sugar Commission of Fiji, Fiji Chaudhry also had other rea- Sugar Marketing Ltd, and the Sugar sons for concern about the chang- Research Institute, and was accused ing political situation. In February, by Chaudhry of a “consequential a Times-Tebbutt opinion poll found marginalisation of the cane growers, that 37 percent of Fiji Indians favored as was the case in the colonial era” Bainimarama as prime minister in (FijiLive, 21 Feb 2009). In May, the contrast to only 15 percent in favor of government refused to continue to Chaudhry—a dramatic change from bail out the heavily subsidized South May 2006 when Chaudhry’s flp had Pacific Fertilizers Ltd, a move also captured 81 percent of the Indian opposed by the flp. Floods in Janu- vote. Among indigenous Fijians, ary had destroyed the old Sigatoka Qarase remained the favorite, with Bridge, across which tramlines used 52 percent, compared to 19 percent to carry cane from Olosara Sector preferring Bainimarama (Fiji Times, on the eastern side of the river to the 20 Feb 2009). Although opinion polls mill at Lautoka in the west. In July, in Fiji are notoriously unreliable, the the nfp-aligned Fiji Cane Growers Times-Tebbutt poll entailed interviews Association accused the government of with 11,256 people, an unusually abandoning the two hundred farm- large sample, and other than this, only ers in Olosara. Permanent Secretary anecdotal surveys of the public mood for Sugar Parmesh Chand responded were available through 2009. Given that spending f$7 million to repair the the climate of intimidation and the bridge did not make financial sense usual urban bias in polling, the survey and urged farmers to “switch to non- probably understated the backing for cane from 2010” (FijiLive, 19 Sept Qarase and the sdl at the time, but 2009). (f$1.00 equals approximately few doubted the findings about Fiji us$.52.) The thirty-eight-member Fiji Indian support for Bainimarama’s Sugar Cane Grower’s Council was government. dissolved in August. It had previously Nevertheless, this was a curious been controlled by the flp-aligned reaction from a community that had National Farmers’ Union, and the flp protested vigorously against the coups responded by furiously attacking the of 1987 and 2000. Fiji Indians, who Fiji Sugar Corporation’s “local /expa- for the most part lack the safety net triate consultants from Australia” of owning land in rural areas, had (flp 2009), a reference to the growing been hit hard by steep fuel and food influence of two returning industry price rises in 2008. Acceleration in pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 419 the decline of the sugar industry over Brothers School in Suva. His actions 2007–2009 lowered living standards after the 2000 coup, and in particu- particularly in the cane belts of lar his seizure of executive authority northern Vanua Levu and western Viti and abrogation of the constitution on Levu, and strengthened the longer- 29 May 2000, had at the time been run exodus toward the towns. Bitter vigorously condemned by Fiji Indian hatred of the Qarase government had commentators, including the flp prompted initial sympathies for the leadership. The platform of his thirty- December 2006 coup, but would this seven-day administration in 2000 endure as the economy faltered, and as had been about uplifting the indig- the prices of basic foodstuffs soared? enous Fijians, not racial equality. His Despite the economic deterioration, espousal of the cause of the Fiji Indi- the signs were that Indian backing ans had matured during battles against for the interim government remained the Qarase government, particularly strong. By year’s end, even the reso- over the Reconciliation, Tolerance lutely anti-coup nfp saw its Fiji Cane and Unity Bill, which many believed Growers Association making overtures was aimed at granting amnesty to the to Bainimarama (fbc, 16 Feb 2010). 2000 coup instigators. Bainimarama Chaudhry had initially encouraged nevertheless remained first and fore- support for the regime on the part of most a military man, in charge of an Fiji Indians, and although he was now army that was 99 percent composed of out of the government, other promi- ethnic Fijians. Little effort was made nent Indians like Aiyaz Sayed-Khai- to alter this even after the 2006 coup, yum and Colonel Mohammed Aziz as could be seen from the overwhelm- were in key positions in the new order. ingly indigenous names of new recruits Bainimarama spoke regularly of racial listed for training exercises as adver- equality, and his relentless assault on tised in the national newspapers over Qarase, as well as on the Methodist 2007–2009. In substance, Bainimara- Church leaders and Fijian chiefs allied ma’s core message remained similar to with the SDL, captured the sympathy of that in 2000: It was about pulling Fiji- those who had long felt themselves to ans up by the bootstraps into moder- be the victims of Fijian ethno-nation- nity, using repression if necessary. alism. As University of the South Allusions to a cannibalistic past and Pacific (usp) economist Wadan Narsey other derogatory references to Fijian remarked in despair at the prevailing backwardness were used to justify the mood in his community, “To obtain case for military-guided modernization the support of Indian people in this (see, eg, SkyNewsAustralia 2009; see country (and abroad), all you need to also Fraenkel 2007, 435). The Novem- do is chant the mantra of racial equal- ber 2000 mutiny, which involved an ity” (Fiji Times, 31 Jan 2009). attempt on Bainimarama’s life, had Bainimarama’s commitment to encouraged a strain of fanaticism in racial equality had come late in his the commander, and determination career, although many retrospectively not to be swayed from his purpose emphasized the importance of his was no doubt reinforced by the likely schooling at the multiracial Marist dire personal consequences of failure. 420 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010)

Not all of Bainimarama’s loyal the National Stadium (Sydney Morn- lieutenants shared this perspective. In ing Herald, 29 Nov 2009), while the February at the Nasova Police Acad- Qarase-aligned mainstream Methodist emy, Police Commissioner Esala Teleni Church had meeting permits refused. criticized senior Fiji Indian officers The “Christian Crusade” within the for disloyalty after some protested police force, and Vulaono’s New to the media about internal religious Methodist road show, only abated pressures, including a requirement to after protests from prominent Catholic attend prayer sessions as part of the regime supporters led Bainimarama to commissioner’s “Christian Crusade” quash the new cult. against crime. At a meeting secretly The legality of rule by presidential filmed by Fiji tv, Commodore Teleni decree, and thus of Bainimarama’s berated the mostly Hindu and Mus- government, had been upheld by a lim Indian officers saying “Kemudou decision of Fiji’s High Court in Octo- tamata liu muri (You people are back- ber 2008, but an appeal in the Qarase stabbers). I don’t know what’s wrong v Bainimarama case was inevitable. with you people” (Fiji tv, 17 Feb Judicial deliberation in this case was 2009; FijiLive, 18 Feb 2009). Baini- constrained by the precedent set after marama came to the defense of his the 2000 coup, when the Court of fellow naval officer, saying, “I would Appeal ruled in the Chandrika Prasad do the same thing,” and emphasiz- case that the 1997 constitution was ing the importance of discipline in still intact and that the then postcoup the security forces: “Commissioner interim government had no legal Teleni is not a racist, he is only doing standing. To avoid that precedent, his job” (FijiLive, 18 Feb 2009). In a Chief Justice Anthony Gates, together letter to the Fiji Times, former Vice with Justices Davendra Pathik and President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi John Byrne, ruled in October 2008 pointed out that this was vilification that the postcoup actions of President of members of a specific ethnic group Ratu Josefa Iloilo entailed a legal and that “racism by another name exercise of “prerogative powers,” does not make it less so” (Fiji Times, which, although not explicit in the 25 Feb 2009). In March at Valelevu, 1997 constitution, had been inherited Commodore Teleni, strutting on the by all former colonies from the British stage in the manner of an evangelist Crown (fjhc 2008). This was a ver- preacher, reiterated his warning to dict condemned by most legal scholars disloyal officers and threatened divine (see Williams and others 2008). The retribution (Fiji tv, 21 March 2009). October 2008 judgment was never- Police officers were required to attend theless vigorously upheld as the basis Christian crusade events organized by of the legal order in Fiji. In January, Teleni’s brother Atu Vulaono’s New postcoup appointee Justice Thomas Methodist Church. Through mid- Hickie—who quite literally sang the 2009, Vulaono’s police force–funded praises of the 2008 Fiji judgments New Methodists held frequent “Souls on national television in November to Jesus” rallies across Suva, in (Fiji tv, 25 Nov 2008)—convicted Sukuna Park, at the fmf Dome, and at the Fiji Times of “contempt of court” pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 421 for publishing a letter critical of that himself head of state. The Fiji Consti- judgment. Although no verdict was tution Amendment Act 1997 Revoca- recorded against Fiji Times publisher tion Decree 2009 stated: “I hereby Rex Gardner, he subsequently became decree that all Decrees promulgated the third Australian newspaper pub- under my hand and seal shall be lisher to be deported since the 2006 regarded as law and shall be observed coup. and enforced.” Elections would not In the Court of Appeal judgment be held until September 2014, giving issued on 9 April, the October 2008 five years to put in place the necessary decision was overturned. Justices Ian reforms “to hold true democratic and Lloyd, Randall Powell sc, and Fran- parliamentary elections.” Another day cis Maxwell Douglas qc ruled that later, Bainimarama and his cabinet presidential powers were closely cir- were all reappointed. Officers from cumscribed by the 1997 constitution. the military-controlled Ministry of The dismissal of Qarase’s government Information were sent on a nightly and the appointment of Bainimarama basis into the newsrooms of the local as prime minister were pronounced media organizations, several foreign illegal. It was declared that a neutral journalists were expelled, and the prime minister should be appointed in signals from Radio Australia were a caretaker role to advise a constitu- jammed in an effort to avoid “negative tional dissolution of parliament ahead publicity.” The Fiji dollar was deval- of fresh elections (fjca 2009). With ued by 20 percent, and longstanding their judgment released and a govern- Reserve Bank Governor Savenaca ment appeal for a stay order refused, Narube was sacked. So too was Justices Lloyd, Powell, and Douglas Director of Public Prosecutions Josaia left the country, enabling Gates and Naigalevu and, as a result of regime other Fiji resident judges to avoid infighting, Ombudsman Shaista the stain of having ruled the interim Shameem. Bainimarama’s decision, government illegal. Attorney Gen- at the initial press conference after eral Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum criticized the abrogation of the constitution, the court for generating a “vacuum” to appear alongside his fellow naval (FijiLive, 9 April 2009). Bainimarama officers, Esala Teleni and Viliame told Auckland-based Radio Tarana Naupoto, rather than the top-ranking that he was going back to barracks army officers, suggested some fear of (Fiji Times, 11 April 2009). This was, resistance. Blog sites speculated about as Australian National University Pro- the absence of Colonel Pita Driti, the fessor Brij V Lal put it, a “cruel hoax” Fiji Land Force commander, and Ratu (Lal 2009), one scripted to reinforce Tevita Uluilakeba, the head of the key the fallacy of presidential control. Third Infantry Regiment (3rfi) who The next day, President Iloilo— is also the youngest son of former whose office remained firmly under President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and military control—announced that he politically well placed as chairman of was abrogating the 1997 constitution, the Lau Provincial Council. that all judicial appointments had been Protest within Fiji was negligible, revoked, and that he was declaring as it had been after the October 422 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010)

2008 High Court decision. A few ruption faded in prominence, partly courageous barristers turned up to due to the lack of success of the Fiji demonstrate outside courts in Suva Independent Commission Against and Lautoka when they reopened Corruption in securing prosecutions after the Easter break, and Chaudhry and partly because of serious allega- condemned Bainimarama’s actions tions emerging against the interim as “autocratic and dictatorial” (The government itself. In March 2009, Australian, 27 April 2009). Schisms Auditor General Eroni Vatuloka within the military remained con- completed a report into the f$184,740 cealed or were healed by reward and received by the commander in “back self-interest. On 24 April, Colonel Pita pay” for 698 days of leave alleg- Driti together with close Bainimarama edly not taken since 1978, and then confidante Colonel Mohammed Aziz promptly resigned. The Web site of were publicly rewarded with medals his office remained stalled at the year by President Iloilo. In June, Driti said 2006, the reports for which were that the Military Council was 100 shown as “produced but not yet percent behind Bainimarama and tabled in parliament.” The pursuit of denied rumors of a split. Soon after prominent individuals for corruption, the destruction of Fiji’s legal order, including deposed Prime Minister soldiers convicted for the killings of Qarase and sacked Airports Fiji Chief Nimilote Verebasaga and Sakiusa Executive Sakiusa Tuisolia, was trans- Rabaka were released on “compul- parently linked to personal and politi- sory supervision orders,” echoing the cal vendettas, while Fijian villages that much-criticized actions of the Qarase acquiesced under the new order were government in its treatment of chiefs rewarded with development projects. convicted for their part in the 2000 During 2008, the emphasis had coup. Although those actions deeply instead been on electoral reform, a damaged Bainimarama’s credibility, perspective encouraged by the delib- they also sent a clear message to the erations of the National Council for military rank and file that they would Building a Better Fiji (ncbbf). Early be protected should they shed blood to elections were unwise, it had been protect the regime. During 2009, mili- argued, because the 1997 constitu- tary officers received substantial pay tion’s race-based electoral rolls were increases as well as additional back responsible for ethnic polarization pay. By midyear, there were around in postindependence Fiji. Time was sixty officers located in senior civil ser- needed for Bainimarama to convince vice positions, and all four divisional Fiji’s politicians to sign up to a new commissioners were military men. All electoral system, a central focus of this was a far cry from Bainimarama’s the political parties dialogue, and initial postcoup claims that no military the scheduled President’s Political officer would benefit from the Decem- Dialogue Forum. This was a vision ber 2006 takeover. embraced by many of Bainimarama’s Over 2008, the initial justifica- sympathizers, both within Fiji and tion of the December 2006 coup as a even more so overseas. While it “clean-up campaign” against cor- seemed at least plausible before the pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 423

April abrogation, it made no sense The furious Wages Council chairman, afterward, when nothing stopped Catholic priest Father Kevin Barr, immediate electoral reform by presi- accused the interim prime minister dential decree. After 10 April, anyway, of caving in to business interests and regime spokesman Neumi Leweni gave a press conference from the flatly rejected any resumption of dia- labor ministry on national television logue. In July, Bainimarama told sbs provocatively accompanied by gov- Dateline that an election was out of ernment critic, usp Professor Wadan the question because Qarase “would Narsey. Bainimarama assured his win it and where would that take us?” critics that, although postponed, the (sbs Dateline, 26 July 2009). Hence- minimum wage increases would occur forth, electoral reform issues would be in July. A few days later, with the Fiji downplayed. The justification for the tv cameras rolling, he walked together long delay until 2014 before elections with Father Barr through Suva’s noto- was never publicly made explicit, but rious Jittu estate squatter settlement to it became obvious that Bainimarama demonstrate government concern with hoped that, with time, Fijian opinion issues of urban poverty. would eventually swing in his favor. In July, as promised, the interim On 1 July, Bainimarama released a government agreed to the minimum “Strategic Policy Framework,” written wage increases across nine indus- by ncbbf Technical Director John tries. Other moves were also made Samy, who again traveled to Fiji from to strengthen the link with the leftist his New Zealand home. This outlined development lobby. In March, the plans for consultations on a new con- China Railway First Company signed stitution to commence only in 2012, a f$70 million contract to build low- and for the new legal framework to be cost housing units in Tacirua, Rawai, in place by 2013, a year ahead of the and Raiwaqa on the outskirts of Suva. intended election deadline. Although This was intended as part of a f$260 hostility to “ethnic based voting” million soft loan being sought from was still mentioned, the emphasis the Export-Import Bank of China at was now firmly on the economy and 2 percent interest per annum. Three “pro-growth and pro-poor” initia- hundred Chinese contractors were at tives. This was music to the ears of work building a hydroelectric dam in Bainimarama’s left-wing supporters, remote Nadarivatu, and others were who had long urged a focus on alle- building a new bridge at Naqali to viating the plight of urban squatters cross the flood-prone Waidina River in and combating “neo-liberalism.” In Naitasiri. In October, Barr’s Ecumeni- January, the regime’s orientation had cal Centre for Research Education and been different. Then, Bainimarama Advocacy produced a survey indicat- had postponed scheduled minimum ing that school attendance was falling wage increases across nine industries because poor families could not afford and rescinded a planned 10 percent bus fares. Bainimarama responded by decrease in bus fares (which was to abolishing the fares, generating vigor- reverse an earlier increase triggered by ous applause from radical civil society the global fuel price hikes of 2008). activists (Sydney Morning Herald, 30 424 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010)

Nov 2009). But would this be only conference would go ahead in defiance another temporary marriage of conve- of the regime (Raw Fiji News, 21 July nience, as had been that with the elec- 2009). Government spokesman Neumi toral reformists and the People’s Char- Leweni described this as a “form of ter lobbyists? After all, the common incitement” (FijiLive, 22 July 2009). denominator in these various favored Ro Teimumu and eight Methodist alliances were that they all justified leaders were taken into military cus- the interim government’s retention of tody and then charged with breach- political power and the delay of fresh ing the emergency regulations. Ro elections while providing temporary Teimumu’s daughter, together with jobs for a few hired scriptwriters. Bau Chief Adi Litia Cakobau, placed With the politicians, chiefs, and a fireside video on YouTube denounc- public sector unions defeated, many ing the arrest (Cakobau 2009). Ro indigenous Fijians looked to the Teimumu and the churchmen were Methodist Church for leadership in released on bail but kept under close the struggle against Bainimarama. In scrutiny. Resistance soon petered out. June, Methodist Church President The triumphant Bainimarama declared Ame Tugaue and General Secretary that the church’s annual convention Tuikilakila Waqairatu met with would not be held until 2014. Bainimarama and were told that the With the Methodists now also Methodist annual conference was to humbled, many in Fiji passively acqui- be canceled unless the veteran fire- esced under the new order, hoping brand ethno-nationalist, the Reverend for better times. Overseas, defiance Manasa Lasaro, and the Reverend remained easier. The émigré-run Fiji Tomasi Kanailagi were expelled (Fiji Democracy Movement organized dem- Sun, 9 June 2009). The conference, onstrations in Sydney and Canberra scheduled for August at Lomanikoro that were attended almost exclusively in Rewa, was to be hosted by deposed by indigenous Fijian families. At the education minister and Rewa high Pacific Islands Forum meeting in chief Ro Teimumu Kepa. This was an Cairns in August, Niue Prime Minister obvious potential focal point for indig- Toke Talagi shocked even Australian enous resistance: Military intelligence and New Zealand diplomats by call- identified the risk entailed by allowing ing on Fijians to “rise up to challenge an event that even under normal cir- the undemocratic rule of the military cumstances would draw large num- regime,” seeming to urge a violent bers of indigenous Fijians together. confrontation: “If 500,000 Fijians Public Emergency Regulations, which take to the streets Frank Bainimarama had been renewed monthly since the can’t shoot them all” (The Austra- April crisis, were the “only way to lian, 6 Aug 2009). Samoan Prime control instability which may give rise Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi to violent situations,” said Defence had also called on Fijians to “wake Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau (FijiLive, up and reclaim your Government” 23 June 2009). In July, Ro Teimumu earlier in 2009, leading Bainimarama released an open letter on the Inter- to respond that such comments were net, saying that the annual Methodist “un-Pacific” (FijiLive, 26 Feb 2009). pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 425

Other Pacific leaders were more (gcc) and the Methodist Church. sympathetic to Fiji’s interim prime The institute urged an international minister, including Papua New Guinea accommodation with “the reality” and Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare criticized those “persistently demonis- and Vanuatu’s Edward Natapei, who ing the Commodore” (Pacific Institute offered to broker talks under the of Public Policy 2009). Such a gener- auspices of the Melanesian Spearhead ous interpretation took Bainimarama Group. The small island states to Fiji’s at his word and even exaggerated the north, including Tuvalu and Kiribati, commodore’s objectives. Bainima- were worried that repercussions of rama, wrongly described as “Catho- Forum defiance of Bainimarama’s lic,” might have defied the leaders of government might lead to a severing the Methodist Church and the Great of their air links, through Fiji, to the Council of Chiefs, but it was not clear outside world. Lobbying by Can- whether he sought to destroy or to berra and Wellington ensured that the capture and reshape those institutions. Pacific Islands Forum official state- Even if the case was fairly made for ments remained resolutely in favor of combating corruption and eliminating the suspension of Fiji, but the position racial polarization, it was far-fetched of the pif Secretariat located in Suva to think that military dictatorship was was obviously threatened. Qarase and the means for accomplishing these Chaudhry had been successfully pre- goals. Other overseas think tanks vailed upon to join forces in August were also bewildered by Bainimarama to write a joint letter to the Cairns but wanted to offer some way out of meeting rejecting the three-year delay the impasse. The Australian Strate- before elections and condemning the gic Policy Institute’s Anthony Bergin Bainimarama regime for “setting itself absurdly recommended that Britain’s up as the sole arbiter of what is good Prince Andrew, as a fellow white- for Fiji” (Qarase and Chaudhry 2009). suited naval officer, would be an ideal Yet in truth, the anti–interim govern- mediator to engage in discussions with ment politicians remained deeply Bainimarama (The Australian, 8 May divided, and even great adversity had 2009). not truly healed the schisms of bygone Before the United Nations General years. Assembly in September, Bainimarama The silencing of domestic criticism condemned the “old elites,” whom he of Fiji’s interim regime over the second blamed for generating earlier coups half of 2009 also spurred Bainimara- and impeding reform. He did not ma’s foreign sympathizers to become mention that prominent backers of more vocal, now less afraid that their the 1987 coup, including Ratu Inoke interpretations might be contested Kubuabola and Filipe Bole, were in his from within Fiji. The Vanuatu-based own cabinet. His assault on the “old Institute of Public Policy called Baini- elites” had been selective and prag- marama a “circuit breaker” to break matic: powerful ministerial portfolios “endemic racism,” rid Fiji of corrup- were also held by prominent eastern tion, and destroy the pernicious influ- chiefs, such as Ratu Epeli Ganilau and ences of the Great Council of Chiefs Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, both sons-in- 426 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) law of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Fiji’s October 2008, now combined under former president and 1970 –1987 the rubric of the Ministry of Provin- prime minister. The attack on the cial Development, Indigenous and chiefs had been aimed at destroying Multi-Ethnic Affairs. In late 2008, he the influence of the paramount chiefs had convened an initial meeting of the who were firm allies of Qarase, partic- Bose ni Turaga (council of lower-level ularly Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu chiefs), with the objective of a bottom- Kepa (Rewa-Burebasaga) and Ratu upward capturing of the authority of Naiqama Lalabalavu (Cakaudrove), the Great Council of Chiefs. While but Bainimarama nevertheless under the 1997 constitution this had remained close to allied chiefs—for been an important maneuver: the example, in his home village of Kiuva Great Council of Chiefs was consti- and in the old Matanitu (kingdom) tutionally the appointing authority of Verata. His own behavior and for the president and vice president. demeanor, as well as his treatment In the wake of the abrogation of the during military kava ceremonies, was constitution, that route was no longer increasingly vakaturaga (in the man- necessary, and no effort was made ner of high chiefs). to reconvene the Bose ni Turaga in Had the Great Council of Chiefs 2009. A week after the constitution’s truly been abolished, or would it abrogation, Ratu Epeli became vice ultimately be reconstituted? In August, president by decree. Ratu Josefa Iloilo Bainimarama was adamant that “there was retired on 30 July, paving the way is no Great Council of Chiefs,” but for Nailatikau to assume the top job. he was noncommittal about whether The delay before that appointment, such a body might later be resurrected which only occurred three months (FijiLive, 11 Aug 2009). According later on 5 November, suggested some to the 2008 gcc decree, a new look nervousness on the part of Bainima- fifty-two-member council had been rama about handing over executive envisaged comprising only apolitical authority. In the intervening period, chiefs who had been “traditionally there were rumors that Bainimarama installed,” suggesting a more puri- was toying with taking the presidency tanical definition of “chief ” than for himself. existing practice (under which many If the propaganda was to be titles remain vacant and many chiefs believed, then, the elegant new f$30 uninstalled). Bainimarama had also million Vale ni Bose Levu Vakaturaga backtracked on proposals to down- complex situated next to Government grade the Ministry of Fijian Affairs to House on the Suva foreshore was a a department in 2007. Over 2007– huge white elephant. The project, 2008, he had been angered by the gcc undertaken by Raghwan Construc- refusal to endorse Ratu Epeli Naila- tion Ltd, had started under Qarase, tikau as vice president—or effectively but what purpose was it now to serve? president in waiting, given the age and Military spokesman Neumi Leweni infirmity of eighty-nine-year-old Ratu said that the new building would Josefa Iloilo. Nailatikau had him- be officially titled “Vale ni Bose” self taken control of that ministry in (“House of Meetings”) without the pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 427 reference to “Vakaturaga” (“Great sugar were being gradually reduced Chiefs”). A hundred guests were to enable EU compliance with World invited to attend the grand September Trading Organization rules. On 1 opening ceremony and watch Presi- October, the EU price for Fiji sugar dent Iloilo perform his last official was cut by a further 22 percent, bring- duty. Representing the government ing to 36 percent the total fall since were Ratu Epeli Ganilau, as acting 2006. That would have happened prime minister, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, even without the coup, but scheduled Filipe Bole, and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. EU grant assistance for adjustment to The ceremony was boycotted by the new pricing regime was canceled most of the Qarase-aligned chiefs, as a result of the illegal overthrow but chiefs from Macuata, Sabeto, of Qarase’s government and the Bua, and Ba were present, as was the lack of agreement on a road map to Rewa Vunivalu Ro Epeli Mataitini, elections. The Fiji Sugar Corpora- and, rather oddly, Naitasiri chief Ratu tion produced 167,611 metric tonnes Inoke Takiveikata, who was soon to of sugar in 2009, well below the be imprisoned for alleged involvement 250,000 –300,000 tonnes scheduled in a 2007 plot to assassinate Baini- to be delivered to Tate & Lyle annu- marama (FijiLive, 26 Sept 2009). The ally. Exports fell for the third succes- interim prime minister also did not sive year and stood at about half the attend the October launch by PNG average level a decade previously. The Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare of Fiji Sugar Corporation annual report Deryck Scarr’s biography Tuimacilai: for 2009 declared an after tax loss A Life of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, of f$36.8 million in the year ending although the daughters of Ratu Mara 31 May. The company was unable to and his sons-in-law Ratu Epeli Naila- make repayments on a f$86 million tikau and Ganilau were present, as loan from exim Bank of India for was Mara’s son 3rfi Commander purchasing materials for mill restruc- Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba. Ambivalence turing. Just prior to the last shipment toward the incorporated element of preceding the 1 October price fall, the chiefly order was obvious, but both of the main Indian farmers’ there was also no sign of eagerness to unions reported military harassment cut the eastern chiefs adrift. of cane-cutters for burning cane, the The economy fared poorly over latter being a widespread practice that 2009. Unlike the coups of 1987 and eases cutting but lowers sugar output. 2000, which resulted in sharp down- Like sugar, Fiji’s garment indus- turns followed by rapid recoveries, try also faced a long-running decline the 2006 coup generated a double-dip that was accentuated by the postcoup recession. The economy contracted crisis: a thousand jobs were lost over by 6.6 percent in 2007, remained just the year to June 2009, equivalent to about flat (0.2 percent) in 2008, and roughly one-fifth of the workforce fell again by 2.5 percent in 2009. Long (Fiji Sun, 1 Jan 2009). Gold produc- protected under the European Union tion had resumed at Vatukoula on Lomé and then Cotonou arrange- Viti Levu in early 2008, although with ments, preferential prices for Fiji a workforce of 750, about half the 428 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) number employed before the closure ton extension project had gone into in late 2006. Output fell during the receivership. first nine months of 2009, but tracked Official figures suggested that, in upward in the final months of the February, Fiji’s reserves had fallen to year. Bottled mineral water, which f$672.2 million, equivalent to 2.7 accounted for 11.4 percent of Fiji’s months of imports, but, in an inter- exports over 2006–2008, was badly view with SkyNewsAustralia in May, hit by the slowdown in American Bainimarama acknowledged that markets in 2009. Criticism of manu- the true figure had been “below 1.8 facturers Natural Waters of Fiji Ltd months” of imports. The devaluation in the September / October 2009 issue in April eased pressure on the reserves, of the US magazine Mother Jones but inflation predictably increased for putting “lipstick on a junta” and as the local cost of imported goods for having a heavy carbon footprint rose. Reserves were also boosted damaged the company’s credibility. by an International Monetary Fund Fish exports performed strongly over (imf) allocation of f$188 million in the year, and Levuka’s Pacific Fish- special drawing rights to Fiji, part ing Company cannery benefited from of a broader global rollout of assis- the closure of one of the American tance in response to the international Samoan canneries. Yet the standout financial crisis and by restrictions on industry in 2009 was clearly tour- bank repatriation of profits. However, ism. Visitor arrivals had fallen after devaluation also raised the costs of the December 2006 coup but recov- servicing Fiji’s us$150 million five- ered strongly in late 2007 and 2008, year bond, which has a 7 percent per although discounting by the major annum interest rate and falls due in resorts subdued earnings. A further 2011. imf Article IV consultations in trough in early 2009, witnessed across November concluded by commend- the Pacific Islands, was due to the ing the government “for their efforts impact of the global recession. Arriv- to limit the overall deficit in 2009 to als from Australia and New Zealand the budgeted level of 3¼ percent of recovered strongly from mid-2009, but GDP. This is being achieved by con- then dipped later in the year with the taining expenditure in the face of an coming of the low season. Investment unexpected 10 percent fall in revenue” in tourism and elsewhere remained at (imf 2009). However, the imf press rock bottom in Fiji: An effort to auc- release also indicated concern that tion off the aborted Momi Bay Resort public sector debt was running at over development failed in August, and 50 percent of gross domestic product, in March, Fijian Holdings Ltd failed and criticized continued government to raise the necessary finance for its reliance on borrowing from the Fiji planned buyout of British Petroleum National Provident Fund, Fiji’s main South West Pacific. Several companies pension provider. The restraint in engaged in the construction of villas spending had been assisted by the and resorts on Denarau Island, close compulsory retirement of 2,300 civil to the Nadi International Airport, servants as a result of the reduction were in major trouble, and the Hil- in the retirement age from 60 to 55. pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 429

In the decree affecting that reduc- 2009. Fiji was suspended from the tion, two senior civil servants were Pacific Islands Forum in May and expressly excluded—Bainimarama and exclusion from the Councils of the Police Commissioner Esala Teleni. On Commonwealth was ratcheted up to 27 April, Commodore Bainimarama full suspension in September 2009. In turned 55, and was serenaded by a despair, the UN Department of Politi- military brass band that turned up to cal Affairs gave up efforts to mediate play “Happy Birthday” outside his after Bainimarama’s exclusion of key house at 5 o’clock in the morning. political parties from talks on 9 April. In a consultative forum on the 2010 In November, the Commonwealth budget in September, Bainimarama Heads of Government meeting in told the audience “we’re going to Trinidad and Tobago resolved that Fiji leapfrog” toward economic growth, would not participate in the Common- pursuing objectives of “modernis- wealth Games scheduled for India in ing Fiji, bringing it into prosperity October 2010. Despite Fiji’s suspen- and out of poverty.” “I’m here for sion, former New Zealand Governor- power,” he said, “but power so we General Sir Paul Reeves arrived in Fiji can do the things the right way. I am as Commonwealth Envoy in Septem- not here to abuse power. I am not ber, but he was unable to persuade here to abuse the funds, nor here to Bainimarama to resume dialogue abuse the authority that I have. If it’s with the politicians or to commit to done, it’s because there is a reason for early elections. Instead, Bainimarama it. We want to keep people in line,” harangued Reeves to sign on to the he explained, “We need to change government’s reform program and people if they don’t think the way we refused to allow him to meet political want them to think” (FijiLive, 17 Sept leaders opposed to the regime. Con- 2009). The Fiji Employers’ Federation tinued usage of Fiji soldiers on UN and Chamber of Commerce pushed peacekeeping missions was criticized for a protectionist budget (FijiLive, by Australia and New Zealand, with 19 Sept 2009), but in his 2010 budget Australia’s Kevin Rudd urging a address in November, Bainimarama “progressive replacement of Fijian said it was rather the imf advice troops” (The Australian, 7 Sept 2009). that “corresponds with the reformist At a New York press conference on agenda of my government” (Baini- 21 May, UN Office of Peacekeeping marama 2009). The address out- chief Alain Le Roy responded off the lined plans to double gross domestic cuff to a query: “Yes, we are trying product by 2020, eliminate the current [to replace them] but so far there is account deficit, and increase tour- no pledges” [sic], and conceded that ist arrivals to 6 million, ten times the Fijians in Iraq “will be very difficult to number entering Fiji in 2008. Stan- replace” (abc Pacific Beat 2009a). In dard & Poor’s revised its “negative” November, the United Nations refused rating for Fiji to “stable” in December. to accept Colonel Pita Driti as new There was no improvement in head of peacekeeping operations in Fiji’s relations with Australia, New Iraq because of “allegations of serious Zealand, or the Commonwealth over human rights violations” (UN 2010). 430 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010)

Australian and New Zealand travel Pacific Beat 2009b). The once highly bans targeting members of the interim respected judge was clearly urging the government and military officers, as commander to lash out against his well as their families and government opponents. On 3 November, Austra- appointees, were much resented in lian High Commissioner James Batley Fiji, although some critics urged their and New Zealand Acting High Com- retention to prevent the regime from missioner Tod Cleaver were expelled, consolidating its influence. Hostility and Fiji’s Acting High Commissioner to the travel bans gave Bainimarama in Canberra Kamlesh Arya was hastily and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum a tool withdrawn in an effort to preempt with which to consolidate domestic the inevitable tit-for-tat retaliatory support. In early November, a diplo- expulsion. Cleaver became the third matic crisis was triggered by a press New Zealand head of mission to be conference organized by Chief Justice expelled from Fiji. Several days later, Anthony Gates to protest against Labasa-born Fiji historian Brij V allegedly heavy-handed Australian Lal—one of the architects of the 1997 and New Zealand travel bans (Gates constitution—was also ordered out of 2009). Gates had waited until six the country. weeks after the abrogation before Fiji’s coups occur in two stanzas signing on again as chief justice, at because the full repercussions of the which point he emphasized the need initial overthrow of government are for “curbing excesses” after coups and not immediately obvious to the perpe- “bringing the country and its institu- trators. The exception here was 2000, tions back to normality” (FijiLive, when the instigators were not the same 23 May 2009). His November press as the constitution’s abrogators, but conference was sparked by two that event only confirmed another rule incidents. First, Sri Lankan judges in Fiji politics, namely, that it is the intending to travel to Fiji to take military that decides the outcome of up positions on the bench had been coups—which is why Sitiveni Rabuka telephoned by an Australian consular succeeded in 1987, why George official in Colombo to warn them Speight failed in 2000, and why Frank that taking up such appointments Bainimarama remained in power in would render them unable to travel to 2009. Unlike 1987 when the Repub- Australia. Second, family court judge lic of Fiji Military Forces “neglected Anjala Wati had been refused a visa to form any coalition with a civilian by the New Zealand High Commis- partner” (Scobell 1994, 197), a broad- sion to take her son to Auckland for ranging coalition opposed to Qarase’s urgent medical treatment. Although government had been assembled prior the visa was subsequently granted, to the 2006 coup, one particularly Gates wrote to the commander alleg- focused on opposition to the Reconcil- ing that such case-by-case exemptions iation, Tolerance and Unity Bill. This entailed foreign interference with the eased postcoup military consolidation independence of the judiciary and of political power, even if former allies asked, “Can the Executive allow subsequently drifted away. In Decem- such interference to continue?” (abc ber 2006, Bainimarama had claimed pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 431 to be acting in accordance with the Amnesty International. 2009. Fiji: Paradise constitution and the “doctrine of Lost: A Tale of Ongoing Human Rights necessity.” It was not a coup at all, he Violations April–July 2009. 7 September. had said, but a temporary “clean up.” London: Amnesty International. Since then, the coup instigators’ core http://www.amnesty.org/en / library/asset / ASA18 /002 / 2009 /en /0024be13-bdd1 themes had morphed from anticor- -47d2-875a-863fff41f978/ ruption to electoral reform to pov- asa180022009en.pdf. erty alleviation, and the fantasy that military control masquerading as rule The Australian. Daily newspaper, Sydney. by presidential decree might be found Online at http://www.theaustralian.news constituent with the 1997 constitu- .com.au / tion had been exposed as a sham. Bainimarama, Josaia Voreqe [Frank]. April 2009 proved the turning point, 2009. Strengthening the Foundations of but it was still unclear where Fiji was Economic Growth and Prosperity. Repub- heading. Ironically, the suspension of lic of Fiji 2010 Budget Address. Novotel talks on the new constitution until Lami, 27 November. http://www.mfnp.gov .fj / Documents /2010_Budget_Address.pdf 2012 took the pressure off Fiji’s new rulers in the sense that they no longer Cakobau, Adi Litia. 2009. Democ- felt much need to explain themselves. racy for Fiji: The Detainment of Ro If events went according to plan, 2010 Teimumu Kepa. Fireside video on looked set to be a year of deafening YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/ silence. watch?v=X9hfbYnq694 jon fraenkel fbc, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. National Radio Service. http://www.radiofiji.com.fj/ Fiji Constitution Amendment Act 1997 References Revocation Decree 2009. Available on Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute abc Pacific Beat. Web site: http://www.paclii.org/fj/promu / 2009a. Former Fiji Army Chief Says promu_dec / fcaa1997rd2009444 / Mili tary Too Large. Australian Broad- FijiLive. Online news service. casting Corporation, 26 June. http://www.fijilive.com / http://www.radioaustralia.net.au /pacbeat / stories /200906 /s2609011.htm Fiji Sun. Daily newspaper, Suva. Online at http://www.sun.com.fj / 2009b. Leaked Documents Reveal Role of Fiji Chief Justice in Expulsions. Australian Fiji Times. Daily newspaper, Suva. Online Broadcasting Corporation, 10 November. at http://www.fijitimes.com / http://www.radioaustralia.net.au / pacbeat / Fiji TV. National television service. Suva. stories /200911 /s2738173.htm http://www.fijitv.com.fj Al Jazeera. 2009. 101 East—Fiji: Dictating fjca, Fiji Court of Appeal. 2009. Qarase Democracy 30 July 09. Two-part interview v Bainimarama [2009] fjca 9; abu with Commodore Frank Bainimarama. 0077.2008S. 9 April. Available on Pacific Available online at http://www.youtube Islands Legal Information Institute Web .com / watch?v=pVVgSkA8AV0&feature site: http://www.paclii.org / fj/cases / =channel FJCA /2009 /9.html 432 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) fjhc, Fiji High Court. 2008. Qarase http://archives.pireport.org /archive /2009/ v Bainimarama [2008] fjhc 241; hbc April /04-14-com.htm 60.2007S; hbc 398.2007S. 9 October. Mother Jones. 2009. Fiji Water: Spin the Available on Pacific Islands Legal Informa- Bottle. September/October. tion Institute Web site: http://www.paclii http://motherjones.com / politics /2009 / .org / fj /cases / FJHC /2008/241.html 09 / fiji-spin-bottle flp, Fiji Labour Party. 2009. Government Pacific Institute of Public Policy. 2009. and fsc Playing Politics with Farmers. Lending Fiji a Hand: The Need for 24 August. http://www.flp.org.fj/ International Engagement and a n090824b.htm National Dialogue. Briefing 09, July. Fraenkel, Jon. 2007. The Fiji Coup of http://www.pacificpolicy.org December 2006: Who, What, Where and Post Courier. 2009. Viewpoints: Moresby Why? In From Election to Coup in Fiji: Summit Sets Fiji Target. 28 January. The 2006 Campaign and Its Aftermath, http://www.postcourier.com.pg / edited by Jon Fraenkel and Stewart Firth, 420–449. Suva: Institute of Pacific Studies Qarase, Laisenia, and Mahendra Pal and Asia-Pacific Press. http://epress.anu Chaudhry. 2009. Joint Statement on Fiji .edu.au /fiji /pdf /addendum.pdf by the Leaders of the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Party and the Fiji Labour ———. 2009. Melanesia in Review: Issues Party. Fortieth Pacific Islands Forum and Events, 2008: Fiji. The Contemporary Leaders’ Meeting, Cairns, Australia, 5–6 Pacific 21:337–352. August. Available on http://rspas.anu.edu Gates, Anthony. 2009. Statement by the .au/melanesia/documents.php Chief Justice of Fiji upon the travel bans Raw Fiji News. Internet blog. http:// imposed by Australia and New Zealand rawfijinews.wordpress.com / on the Judiciary and Magistracy of Fiji. sbs Dateline. 2009. Perfectly Frank. Mark 1 November. Ministry of Information, Fiji Davis Interview with Frank Bainimarama. Government Online Portal. http://www.fiji Special Broadcasting Service, Australia, .gov.fj/index.php?option=com_content 26 July. http://www.sbs.com.au / dateline / &view=article&id=604:statement-by-the story/ watch / id /600116 /n / Perfectly-Frank -chief-justice-of-fiji-upon-the-travel-bans -imposed-by-australia-and-new-zealand Scarr, Deryck. 2008. Tuimacilai: A Life of -on-the-judiciary-and-magistracy-of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. Adelaide: Craw- -fiji&catid=50:speeches&Itemid=168 ford House Publishing. iba, International Bar Association. 2009. Scobell, Andrew. 1994. Politics, Profes- Dire Straits: A Report on the Rule of Law sionalism, and Peacekeeping: An Analysis in Fiji. iba Human Rights Institute report. of the 1987 Military Coup in Fiji. Com- 3 March. http://www.ibanet.org / Search / parative Politics 26 (2): 187–201. Default.aspx?q=Dire%20Straits SkyNewsAustralia. 2009. Fiji’s Frank imf, International Monetary Fund. 2009. Bainimarama. Three-part interview with Statement of an IMF Staff Mission at the Graham Davis. 2 May. Available at Conclusion of the Article IV Discussions http://www.youtube.com /watch?v with Fiji. Press Release 09/427, 23 Novem- =SwN7zgNUV7Y ber. http://www.imf.org /external / np/sec / Sydney Morning Herald. Daily newspaper. pr /2009 / pr09427.htm Online at http://www.smh.com.au / Lal, Brij V. 2009. Fiji: The Cruel Hoax. UN, United Nations. 2010. Daily Press Pacific Islands Report, 14 April. Briefing by the Offices of the Spokesperson pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 433 for the Secretary-General and the Spokes- and though the price per ton suffered person for the General Assembly President. almost a 50 percent drop over the past 19 February. http://www.un.org / News / year because of the global economic briefings /docs //2010 /db100219.doc.htm crisis, the mining-based economy Williams, George, Graham Leung, remains capable of sustainable devel- Anthony J Regan, and Jon Fraenkel. 2008. opment if the income distribution is Courts and Coups in Fiji: The 2008 High better managed. Court Judgment in Qarase v Bainimarama. In this “postcolonial” phase of the State, Society and Governance in Melane- country’s history, when the Noumea sia Discussion Paper 2008/10. Canberra: Accord serves as a kind of interim Research School of Pacific and Asian Stud- constitution, the political landscape ies, The Australian National University. http://rspas.anu.edu.au / papers /melanesia / is divided mainly between those who discussion_papers /08_10_williams.pdf support full independence and those who want enlarged autonomy (the status quo at this point), much like the situation in French Polynesia. Unfortunately for the latter, the near- New Caledonia parity of independence and autonomy This year was a potential turning point supporters has caused nine changes in the decolonization of New Caledo- in the top leadership in Papeete since nia. The Noumea Accord of 1998 said 2004, because a few politicians can that the country could hold a referen- switch sides and generate motions of dum on independence in 2014, and no confidence to receive better posts the provincial elections of May 2009 in a new regime. In New Caledonia, produced a Congress empowered to Harold Martin of the centrist Ave- call for that referendum. The coun- nir Ensemble (ae, Future Together) try already has a “double” federal party, which caused a mini-revolution relationship with France, as its three in local politics in 2004, explicitly provinces have some autonomy from urged his fellow French loyalists to the territory, which in turn continues unite and create a “pact of stability” to receive more self-governing powers to avoid a “Tahitian” situation (NC, from Paris. France itself is integrated 7 May 2009). But New Caledonia into the European Union, so the status too has experienced fluctuating divi- of New Caledonia in some ways sions on both sides of the political resembles that of a chartered town in spectrum. Since the Noumea Accord the old medieval European hierarchy. brought increasing self-government, Since 1986, the United Nations Decol- independence and autonomy are onization Committee has regarded separated by concerns among the New Caledonia as a non-self-govern- immigrant majority over economic ing territory, yet it looks a bit odd on dependency and security. For most a list with much smaller, resource-poor Europeans, Asians, Polynesians, entities such as Pitcairn Island, the mixed-race people (métis), and some Caribbean islands, Gibraltar, and the Kanak, French citizenship gives them Falklands. New Caledonia has one- legitimacy and safety, so they often fourth of the world supply of nickel, point to signs of instability in neigh- 434 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) boring Melanesian countries as object the position. In 2009, after much lessons to avoid. failed negotiation over unity, the two The Front de Libération Natio- parties again ran on separate lists in nale Kanak et Socialiste (flnks) has the Kanak-ruled North and Islands been the primary pro-independence provinces (NC, 31 Jan, 18 April force since 1984, when its boycott 2009). Palika and the pt both support of provincial elections caused a near revolutionary socialist independence, civil war. But its two leading coalition but the former has lately promoted members, the older Union Calédoni- peaceful dialogue within established enne (uc) and the Parti de Libération institutions, while the latter’s parent, Kanak (Palika), have long been rivals, ustke, has been the most militant and only rarely and recently (as in the in actions. The flnks reminded the French legislative elections of 2007) public of its accomplishments before have they campaigned on the same the May elections: the acquisition of list. Each has tried to claim the flnks quasi-autonomous Kanak rule over label, but forming separate electoral two out of the three provinces; the lists weakened the Kanak vote so reinscription of the country on the much in the 2004 provincial polls that UN decolonization list in 1986; and no flnks candidate was elected in successful negotiations with Paris and the populous, multiethnic Southern the local loyalists in the Matignon- Province, despite the presence there of Oudinot and Noumea accords, which a large Kanak workforce, sometimes yielded economic rebalancing between called the largest “tribe.” In 2009, the multiethnic South and the two the flnks list in the South managed Kanak-ruled provinces and also the to unify under Rock Wamytan, who irreversible transfer of self-governing formerly headed the flnks, the uc, powers to the country (it had auton- and the subregional Melanesian Spear- omy in the 1950s but France took that head Group. Two smaller members away in the 1960s to retain control of the flnks are the Rassemblement over nickel mining). The two accords Démocratique Océanien (rdo), which also brought official recognition of the is composed of Polynesian migrants Kanak identity through cultural and from Wallis and Futuna, and the linguistic institutional support, land Union Progressiste Mélanésienne reform, the Customary Senate, the (upm). The small Libération Kanak establishment of mining and indus- Socialiste (lks), led by former radical trial projects in the Kanak-run North, Nidoish Naisseline, and the new Parti and the restriction of the electorate to Travailliste (pt, or Labor Party), an long-term residents in the provincial offshoot of a radical labor federation, elections and future referendums (kol, the Union Syndicaliste des Travailleurs 30 April 2009). Meanwhile ustke, led Kanak et Exploités (ustke), round out by Gérard Jodar, waged a five-month- the main actors who at least nominally long, highly disruptive protest against support full independence. domestic carrier Air Calédonie (Aircal) The UC-Palika rivalry has prevented over the firing of an employee. The the flnks from having a president strike became a symbol to younger since 2001, when Wamytan last held radicals of colonial repression, and it pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 435 also pitted ustke against Naisseline, political discourse, claiming that the the president of Aircal (NC, 20 May flnks only talked of independence for 2009), whose defense of company electoral purposes, since it could never policy won support from a wide range gain a majority of votes in favor of it of civil associations and political (NC, 10 April 2009). He questioned parties. “ambiguities” in the accord and But if the flnks remained divided, insisted on keeping New Caledonia so did the loyalists. In 2004, cen- within the French republic. But after trists became more prominent (as the elections, he seems to have been they had been in the early 1980s and influenced by Lafleur’s call for a con- mid-1990s), challenging the Gaullist sensual solution to avoid the danger (French nationalist) “politics of fear” (given the 1980s uprising) of a humili- and adopting a social democratic ating defeat for the Kanak (NC, 24 approach to New Caledonia’s inequal- April, 26 Oct 2009). Simon Loueck- ities (as the earlier UC had done in the hote, who is still senator to Paris from 1950s). But the 2007 French legisla- the time before Frogier displaced Laf- tive elections were a major setback for leur in the Rassemblement, now ran the centrists, as the Gaullists kept all on the ae list with Martin and Didier three seats that the country holds in Leroux (NC, 30 April 2009). the Parliament in Paris, despite centrist Almost 900 candidates on twenty- control over the Territorial and South- four party lists vied for 76 provincial ern Province governments. Nicolas assembly seats (of whom 54 would Sarkozy, the Gaullist French president proportionally become the Congress). elected that year, forged an alliance The electorate consisted only of those between his metropolitan Union pour present in the territory in 1998 or un Mouvement Populaire (UMP) and who had ten years residence. That the local Rassemblement founded by eliminated about 13 percent of voters, Jacques Lafleur in 1977–78 to oppose though the proportion in Noumea, Kanak independence; the resulting the capital, was perhaps 25 percent. acronym is rump, now headed by Long-term residents were considered conservative firebrand Pierre Frogier. “citizens” of New Caledonia, unlike Frogier used momentum from the the days before the 1980s when new 2007 elections to divide the ae into immigrants were able to vote fairly a faction led by ump member Mar- quickly and massive arrivals during tin and a Calédonie Ensemble (ce) a nickel boom pushed the Kanak and offshoot led by Philippe Gomès. Like other supporters of autonomy to the Martin, Gomès is more willing to dia- political margins. In the South, the logue with pro-independence groups rump won 15 seats, and the ae and to achieve the “common destiny” ce won a total of 19 seats. Wamytan’s proposed by the Noumea Accord. unified flnks made a comeback Both the ae and ce seek another with 4 seats, as did Lafleur’s loyal- negotiated accord on the “exit” from ist Rassemblement pour la Calédonie the Noumea Accord, whereas Frogier (rpc) with 2, while the local National has called for a referendum in 2014 to Front was eliminated, perhaps show- “purge” independence from the local ing a shift in local politics (or the 436 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) effect of limiting the electorate). In the graphics, French loyalists retained North, Palika won 9 seats (losing 2), clear majorities in both the South- while the uc-flnks won 8 (gaining 1), ern Province and the Congress. Nic the new pt won 3, and loyalists won Maclellan has aptly asked whether only 2 seats. In the Islands, loyalists the Noumea Accord process will were eliminated completely for the build a common destiny “for all the first time, as the uc won 6 (a gain of communities or will it falter, re-creat- 2), against 4 for Palika; the lks and pt ing the political cleavages that led to each got 2 seats (NC, 11 May 2009). violent conflicts in the 1980s?” The Together, supporters of independence country appears headed toward “a won 43 percent of the seats in Con- form of free association with France” gress, an impressive showing. If they (Maclellan 2009, 11–12). The League had united in the election of the ter- of the Rights of Man held three well- ritorial cabinet, they might have won attended forums to assess the accord 5 out of 11 seats, but they did not and so far. At the first, legal scholar Jean- got only four ministries (NC, 12 May Yves Faberon called the accord a peace 2009). In the Islands, the uc allied treaty whose compromise text is spe- with the lks to back incumbent Neko cific but also prone to rival interpreta- Hnepeune as provincial president; in tions. Labeling it a negotiated “treaty” the North, Paul Néaoutyine of Palika highlighted the absence of one in won the presidency again but now 1853 when France “took possession” had to share power with the uc; and by a decree of Napoleon III; only the in the South, Frogier became provin- Kanak uprising in the 1980s made the cial president as part of a “republican consensual accords of 1988 and 1998 pact” with the centrists (NC, 16 May feasible. The Noumea Accord privi- 2009). Martin became president of the leged Kanak identity through legal rec- Congress, and Gomès president of the ognition for customary law, teaching territorial cabinet. While retaining a Kanak languages in schools, creating ministry, Déwé Gorodé of Palika lost a Customary Senate and the Jean- her vice presidency of the cabinet to Marie Tjibaou Cultural Center, while the uc’s Pierre Ngaihoni (pir, 15 June also transferring significant governing 2009). The French Council of State authority, restricting the electorate invalidated the election results in the on key votes, and creating a shared Islands due to irregularities (a repeat territorial cabinet. But protecting local of 1999), and in the new election held job hiring, economic rebalancing, and in November, Palika lost all its seats, developing country identity symbols while the uc and lks allied again, and are so far unfulfilled (NC, 22 Aug the pt took Palika’s seats for a total 2009; kol, 26 Aug 2009). At a second of 4 (NC, 17 Nov 2009). Loueckhote’s forum, two sociologists reported that loyalist ticket in the Islands was elimi- many residents felt poorly informed nated, but he managed to get a cabinet about the accord, most young people seat in the central government via the rarely discussed it, and life remained ae (NC, 12 Nov 2009). culturally segregated. Most people The uc and pt made some gains, thought increasingly of having their but given New Caledonian demo- own country, but they were divided pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 437 over its exact future status (NC, 27 ritorial autonomy and land reform, Sept 2009). At the last forum, speak- while flnks delegates repeated their ers represented the three main signers concern over immigration and met of the accord: settlers, Kanak, and with the Non-aligned Movement that Paris. Gomès evoked “emancipation,” had helped to put New Caledonia “decolonization,” and the “double on the decolonization list (NC, 30 legitimacy” of settlers and Kanak in a Sept, 13 Oct 2009). Gomès also led a common destiny. Néaoutyine agreed delegation to the Copenhagen climate but voiced concern over continuing talks, vowing to reduce pollution. The immigration and asserted that global limbo of autonomy status revealed interdependence today did not negate itself when France declined to include the right to independence. French Gomès’s team in its own mission to High Commissioner Yves Dassonville the conference, because New Caledo- promised state support for the “emer- nian mining and processing projects gence of a citizenship” in a “multieth- would elevate the country to among nic country” (NC, 16 Oct 2009). the world’s top five producers of car- In his first presidential address, bon dioxide emissions (NC, 5 Nov, 17 Gomès promoted “living together” Dec 2009). In December, the complex and reiterated the centrists’ social process of transferring authority over democratic goals of 2004. The secondary education and air and sea rump had called that approach too transportation from Paris to Noumea “interventionist” in the past but now was concluded with a unanimous vote accepted it as allied loyalists, because in Congress, after obtaining promises the centrists have continued to outpoll of metropolitan financial and techni- Frogier’s Gaullists. Gomès spoke of cal support, and approval from the keeping one’s word, redistributing the French Parliament and Economic wealth, government management of and Social Council to pass another development, protecting the environ- “country law” (NC, 1 Dec 2009). ment, peaceful dialogue (including That month, Congress passed a law with labor unions, as the ustke strike to favor locals in hiring—a restriction had ended with Jodar in prison), that labor unions like ustke have creating a local citizenship, and a demanded for a decade, often mili- consensual solution to future status, tantly. But the law made exceptions ideally through shared sovereignty for jobs that New Caledonians could with France but with UN consultation. not easily fill, drawing criticism from Martin backed Gomès but suggested some pro-independence parties, who asking Alain Christnacht, who had see the basic issue as one of limiting helped so much with the previous two local citizenship to long-term residents accords, to do so again, as the rump, (NC, 31 Dec 2009). uc, and pt still wanted a referendum In June, as he prepared to visit in 2014 for different reasons (NC, 1 Martinique and Guadeloupe, where Sept, 2 Sept, 12 Sept 2009). Gomès led labor unions were on strike to pro- a delegation to New York to address test the high cost of living, French the UN Decolonization Committee, President Sarkozy promised equality citing progress in provincial and ter- for the overseas territories. He said 438 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) that their residents should enjoy the (NC, 27 July 2009; pir, 28 July 2009). same standard of living as people in New Caledonia is slated to be France’s the metropolitan republic (pir, 24 naval headquarters in the Pacific, June 2009). He also promised those supposedly to patrol “French” Exclu- two départements a referendum on sive Economic Zones and to fight expanded self-government (NC, 9 terror, the postcommunist bogeyman. Oct 2009). French public debt is Meanwhile, Paris has finally agreed to the highest since 1995 because of compensate nuclear radiation victims the global economic crisis (bbc, 30 in French Polynesia for its atomic test- Dec 2009), but in 2009, France gave ing there from 1966 to 1996 (pir, 23 twice as much development aid to Dec 2009). resource-poor French Polynesia as it The New Caledonian economy has did to New Caledonia (NC, 18 May suffered from the world economic 2009). Maurice Ponga was elected as crisis, most notably the nickel indus- the French overseas member of the try, though tourism remained stagnant European Parliament, continuing the at fewer than 100,000 visitors per rump’s monopoly over representation year, half as many as Fiji despite the in Europe, though only 20 percent of latter’s military regime (pir, 24 Nov New Caledonian voters cast ballots. 2009). The high cost of living has The country receives us$14 million hindered tourism, and ship passengers over five years from the European say that Noumea “has no soul.” Not Union, compared to us$2 billion per only is it expensive, but most shops year from France (pir, 8 June 2009). are closed between noon and 2 pm, Sarkozy planned to head up another after 6 pm, and on weekends. Efforts France-Pacific Summit in Noumea and to open for longer hours, build shops to visit Australia promoting regional on the docks, or expand the hospital- integration. But he could not make ity industry outside Noumea have not it, so the minister of foreign affairs succeeded so far (NC, 20 May, 17 June and the overseas secretary filled in. 2009). Some locals blame the lack of Two dozen countries from around interest in tourism on the mining econ- Oceania sent representatives to hear omy and on French budget subsidies. promises of twice as much French aid Agriculture has survived the crisis, at money, to talk about climate change least in ranching and piggeries if not in amid the smokestacks, and to enjoy poultry, but the importation of foods the hotels (pir, 7 May 2009; NC, 28 has also increased. Inflation is the July, 31 July 2009). A surprise issue highest in ten years (3.7 percent), yet that was quickly swept under the major development projects at Gouaro diplomatic rug was an accord signed Deva and Dumbea have continued to by the flnks and the Customary Sen- create jobs in the South (NC, 24 June, ate that gave uninhabited Matthew 16 Sept, 9 Dec 2009; pir, 25 June and Hunter islets to Vanuatu, despite 2009). The government, pushed by French disapproval. Paris and loyalists the Union Syndicaliste des Ouvriers invoked the “common destiny” idea et Employés de la Nouvelle-Calédonie to protest the interisland deal backed (usoenc), has attempted to reduce the by the Melanesian Spearhead Group cost of living, taking steps such as fix- pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 439 ing prices, reducing taxes, regulating that resource-poor French territory mining, and passing importer antitrust has risen 10 percent, to 25,000 (pir, laws, and it has also raised the mini- 27 July 2009). Wallisian immigration mum wage in increments (NC, 25 Feb, had contributed to making the indig- 10 April, 21 Oct 2009). It invests in enous Kanak a minority in the 1970s infrastructure, affordable housing, and provided hired militias against and job training, with French financial Kanak militants in the 1980s. Violence aid and nickel income (NC, 25 Feb, 3 erupted again between the communi- April 2009). The loyalists and Palika ties in 2001, and most Wallisians still supported Gomès’s nearly us$2 bil- vote loyalist out of economic depen- lion budget in December, backing his dency. But Martin negotiated a special social democratic program, while the accord between the two countries, uc and pt said the budget did not go and this year delegations from Wallis far enough in helping the rural and and Futuna engaged in reconciliation urban poor (NC, 22 Dec 2009). The ceremonies with Kanak. An exposi- once-dominant Société le Nickel (sln) tion at the Tjibaou Cultural Center talked of layoffs despite labor pro- also promoted mutual understand- tests, but the North continued to build ing between the two communities, its Koniambo nickel processing and and partnerships in local economic commercial development projects near development are being pursued (NC, Koné, the provincial capital, benefiting 27 July, 9 Dec 2009). Migrants from from its relationship with metal-pro- both Oceanian peoples mingle in cessor Posco of Korea (NC, 21 July, 20 the growing squatter camps around Nov 2009). In the South, the process- Noumea, where their leaders complain ing plant project at Goro still raised of a lack of equal opportunity (NC, concerns over pollution because of 23 Dec 2009). Juvenile delinquency an acid leak, but it was scheduled to among unemployed Oceanians has begin operations in early 2010. The stirred efforts among civic associa- long disposal pipes into the sea at both tions, the police, and the Customary Koniambo and Goro have aroused Senate to find solutions such as more debate over how much pollution is positive activities and education in tolerable (NC, 27 Nov, 3 Dec 2009). customary values (NC, 8 June, 31 Aug A new census revealed a population 2009). Meanwhile, Kanak commemo- of 245,580, a bit lower than expected. rated the twentieth anniversary of Ethnic data was collected this time, Tjibaou’s death, Gorodé planned for after being banned by French Presi- the 2010 Festival of Melanesian Arts dent Jacques Chirac in 2003. It should in Noumea, and civic and govern- help to assess the impact of economic ment leaders held the annual 24th rebalancing and speculation about a of September Citizenship Festival at rising métis element when it becomes the Mwâ Kâ totem pole in Noumea available (NC, 15 Nov 2009). A census despite a boycott by the RUMP (NC, in Wallis and Futuna showed that its 29 April, 8 July, 25 Sept 2009). population has declined by 10 per- Museums also educated residents cent since 2003, while the number about the shared history of the coun- of migrants to New Caledonia from try in displays of precolonial Kanak 440 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) art, the Kanak revolt of 1917, and the these included a series of shootings graphic art of Bernard Berger, who has in the concession area of the gigantic tried to promote a sense of common Freeport mining company, targeting destiny through typically Caledonian Freeport employees. Papuan youth humor (NC, 19 Jan, 7 Sept, 22 Sept and student groups dominated by 2009). highlanders became prominent actors david chappell in political opposition in 2009. The year closed with the killing of influ- ential opm leader Kelly Kwalik. The References political picture of Papua and West Papua remains generally somber since bbc, British Broadcasting Corporation. the implementation of the Special http://www.bbc.co.uk / Autonomy law in 2001. kol, Kanaky Online. Discussion group. In the media, opinion makers at http://fr.groups.yahoo.com /group / kanaky universities, politicians, and Papuan Maclellan, Nic. 2009. New Government in religious leaders ceaselessly criticized New Caledonia: The May 2009 Elections the implementation of the Special in a French Pacific Territory. State, Society Autonomy law. Most feel that very and Governance in Melanesia Briefing little significant progress has been Note 3. Canberra: Research School of achieved over the past eight years Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian in addressing the roots of the Papua National University. http://rspas.anu.edu conflict, such as disputes about his- .au / melanesia / BriefingNotes / BriefingNote tory, human rights abuses, failure of _NewGovtinNewCaledonia.pdf development, and most importantly NC, Les Nouvelles-Calédoniennes. Daily. the marginalization of the indigenous Noumea. http://www.lnc.nc Papuans. Despite high budgets for pir, Pacific Islands Report. the two provinces, there was little http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org / pireport improvement in public services for remote areas, and the already bad image of the Indonesian government in the eyes of Papuans deteriorated Papua further due to corruption on the During 2009, the Papua and West part of local Papuan bureaucrats. Papua provinces of Indonesia wit- Many prominent Papuan intellectu- nessed a number of prominent events als have concluded that the Special that maintained an atmosphere of Autonomy legislation has stagnated, conflict between the Government of and has failed to function as a “middle Indonesia and Papuans in general. way” to solve the roots of the Papua In cities, secessionist demands were conflict. expressed openly in the mass media. The failure of Special Autonomy In remote highland areas, a number of has driven many parties to think about very low level armed attacks occurred, how to break the political impasse. allegedly conducted by secessionist Hoping to open a process of dia- groups of the Free Papua Movement logue, a number of researchers from (Organisasi Papua Merdeka, or opm); the Indonesian Institute of Sciences pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 441

(Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indone- government has no policy blueprint sia), collaborating with nongovern- to resolve the Papua conflict. The sug- mental organizations and government gestion of conducting peace talks with officials, have been striving to gain Papuan oppositions has received no support from important politi- response from the president. Most of cal figures and high officials in the the policies of Jakarta remain ad hoc Indonesian government. The proposed and reactionary in nature. dialogue is expected to involve repre- The presidential and legislative elec- sentatives of Papuan pro-independence tions in 2009 were successful despite groups and delegates of the central some tensions and minor disturbances government, and would be open- in Papua. Almost half of those who ended, covering all issues, including managed to gain seats in the Papua the demands for independence and the provincial parliament—24 (the Danis revision of the Special Autonomy law. and the Me) out of 56 members—are Those advocating dialogue in Jakarta of highlands origin. However, in gen- have in fact received a sympathetic eral Jakarta policies on Papua did not hearing from many individuals within change significantly this year. In deal- the Indonesian Parliament and the ing with the violent conduct of Papuan government (except from certain intel- opposition, the police did not retaliate ligence and security-related bodies). as aggressively as before. The military In Papua, priests from various stayed more in the background, and denominations connected with a the Indonesian government restrained Jakarta-based peace working group, the use of repressive measures. Persua- under the leadership of Rector Neles sive and law enforcement approaches Tebay of the Sekolah Tinggi Filsafat were more prominent this year, even Teologi Fajar Timur (Philosophical though a number of activists were and Theological College) in Jayapura, tried and sent to prison and there was collaborated with local nongovern- an overall increase in the number of mental organizations, student leaders, prisoners of conscience. and adat (customary) groups, to create On the other hand, the office constituencies of dialogue from vari- of the coordinating minister for ous local actors, including representa- social welfare initiated a “welfare tives of the armed pro-independence approach” policy. The government groups. These constituencies talked declared that it would welcome any about the necessity of dialogue as a resistance groups in the jungle or more realistic method for furthering elsewhere to “return to the fold” of the interests of the Papuan majority. the Indonesian government. In 2008, People are now discussing the pos- the Indonesian government launched sibility of a compromise on the issue special Integrated Donations (Bantuan of independence. But crucial ques- Terpadu) for village development. Last tions remain. Papuans question the year, it provided 140 billion Indone- political will of Jakarta, especially sian rupiahs (idr) for building village given the failure of many aspects of facilities (school buildings, teacher Special Autonomy. Deep mistrust of housing, village clinics, and so on) as Jakarta prevails, and the Indonesian well as 264 units of people’s housing 442 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) for those ex-opm combatants in Pegu- Group Supporting the Autonomous nungan Bintang and Lani Jaya regen- Region of Papua within the Repub- cies who renounced their struggle for lic of Indonesia, which cooperated independence. (idr10,000 is equiva- with Indonesian Ambassador to the lent to approximately us$1.08). Netherlands Effendi (Fanny) Habibie, Also under the welfare approach Jouwe accepted the invitation of the policy, the Indonesian government Indonesian government. On 22 March tried to reach out to a few prominent 2009, Jouwe visited Jakarta and his pro-independence figures such as hometown, Jayapura. On 26 March, Tadius Yogi and Nicolaas Jouwe. In President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono August and September, the ministry accepted Jouwe’s visit, which marked approached Yogi, tpn /opm com- his return to the fold of the Republic mander of Kodap IV Paniai (tpn of Indonesia. It is almost certain that [ Tentara Pembebasan Nasional], or Jouwe will spend the rest of his life National Liberation Army, is the as an Indonesian citizen. In January military wing of the opm). During 2010, it was reported that Jouwe had his visit to the regency of Paniai on 8 returned to Jayapura for good. Once, September 2009, Minister Aburizal he told this author that he wanted to Bakrie said that he was prepared to die in his land of birth ( Jouwe, pers meet Yogi. However, the meeting was comm, Delft, 1 Dec 2009). In spite of canceled because of a report that Yogi these symbolic successes, this welfare was sick. Later, Yogi admitted that he approach policy is partial, in that it had refused to see the minister because involves reconciliation only with a few the Papua struggle is not about “food individuals and not with the resis- and drink.” “We are defending the tance groups in general. Those who freedom of West Papua which had have already gone through a process been stolen by Indonesia,” he said of reconciliation with the Indonesian (Tabloid Jubi Online, 26 Nov 2009). government are seen as traitors by Yogi reportedly claimed that the min- other Papuans. ister offered him idr60 billion on the The Indonesian government also condition that he renounce his struggle seems to be continuing its effort to for Papuan political independence. persuade Papuans who have fled The Ministry of Social Welfare abroad to return. This year, the policy also invited former pro-independence targeted refugees who have lived in leader Nicolaas Jouwe (now eighty- Papua New Guinea for decades. After four years old), who has been living a long and tiring process, in Novem- in exile in the Netherlands for more ber 2009 the Indonesian government than forty years, to return home. managed to convince some of the refu- Jouwe was a prominent member of the gees to repatriate to Papua, Indonesia. New Guinea Council established by Out of 708 Papuans who planned to the Dutch colonial government in the do so, 141 went home to Indonesia; 1960s and one of the founding fathers 68 returned from Wiwek City and of the Papua independence move- 73 from Port Moresby. According to ment. Thanks to Franzalbert Joku Franzalbert Joku, the fact that these and his organization, the Independent Papuans were willing to go home is pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 443 proof that the Special Autonomy law Tingginambut. Furthermore, the opm has been successful. destroyed Gurage Bridge to deter the Very low level armed attacks movement of the security apparatus occurred a number of times in that might be used to retaliate. On 15 Tingginambut, Puncak Jaya, a remote April, the opm again attacked a group part of the central highland regency. of police in Tingginambut, resulting in Between January and March 2009, one killed and six policemen injured. there were five opm attacks on the District Head (Bupati) Lukas Enembe security apparatus. Besides target- suspected that the opm group respon- ing security facilities and thus killing sible for these attacks was under the security officers (police force and /or leadership of Goliath Tabuni or Anton military), opm attacks now targeted Tabuni. The Tabuni clan was report- civilians (migrants) in an attempt to edly involved in attacks dating back to create unrest among migrants and 2003 at the same area of Puncak Jaya. add to the bargaining power of the On 20 October, sporadic attacks OPM with the Papuans. This change by an unknown person or persons, in tactics, however, has been counter- shooting at civilian targets, took place productive and has not advanced opm in Mulia, Puncak Jaya. In the same objectives. area a more recent attack targeted On the evening of 8 January 2009, non-Papuan migrants. A migrant a group of tpn/opm attacked a small from Pati, Central Java Province, died police post in Tingginambut, a remote and a Papuan was injured after being highland area. Four guns and sixty- attacked and shot by an unknown one bullets were taken away. This time group of fifteen people. The victims the OPM attack injured a civilian, Ivana and their colleagues were working Helen, the twenty-one-year-old wife together building the Kalome Bridge. of a police officer. On 21 February, A car was also burned during the opm did some shooting at the same attack. police post from afar. The Republic of Disturbances occurred not only in Indonesia “Red and White” flag (Sang the highlands but also in the coastal Saka Merah Putih) that was hoisted area of Serui. On 11 July 2009, there above the hill was pulled down and were some attacks, sweeping, and burned. On 10 March, two civilian armed contacts in quick succession, ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers were related to the arrival of opm lead- shot to death. An unknown group ers Ferdinando Worabay and Decky whose faces had been blackened with Imbiri. An unknown person exploded charcoal also attacked two women. a fish bomb, and later the police They were suspected to be the same burned three houses of local inhabit- group who confiscated the police guns ants and arrested and interrogated in January 2009. On 14 March, opm fourteen people. Eleven of the sus- attacked a group of patrolling Indone- pects were either children or teenag- sian National Armed Forces (Tentara ers and were subsequently released; Nasional Indonesia, or tni) soldiers. the remaining three were taken to One tni soldier was reportedly Papua Regional Police Headquarters killed during the shooting in District in Jayapura. The police investigated 444 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) the military training of OPM under the Sebby Sembom, on 17 December. The leadership of Ferdinando Worabay, arrests ignited several demonstrations and of the West Papua National in Jakarta and Jayapura on Wednes- Authority under the leadership of day, 25 January 2009, the first day of Wilson Uruwaya. Tabuni’s trial. Tabuni and Sembom Not far from Jayapura, another were charged under articles concern- violent event occurred; this time the ing subversion and hostility to the perpetrators were tni soldiers. In state. In Wamena on 25 February, the Kampung Kibai, on Monday, 22 June knpb-linked group Solidaritas Peduli 2009, a sixteen-year-old local inhabit- Hak Asasi Manusia dan Demokrasi ant named Isak Psakor was shot by a Jayawijaya (Human Rights and member of the Indonesian army near Democracy Solidarity) staged a dem- the Indonesia–Papua New Guinea onstration in front of the local court border. Isak and his brother Wens, building, demanding the release of the along with two of their relatives, were knpb leaders. on their way home to Kibai village knpb is a student-led action com- from Skotyauw, Papua New Guinea. mittee that emerged in 2008. Judging A dog that belonged to the army ran from events during 2008 and 2009, after Isak, who tried to escape up a knpb has developed a wide Papuan tree but was shot as he climbed. The student and youth network, primar- army spokesperson, Lieutenant Colo- ily in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Menado, nel Susilo, asserted that the Psakor Jayapura, Nabire, and Wamena. It family had been asked to stop but combines a popular movement with had kept on running, which led to the populist issues, such as the referen- shooting. The Regional Military Com- dum, release of political prisoners, mand of West Papua (Kodam Trikora) and elimination of military violence. investigated the six soldiers who were knpb maintains “close communica- suspected of the shooting, but to date tion” with Benny Wenda in Oxford. no one has been vindicated or put on The series of demonstrations in 2008 trial. came in response to previous events, On 16 October 2008, the National beginning with the ipwp declaration Committee of West Papua (Komite in London. But knpb’s structure has Nasional Papua Barat, or knpb), not been clear from the beginning. under the leadership of Bukhtar According to the chief of Police Resort Tabuni, had staged its first demonstra- Jayapura, Adjunct High Commis- tion in Jayapura to support the launch sioner of Police (Ajun Komisaris of International Parliamentarians for Besar Polisi) Robert Jhoenso, Demus West Papua (ipwp). This demonstra- Wenda is currently the secretary of tion was followed by calls from Benny knpb. However, this official claim was Wenda, an exiled independence leader rejected by Tabuni as head of knpb. in London, to boycott Indonesia’s A bigger demonstration in 2009 2009 general election and to have a was a mass rally on 10 March at the Papua referendum. Consequently, the provincial parliament building in police detained Tabuni on 3 Decem- Jayapura, with hundreds of partici- ber 2008, and another knpb activist, pants under the command of Victor pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 445

F Yeimo. Another rally involving on the morning of 6 April 2009, and hundreds of people occurred under the fifteen activists were captured. same leader on 24 March at the Papua In the April event the authorities parliament building at Jayapura. seemed to be less in control. Due to The first demonstration called for a the massive number of participants, a boycott of the general election and clash between police and the crowds support of a referendum; the second could not be avoided. Several Papuans invited Papuans to unite under the were injured. The arrests angered local umbrella of knpb. Besides that, the 24 people, and another clash between the March rally also voiced a strong call masses and the police was inevitable. for the withdrawal of all Indonesian Likewise, violence marked a later military troops from District Puncak series of events in Papua. Besides those Jaya and West Papua and an end to related to the demonstrations, two the violence in Papua. The demonstra- seemingly separate incidents claimed tions were guarded by a huge security the lives of civilians. On 8 April in deployment from the Mobile Brigade Wamena, three migrant ojek drivers and took place peacefully, although were killed. These murders created the 24 March rally was marred by suspicion that the perpetrators were the arrest of four Dutch journal- either opm or knpb. The violence ists: Gabriel Bebette, Pieter Mariauw escalated on 9 April when the Police Smith, Elske Schouten, and Ronal Sector Headquarters of Abepura was Wigma. attacked at the same time the national A later knpb demonstration related legislative election was taking place. to the launch of International Lawyers The hostilities did not abate, and on for West Papua (ilwp) in Guyana on 3 11 April someone threatened to burn April 2009. This event apparently gave down an electricity-generating facil- more strength to a Papuan response. ity in Waena. On 12 April, another In Nabire on 2 April 2009, under Zet ojek driver of migrant origins was Giyai of knpb, thousands attended murdered. On the same day, a number a massive demonstration in support of bombs were found in Muara Tami of the ilwp launching with issues near the PNG border. similar to those expressed in previous In the midst of these violent inci- demonstrations. But this demonstra- dents, on 13 April knpb released a tion also mounted a challenge to the statement signed by Victor F Yeimo approaching national legislative elec- that claimed responsibility for the tion. A local religious leader, Pendeta attack on Abepura police headquar- Daud Auwe, was quoted as saying: ters as well as for burning a build- “We want freedom, not election” (imc ing at Cendrawasih University. In Jakarta, 3 April 2009). The movement the press release, knpb mentioned continued with the establishment of the following reasons for the attack a “posko” (command post) for knpb on the police headquarters: (1) the Nabire in the national heroes cemetery unsettled political conflict between at Taman Gizi. This initiative ignited Jakarta and Papua; (2) a claim that a harsh response from the local police the 2009 election was an illegitimate authorities. The posko was burned project of Indonesia that denied West 446 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010)

Papuan independence; (3) an emo- responsible for taking hostage a tional response on the part of West team of researchers from the Lorentz Papuan students against the killing of Expedition in Mapnduma in 1996. He Opinus Tabuni by the tni /police on was also allegedly responsible for the 9 August 2008 in Wamena; (4) the kidnapping of two Belgian journalists evacuation of the people’s tent above in 2001. Due to his notorious actions Theys Eluay’s graveyard by the police; in the past, any violent conduct in and (5) the shooting of six people the area was almost always associ- during a peace rally in Nabire. knpb ated with his group. For example, the also claimed that the burning of the military immediately accused Kwalik’s university building was in response to OPM guerilla group of the 2002 Free- the elimination of the basic rights of port shootings, which had taken the students due to the bureaucratic cam- lives of two US citizens. pus structure and ethnic favoritism on Beginning on 11 July, a series of the part of Cendrawasih University’s shootings took place in the Freeport rector. In response to those actions, on area. An Australian employee, 18 May 2009, the Jayawijaya police Drew Nicholas Grant, and a Free- authority arrested eight knpb student port security officer, Markus Rante activists in Wamena. Previously, on Alo, were shot dead. A policeman 22 April, the police had arrested five named Marson Petipelohy was killed suspects in the police sector attack. when his throat was cut. During the Early in the morning of Wednesday, investigation, seven local Amungme 16 December, opm Commander Kelly people were arrested but released soon Kwalik was shot to death by antiter- afterward due to lack of evidence. rorist Special Detachment 88 of the Despite the deployment of more than Indonesian Police in a house in Timika a thousand soldiers to back up the town, in the southern part of Papua police, a few more shootings happened Province. Five Papuan Amungme tribe in the same area, but apparently members who accompanied him were stopped near the end of November. arrested. An autopsy was performed After the death of Kwalik, the shoot- in Jayapura on Kwalik’s body, which ings occurred once again. was returned to Timika two days later. Kwalik’s men were repeatedly In a ceremony attended by hundreds accused of the shootings by the Papua of Papuan highlanders, Kwalik was Regional Military Commander Major buried in the center of Timika town. General A Y Nasution. Interestingly, Kwalik was the opm’s Commander the regional police chief at the time of Territorial War Command (Kodap) with authority in the matter, Inspec- III Nemangkawi (Mimika), the region tor General Bagus Ekodanto, had a where the gigantic US Freeport Gold different opinion. He claimed to have Company has been operating. His met with Kwalik, who denied respon- career as a guerilla fighter started sibility for the shootings. Moreover, in 1977 when he was in charge of based on Chief Ekodanto’s initial sabotaging Freeport’s facilities dur- inquiry, there was no indication or ing the political turmoil that spread proof that Kwalik was responsible all over the highlands area. He was for the shootings. But suddenly, Chief pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 447

Ekodanto and other chiefs at the been trying to end rumors about the regency level were removed. The new rivalry between the police and the chiefs immediately announced that military. Kwalik was indeed the mastermind muridan s widjojo behind the shootings, a point of view that corresponded with the military’s allegations. This pattern is precisely Much appreciation to Irine H the same as a shooting case in 2002. Gayatri, who helped collect and select The regional police chief at the time, materials for this review. I Made Mangku Pastika, strove to uncover the perpetrators, who alleg- edly were members of Kopassus intel- References ligence, the Indonesian army’s elite Aliansi Demokrasi untuk Papua blog. Special Forces. In that case as well, http://andawat-papua.blogspot.com / Pastika was immediately replaced. Antara News: Portal Berita Indonesia. Many leaders of nongovernmental http://www.antaranews.com / organizations who have close contact with the police claim that the shoot- Bintang Papua. Daily. Jayapura. ings in 2002 and 2009 had to do Cenderawasih Pos. Daily. Jayapura. with rivalry between police units and http://www.cenderawasihpos.com / armed forces units over the distri- Harian Online Kabarindonesia. bution of security funds within the http://www.kabarindonesia.com / Freeport area. The rivalry began in 1996, after the so-called handy-talky imc Jakarta, Independent Media Center Jakarta. http://jakarta.indymedia.org / riots, when the armed forces enjoyed a great amount of money to support Inovasi Portal Berita. http://www.inilah the security within and around the .com / Freeport area. (These riots happened Jakarta Post. Daily. Jakarta. http://www in Timika, Papua, in February–March .thejakartapost.com / 1996, allegedly orchestrated by the knpb–Papua Barat blog. http://knpb Indonesian special armed forces unit .blogspot.com / Kopassus. The riots were under the command of a group of people who Kompas. Daily. Jakarta. http://www were in the middle of an angry crowd, .kompas.com / using “handy-talkies,” or handheld, Metro TV News ( Jakarta). http://www two-way radios.) Recently, thanks to .metrotvnews.com / security sector reform at the national Situs Berita Online Indonesia. level, security for the multinational http://www.tempointeraktif.com / corporation has been taken over by Suara Pembaruan. Daily. Jakarta. the police. The shootings might have http://www.suarapembaruan.com / been part of a “negotiation” between the armed forces, the police, and Free- Tabloid Jubi Online: An Alternative Media port. By killing Kwalik and making in Tanah Papua. http://tabloidjubi.com / him the scapegoat for the shootings, West Papua Today blog. http://wptoday the police and the military might have .wordpress.com / 448 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010)

Widjojo, Muridan. 2009. Negotiating projects, Sir Michael left Enga earlier the Past and Looking to the Future. than expected. (One PNG kina [k1] Inside Indonesia 98 (Oct–Dec). http:// equals approximately us$.37.) The insideindonesia.org/content/view/1269/47/ Joint District Planning and Budget Widjojo, Muridan, editor. 2009. Papua Priorities Committee was to coordi- Road Map: Negotiating the Past, Improv- nate the spending, which caused some ing the Present and Securing the Future. controversy. Sir Michael was offended Jakarta: Yayasan Obor Indonesia. by comments made by Enga Governor Peter Ipatas, who questioned the capa- bilities of the committee to account for millions of kina given to them. Ipatas Papua New Guinea questioned why the funds were going The government of Prime Minister Sir to committees instead of going to the Michael Somare is pulling through in established provincial government spite of the scandals that plagued the system (Post Courier, 2 March 2009). government in 2008 and is likely to The government also faced a num- successfully complete its full second ber of challenges as it clung tightly term (2007–2012) in Parliament, to power in its endeavor to set a new provided that there is no major shift in record of successfully completing a allegiance and a vote of no confidence second term. On 28 July 2009, the does not dissolve the government Opposition brought a no-confidence in the next two years. Prime Min- motion against the prime minister. The ister Somare announced during the leader of Government Business and country’s thirty-fourth independence Minister for National Planning Paul anniversary that he will not step down Tiensten responded with a motion to as prime minister until Papua New adjourn Parliament until 10 Novem- Guinea gets back on the right track ber, even though there was a full (Post Courier, 17 Sept 2009). That quorum. All hell broke loose when the was the latest pledge from Sir Michael, Speaker of Parliament, Jeffery Nape, who is serving as the longest-running ruled in favor of the adjournment member of Parliament (mp) ever in the motion, thus circumventing a vote of Commonwealth group of nations. no confidence. This, as expected, drew In March 2009, the National the ire of the Opposition and nation- Executive Council (nec) had its first wide condemnation of the integrity of meeting of the year in Enga Province. the Speaker and the political process. It was one of the biggest political Some observers commented that the events ever held in the province. To government has used the office of the welcome the prime minister and the Speaker to protect the prime minister nec, the people of Enga had almost when a motion of no confidence was one hundred pigs, thirty cassowar- presented. Long-time political analyst ies, and twenty goats on the menu. It Dr Ray Anere argued that the adjourn- was also a courtesy on the part of the ment might prevent Parliament from Enga people to celebrate Sir Michael’s meeting the constitutional requirement forty years in politics. However, after to sit for sixty-three days and would delivering more than k142 million for deny members of Parliament the free- pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 449 dom of speech and debate guaranteed provinces. The vote was 86 to 0, far under section 115 of the PNG Consti- above the absolute majority vote of 73 tution (Post Courier, 30 July 2009). (Post Courier, 12 March 2009). The Opposition threatened to The Somare government continued refer Prime Minister Somare, Speaker to fare exceptionally well in the face Nape, and Tiensten to the Ombuds- of tremendous odds and in spite of the man Commission for a possible breach scandals that dominated the previ- of the constitution for their part ous year. In 2008, issues such as the in adjourning the Parliament. The clandestine flight of Julian Moti to Opposition also echoed the claim that Solomon Islands on a PNG Defence Parliament would not reach its full Force aircraft; the us$40 million nine weeks or sixty-three days a year from the 2.1 percent of the sale of (Post Courier, 13 Oct 2009). log exports held in a bank account in On 29 July, in a move that sur- Singapore by a government minister; prised many, eleven members of the us$30 million “Taiwan dollar Parliament from the ruling National diplomacy scandal”; Prime Minister Alliance Party joined the Opposition. Somare’s shareholding in the company These members were PNG Coun- Pacific Registry of Ship Ltd “in trust try Party Leader Jamie Maxtone- for the Independent State of PNG”; Graham (Anglimp South Wahgi), and the prime minister’s court actions Thompson Harokaqveh (Goroka), to stop the Ombudsman Commission Peter Ipatas (Enga Province), Samson and Public Prosecutor from referring Kuli (Usino Bundi), Sai Sailon (Kai- him on allegations that he had not nantu), Jim Nomane (Chuave), Boka completed or provided annual returns Kondra (North Fly), Bob Danaya since 1992 were all big news (see Kan- (Western Province), Jack Cameron tha 2009). However, all these scan- (Kiriwina-Goodenough), John Boito dals, with the exception of the Moti (Obura-Wanenara), and Peter Iwei Affair, were never fully investigated. (Telefomin). They described the Prime Minister Sir Michael and others Somare regime as evil, corrupt, and were implicated for allegedly autho- dictatorial. The members reported that rizing the covert flight of Moti out of when they had spoken of moving to the country but were not prosecuted. the Opposition they had been threat- These scandals remain a dark spot in ened with cuts to their annual discre- the record of the Somare government tionary funds or special project funds since it took office. (Post Courier, 29 July 2009). Perhaps the most dominant issue of After thirty-five years of struggle, this year was the liquefied natural gas by 2012 Papua New Guinea will have (lng) project. The government held two new provinces: Hela and Jiwaka. and continues to hold many posi- On 11 March 2009, Parliament gave tive expectations that the k30 billion unanimous support for a law allow- lng project will drastically change ing for the creation of the provincial the economic face and stature of the headquarters and administration of country. The landowners and the State the new provinces. Papua New Guinea stand to reap a considerable share of will then have a total of twenty-two the benefits. The PNG government 450 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) and lng project developer Exxon- fore, any agreement reached by the Mobil spent a few months in early State, developers, or landowners in 2009 on the arduous task of negotiat- that forum would not be binding. ing the benefit-sharing agreement with Talks at the benefit-sharing agree- the landowner groups. The govern- ment forum reached a stalemate when ment was successful in negotiating an landowners and the Southern High- agreement, but many landowners were lands Provincial Government, led by caught unprepared and still lack a full mp Anderson Agiru, insisted that they understanding about how the project be given 10 percent equity in the lng will affect them. project, when the State offered them A forum on the benefit-sharing 2 percent as the legally prescribed agreement involving landowner groups ceiling. The landowners threatened and government representatives was that they would not proceed with any held at Kokopo in the East New Brit- agreements until their demands were ain Province. To ensure that the lng considered. The State responded with project remained on schedule, the gov- an offer of 6.88 percent, but that still ernment wanted an umbrella agree- did not satisfy the landowners. The ment, even though some landowners State eventually was compelled to were against holding the forum at that settle at 8 percent. The landowners time because no independent cost and have therefore struck a landmark mul- benefit analysis was carried out (The tibillion-dollar agreement, setting the National, 16 April 2009). benchmark for companies looking to Aggrieved landowners took out share the proceeds of future projects a court injunction to prevent the with affected landowners. The land- forum—which they called a “devel- owners are expected to receive more opment forum”—from being held in than k20 billion in the thirty-year life Kokopo. They argued that the State, of the project (Murphy 2009). through the Department of Petroleum Even though the lng project is not and Energy and the developers, did yet fully into its construction phase, not comply with the Oil and Gas Act. the hype has already raised high That act requires that a benefit-shar- expectations in the capital city, Port ing agreement can only be agreed to Moresby. A domino effect can be seen in a “development forum,” and that in numerous construction projects, a “development forum” can only be expansion and competition between held or convened after a full-scale business houses, and new real estate social mapping and landowner iden- developments taking place. Conse- tification is carried out (Post Courier, quently, accommodation facilities such 28 April 2009). The landowners as rented apartments in some of the finally agreed to convene the forum affluent locations of the city have sold when the government explained that out, and rental costs have reached the meeting in Kokopo was not a extraordinarily high levels. “development forum” but was simply For most ordinary citizens, the intended to promote cooperation and looming lng project may be just the understanding of the different roles opportunity they have been waiting the stakeholders would play. There- for. It is anticipated that they will also pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 451 benefit, directly and indirectly, from and Petromin PNG Holdings Ltd 0.2 the project. Local business ventures percent (Post Courier, 7 Dec 2009). expect rapid expansion to supply the Meanwhile, China, the world’s increased demand from the lng work- second-biggest energy user, has agreed ers and project developers. Perhaps to buy liquefied natural gas from most significant is that the increased ExxonMobil Corporation’s us$10 employment opportunities will give billion venture in Papua New Guinea. workers leverage to negotiate better Unipec Asia Co Ltd, a subsidiary salaries. The government and the of China Petroleum and Chemical private sector are already seeing an Corporation (Sinopec, a state-owned exodus of highly educated and experi- oil company) signed an agreement enced public servants and technically to buy two million metric tonnes of skilled workers who are taking up jobs liquefied natural gas a year under a on the lng project for salaries double, multiyear contract—about 32 percent triple, and even quadruple what they of the project’s proposed output (The were earning before. National, 28 April 2009). Prime Min- However, there are also concerns ister Somare said that the agreement that Papua New Guinea might not was a boost for PNG–China bilat- actually have the capacity to provide eral relations (The National, 11 May the required labor for the project. It 2009). was revealed by the Department of In December, Somare announced Labour and Industrial Relations that that the cabinet had approved another more than 7,500 local employees will lng project agreement led by Inter be needed for the multibillion-kina Oil. He also announced that the lng project, and the country can- cabinet has also endorsed the appoint- not provide this labor force, let alone ment of the state company Petromin the 500 welders that the developers as equity shareholder in the project. require. As the country lacks enough Petromin is the 22.5 percent equity highly skilled or trained people to holder on behalf of the PNG govern- fill the huge number of job openings, ment, with 20.5 percent of revenue to Papua New Guinea now faces a pos- go to Petromin and 2.0 percent to the sible influx of foreign workers taking project agreement landowners. It is a those jobs while locals become mere significant milestone for Papua New spectators (Post Courier, 5 Nov 2009). Guinea to have two lng projects that Nevertheless, the Somare gov- will add value to the development of ernment has generally performed the country and its people (Sunday extremely well in securing major Chronicle, 13 Dec 2009). partners and participating interests in In an economic update for the East the lng project. These include Exxon- Asia and Pacific region, the World Mobil (through various affiliates, Bank said that Papua New Guinea’s including Esso Highlands Ltd as oper- multibillion-kina lng project holds ator) at 41.5 percent, Oil Search 34 major potential in terms of revenues percent, Santos 17.7 percent, Nippon and economic growth, both during Oil 5.4 percent, Mineral Resources the construction stage (2010 –2013) Development Company 1.2 percent, and especially after production starts 452 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) in 2014. The report adds that a key tary John Paska. The Chinese Embassy challenge will be translating the strong in Port Moresby also expressed grave macroeconomic performance and rev- concern for the safety of its nationals enues from the extractive industry into and their businesses (The National, improvements in living standards. The 19 May 2009). report also says that it is time to start Ousted Madang Governor Sir thinking about setting up more robust Arnold Amet called on the government institutional structures and mecha- and businesses to be serious about the nisms to save and use the windfalls localization of jobs, stop the contin- from liquefied natural gas and other ued employment of noncitizens for commodities in the future (World jobs that could be done by nationals, Bank 2009). and ensure that skills transfer from The government was heavily criti- noncitizens to locals actually occurs cized by the Opposition and members and is not just something on paper. of the public for the purchase of a Eastern Highlands Province Governor new Falcon ultra-long range executive Malcolm Kela Smith petitioned the jet from the United States for k120 government in Parliament to remove million. The Opposition described the Asian business people in the country, purchase as a complete waste of public claiming that they have exploited funds, particularly when the majority locals. He claimed that Asian busi- of grassroots people are struggling day nesses were oppressing local employ- by day to make ends meet. The gov- ees and depriving them of their rights. ernment responded that the jet would Governor Smith further claimed that be put on hire for government use the problems were not the Asians by Air Niugini (Post Courier, 8 April themselves but the responsible govern- 2009). ment departments and leaders who In May, an anti-Asian protest in had allowed foreigners to enter the Port Moresby organized by a non- country (Post Courier, 21 May 2009). governmental organization led to a Soon after the anti-Asian riot, a chain-reaction attack on Asian busi- Parliamentary Bipartisan Committee nesses in the provincial towns of Lae, was set up to investigate the causes of Madang, and Goroka. On 18 May, the riot. During its deliberations the opportunists attempted to loot several committee was told by immigration Asian-owned shops in the provinces officers that there were up to 15,000 of Western Highlands, Chimbu, and foreigners of Asian origin living Eastern Highlands, but quick action illegally in Papua New Guinea (Post from police prevented what could Courier, 5 Nov 2009). A member of have been a calamitous situation in the committee, MP Philip Kikala, com- these provinces. The looters’ actions mented that he had been informed were condemned by a host of politi- by Philippines Ambassador Madam cians and civil society leaders includ- Shirley Ho-Vicario at a luncheon that ing Prime Minister Somare, Foreign of the 19,000 Filipinos working in the Affairs Minister Sam Abal, Opposition country, 16,000 were working illegally leader Sir Mekere Morauta, and PNG (Post Courier, 20 Nov 2009). The Trade Union Congress General Secre- comment was greeted by wrath on pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 453 the part of the Filipino community in to have an institution to take the lead Papua New Guinea, who argued that on carbon trading and climate-change it was not a factual reflection of the issues affecting the country. Weeks situation. before the December 2009 Copenha- In November, the Parliament gen meeting on climate change, the disbanded the bipartisan committee government officially announced the established to look into the anti-Asian abolition of the Office of Climate riots, arguing that the panel had Change and Environmental Sustain- become a “tool to sabotage” the eco- ability, and k3.2 million was approved nomic bilateral relations between the to be paid out to seventy former Philippines and Papua New Guinea. occes staff who would have to find The Parliament caucus deemed that new employment. The government MP Jamie Maxtone-Graham was no also reportedly spent k3 million for longer fit to chair the panel (The the total cost of Papua New Guinea’s National, 16 Nov 2009). Three thirty-member delegation to Copen- other committee members submitted hagen (Post Courier, 11 Dec 2009). their resignations in protest over the The functions of the occes are now decision. to be handled by the Department of There were also fears that the anti- Environment and Conservation under Asian riots could affect the lng proj- Secretary Wari Iamo. ect. Trade Union President Michael It was also reported in Septem- Malabag warned the public not to ber that National Alliance Party take part in riots after an anonymous Vice President James Kond received e-mail was widely circulated giving the k200,000 from Australian company deadline of 31 December for all Asian Carbon Planet for his part in liaising businesses to pack up and leave the with and advising the PNG Govern- country. Malabag said that the Asian ment. After Yasause’s suspension and markets would play a major role in eventual termination, occes Acting the lng export and that a riot would Director Wari Iamo announced that reflect badly on the country (Post carbon-trading agreements could not Courier, 31 Dec 2009). be legally signed until the government On the climate change front, the has put in place an appropriate policy cabinet made a decision in July to and legal framework (The National, suspend Theo Yasause, the execu- 28 Sept 2010). tive director of the Office of Climate The National Court on 14 August Change and Environmental Sustain- ruled that the Kandep sitting member, ability (occes), pending a full-scale National Alliance Party candidate investigation into the operations of Don Polye, had not been duly elected the office (The National, 1 July 2009). and that his 2007 election was void. Yasause was embroiled in many The court found that the total number controversies, such as signing sample of votes subject to illegal practices carbon-trade certificates without exceeded the winning margin. There having any policy or legislative frame- were incidences of hijacking of ballot work in place. The office had been set boxes, stuffing ballot boxes, officials up in 2008 as a government initiative marking ballots contrary to the wishes 454 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) of the voter, complete destruction of will bow out of politics in 2012 (The ballot boxes, electoral officials mistak- National, 6 Nov 2010). Sir Michael enly sending ballot boxes to incorrect has led the National Alliance Party locations, and manipulation of the since its inception and plans to hand counting of ballot papers (Butler and over the reins to a successor in 2012. Wheen 2009). Polye has been a sitting However, there is still much uncer- member since 2002, was the deputy tainty as to the leadership of the party prime minister from 2002–2007, and after he retires. Sir Michael has not most recently served as minister for announced or provided a short list of transport, civil aviation, and works. potential successors, and there have When Polye opted not to appeal ostensibly been tussles for the leader- the decision of the court to prove to ship among regional branch leaders of his family and electorate that he had the party. Some have also speculated been legitimately elected and had won that Sir Michael’s son, mp Arthur by popular choice, a by-election took Somare, would most likely succeed his place. It was widely reported that the father. Others have predicted the fall Kandep open electorate by-election of the National Alliance Party in the was absolute chaos and a disaster. The coming 2012 national elections if Sir security situation deteriorated to the Michael relinquishes the leadership extent that the returning officer for role. the by-election abandoned three of In early September, the country the polling areas. Counting was also experienced one of its worst recorded moved to Goroka in the Eastern High- catastrophes with the sudden out- lands Province to be completed due to break of cholera in Morobe Province. the security situation in the Kandep The cholera outbreak, which was electorate in Enga Province. When the first detected in the remote district results of the counting were declared, of Wasu, quickly spread to the main Polye reclaimed his seat by a land- township of Lae and to parts of the slide victory of primary votes. Elec- Highlands including Madang and toral Commissioner Andrew Trawen East Sepik provinces. The government described the Kandep electorate as declared a public health emergency one of the most difficult and challeng- and committed more than us$4 mil- ing in Papua New Guinea when he lion to combat the disease, but none returned the writs of the election to of the funds were released in time, Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane. leaving local health authorities and The by-election was marred by loss nongovernmental organizations strug- of lives due to a series of violent gling to cope. Health workers have clashes between supporters of differ- blamed the government’s inaction as ent candidates and police, changes of a contributing factor to the spread of counting venues, and complaints over cholera. The most affected communi- ballot box distribution (The National, ties were squatter settlements, where 18 Dec 2009). poor sanitation practices and an acute While campaigning for the National lack of access to potable water fueled Alliance candidate Polye, Prime the spread of the disease. Of the 1,356 Minister Somare announced that he cases recorded from July to December pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 455

2009, the World Health Organization Organization Peter Garry criticized reported that 608 have occurred in the the government’s appointment of provinces of Madang, 462 in Morobe, three women representatives as a bad 281 in East Sepik, and 5 in the Eastern precedent. He argued that he was Highlands, with at least 35 confirmed not against women entering Parlia- deaths (irin 2009). ment, but that the House itself was Papua New Guinea conferred the for leaders who had been mandated title of the “grand chief ” in October by the people. If women were to be on former Australian Prime Minis- appointed to Parliament, then youth ter Bob Hawke. Hawke received the and churches should have represen- highest honor as a non–Papua New tation in Parliament as well (The Guinean when he was invested with National, 18 March 2009). the insignia of the Grand Compan- A number of leaders from the ion of the Order of Logohu. Hawke Highlands, namely Branch President received his award during the Inde- of Simbu Women in Politics Dere pendence Anniversary Awards from Cecilia Kimagl and community leader the Governor-General Sir Paulias Michael Wak, separately said that the Matane at the Government House. move to nominate women was not in Hawke was recognized for service to the best interest of the nation as these Papua New Guinea prior to and since women were trying to get a “free ride” Independence through the involvement into Parliament, and suggested that in the establishment of the trade union the move actually treats women in movement and early national wage Papua New Guinea cheaply. Several development (The National, 22 Oct women from the Highlands expressed 2009). disappointment, as there were no On 26 October, the National Exec- women from the Highlands nomi- utive Council approved three nomi- nated (The National, 16 July 2009). nated seats for women in Parliament. A group of concerned women in Port A total of ninety-five women had Moresby supported the option put submitted expressions of interest (The forward by the Opposition calling on National, 20 Jan 2010). In July 2009, Parliament to reserve twenty elected the three nominees for the special seats for women only to contest in the measures for women to be considered provinces. Their representative, Susan for appointment to Parliament were Nengen, said that they are not seeking named: Enny Moaitz, Priscilla Kare, free access into Parliament but that and Mary Toliman. However, there they do want women to run for public was a split among women leaders on office (The National, 17 March 2009). the final nominees. National Council When Parliament resumed, the of Women (ncw) President Scholar government on 11 November failed Kakas argued that the prime minister to produce the numbers required should reconsider the nominees and to pass the historic motion to have have a ncw representative among women representatives in Parliament. them. The Opposition, led by Sir Mekere Meanwhile, Chairman of the Morauta, argued against the motion PNG Millennium Good Governance and voted against it. The motion 456 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) required a two-thirds majority of On 18 November, the govern- seventy-three votes in order to vote ment launched its grand forty-year in the first women nominees (The plan, titled PNG Vision 2050, which National, 3 Nov 2009). Minister for projects that the country will become Community Development Dame Carol richer, safer, and healthier over the Kidu and Prime Minister Somare, next four decades. Under the plan, it who have been vocal on the bill and is expected that Papua New Guinea’s have given their backing throughout real gross domestic product will grow the entire process, vowed to continue from around k12 billion in 2010 to a pushing to see women representatives whopping k200 billion by 2050, with in Parliament. the country’s lng project coming on On 2 November, Prime Minister stream and the implementation of land Somare received from Justice Mau- reforms. The gross domestic prod- rice Sheehan the final report of the uct per capita should have increased Commission of Inquiry, which had from around K2,000 to k13,000 in looked into financial mismanagement forty years. It is estimated that this is and corruption at the Department of only the base case, meaning that the Finance. A number of prominent gov- situation could be even better if other ernment officials and members of Par- projects come on, and if the various liament were implicated in the report. sectors perform effectively under the Sir Michael mentioned that he would plan (The National, 19 Nov 2010). study the 800-page report and seek the Prime Minister Somare said that endorsement of the cabinet on certain Vision 2050 is a gift from the govern- measures to enable implementation of ment to the people. Sir Michael added the report’s recommendations (Busi- that it is the most significant instru- ness Times 2009). Observers and the ment since the adoption of the PNG public are now waiting to see what the Constitution and the Eight-Point Plan government will do and hope that this in 1975 toward the improvement of report will not be shelved to collect Papua New Guinea’s performance dust like previous ones. as a nation. PNG Vision 2050 maps According to the Transparency out the future directions the coun- International Corruption Perceptions try should take, reflecting the hopes Index, which annually ranks countries and aspirations of the people (The by “the degree to which corruption National, 19 Nov 2010). The launch is perceived to exist among public of the plan was witnessed by thou- officials and politicians,” Papua New sands of people in the nation’s capital Guinea has dropped three places, from at the Sir John Guise Stadium. 151 in 2008 to 154 in 2009 (Transpar- In May, the Special Parliamentary ency International 2009). This implies Committee on the Ombudsman Com- that the perception of corruption in mission proposed a constitutional Papua New Guinea has worsened, a amendment, which was introduced worrying trend that could cast a lot in a private member’s bill by Esa‘ala of doubt on the government’s capabil- mp Moses Maladina. The amend- ity to manage the substantial income ment would remove the power of from the lng project. the Ombudsman Commission to pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 457 issue directives preventing payments Australian aid money to Papua New from public funds to officeholders it Guinea had been misspent on con- believes are using those funds improp- sultants rather than used to support erly. The commission, which has teachers and health services. He said previously used the provision to stop that the effectiveness of aid in Papua members of Parliament from using New Guinea must be tied to the public money for their own personal United Nations–mandated Millennium or political activities, expressed fears Development Goals, so that outcomes that the proposed constitutional from foreign aid spending can be amendment would greatly hamper measured (The National, 29 April its ability to enforce the Leadership 2009). In an article in The Australian, Code and make it difficult to hold Professor Helen Hughes of the Centre leaders accountable. Chief Ombuds- for Independent Studies corroborated man Chronox Manek raised concerns Rudd’s assertion, stating that aid about both the content of the new money is being wasted on egregiously amendment and the processes used to high salaries of aid-funded advisers, develop the proposals (Post Courier, and that capacity building has failed 11 May 2009). to get Pacific Islands to grow (Hughes In the evening of 11 December, 2010). Meanwhile, PNG Trade Union when returning home after a func- Congress General Secretary John tion, Manek survived an assassina- Paska argued that all aid to Papua tion attempt. A car abruptly pulled New Guinea must continue to remain up behind him as he was about to outside the control of the PNG gov- enter his driveway and a gunman ernment, as there is currently no safety fired several shots, which missed the net in place to deter politicians from chief ombudsman’s vital organs but abusing funds. severely injured him (Post Courier, Poverty is still a significant and 14 Dec 2009). The attempt on his life growing problem despite huge devel- was condemned by a wide spectrum opment projects such as that for of society, terming the attack as the liquefied natural gas. Papua New first of its kind in PNG history. Most Guinea has been considered as being people alleged that the attempt was off track in its progress toward made because of Manek’s commit- halving poverty (AusAID 2008). ment to investigating and referring According to the Pacific Economic some prominent leaders for their Survey (AusAID 2009), Papua New corrupt activities. The police vowed Guinea as one of the most populous to investigate and bring to justice all Pacific Island nations is unlikely to those responsible for the assassination meet any of the Millennium Develop- attempt. ment Goals by 2015, including the In a joint news conference in Can- targets of halving poverty, achieving berra in April, Prime Minister Somare universal primary education, reduc- met with Australian Prime Minister ing child and maternal mortality by Kevin Rudd and discussed historical two-thirds, or improving access to safe problems with aid delivery. During water and sanitation. the conference Rudd mentioned that There are high expectations for 458 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) the lng project, and the country’s References economy is projected to transform significantly when the project comes AusAID, Australian Agency for Inter- national Development. 2008. Tracking into full swing. However, there is Development and Governance in the still much uncertainty in terms of the Pacific. August. http://www.ausaid.gov country’s preparedness and capacity .au /publications /pdf / track_devgov.pdf to deal with the demands of the project in providing the local expertise ———. 2009. Pacific Economic Survey and labor, as well as accommoda- 2009: Engaging with the World. Septem- ber. http://www.pacificsurvey.org /2009/ tions, catering, and social services for the huge number of workers, both Business Times. 2009. The Business News local and foreign. Much remains to of Papua New Guinea. Issue 88, 6–12 be seen in terms of how the country November. will manage the avalanche of cash and Butler, George, and Katherine Wheen. people. With this opportunity at the 2009. Preliminary Report on Domestic country’s doorstep, the onus is on the Observation of the Kandep By-Election, government to ensure that the people 15–19 November 2009. Port Moresby: can meaningfully benefit from the Transparency International PNG. lng project. It is also timely for the Hughes, Helen. 2010. Army of Well-paid government to start considering and Advisers Keep Pacific Poor. The Australian working on institutional structures Online, 22 February. http://www and mechanisms such as a Sovereign .theaustralian.com.au/news /opinion / Wealth Fund to save the windfall army-of-well-paid-advisers-keep-pacific from the project for future -poor/story-6frg6zo-1225832749197 generations. [accessed January 2010] More so, the lng project will give irin, Integrated Regional Information Papua New Guinea the capacity to Network. 2009. Papua New Guinea: Gov- take another look at its efforts in ernment “Inaction” Fuels Cholera Spread. meeting the Millennium Development 15 December. http://www.irinnews.org/ Goals. In the next few years, if the Report.aspx?ReportId=87432 [accessed government prioritizes its national January 2010] obligations in the right direction, it Kantha, Solomon. 2009. Melanesia in will be able to significantly reduce Review: Issues and Events, 2008: Papua poverty, achieve universal primary New Guinea. The Contemporary Pacific education, reduce child and maternal 21:364–373. mortality, and improve access to safe water and sanitation for its populace. Murphy, Mathew. 2009. PNG Landowners Receive $9.5bn. The Age, 26 May. solomon kantha http://www.theage.com.au / business /png -landowners-to-receive-95bn-20090525 The views expressed in this review -bkuf.html [accessed January 2010] are those of the author and do not The National. Daily. Port Moresby. represent those of his employer, http://www.thenational.com.pg the International Organization for Post Courier. Daily. Port Moresby. Migration. http//www.postcourier.com.pg pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 459

Sunday Chronicle. Weekly. Port Moresby. was launched and implemented in http://www.sunday-chronicle.com 2009 despite a number of cautions. Transparency International. 2009. Corrup- For instance, the premier of Choisuel tion Perceptions Index 2009. http://www province, Jackson Kiloe, warned .transparency.org /policy_research /surveys that the policy could promote more _indices /cpi /2009/cpi_2009_table dependency on aid, as donors were [accessed February 2010] requested to foot the bill (sto, 2 Jan World Bank. 2009. Transforming the 2009). The implementation of this Rebound into Recovery. East Asia and policy as a priority was reflected in the Pacific Update, November. Washington cabinet’s approval of the largest sector dc: World Bank. budget in 2009, with a 24 percent increase in the recurrent budget and 12 percent decrease in the develop- ment budget compared to 2008 (mehrd 2009, 3). New Zealand Aid Solomon Islands (NZAid) and the Republic of China Solomon Islands survived 2009 rea- (ROC) provided additional funds to sonably peacefully, with several chal- implement the policy. By June 2009, lenges and achievements. As in 2008, the prime minister acknowledged that citizens continued to call for decisive the policy had problems, and again in and visionary leadership throughout September he admitted that the Fee the year. Major issues that warrant Free Education policy was challeng- some coverage in this review include ing, although it relieved the burden on the Fee Free Education policy; the parents and guardians. The Ministry continuation and conclusion of former of Education and Human Resources Solomon Islands Attorney General Development (mehrd) revealed that Julian Moti’s child sex case; 2009 enti- a major drawback of the policy was tlements for members of Parliament; that it led to the misunderstanding workers’ strikes (or their intentions that parents were no longer required for industrial action); by-elections; to contribute toward school expenses ministerial reshuffles and election of (mehrd 2009, 44). Moreover, the the new governor-general; the ongo- sustainability of funds for this bold ing tug-of-war on the Political Parties move by government has yet to be Integrity Bill; double standards used determined, although si$66 million by the Solomon Islands government was allocated for it in 2010 (sto, 18 in regional and international politics; Jan 2009). (si$1 equals approximately lawlessness; and central-provincial us$8.33.) government collaborations. By the end The Julian Moti case continued to of 2009, the focus was once again on be featured in political commentaries national elections scheduled to take throughout 2009. With the toppling place around August 2010. of the Grand Coalition for Change The Coalition for National Unity (gcc) government, the installation and Rural Advancement (cnura) of cnura government, and Moti’s government in late 2008 adopted eventual deportation to face child sex the Fee Free Education policy. This charges in Australia, the issue has not 460 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) really disappeared from political com- Moti give their evidence without any mentaries. However, the deportation influence” (SSN, 24 Sept 2009). After a has tremendously improved rela- long battle in the Queensland Supreme tions between Australia and Solomon Court, child sex charges against Moti Islands. In late August 2009, Moti were dropped on 15 December 2009. filed a summary of grounds to support Justice Debbie Mullins ruled that the his application for a permanent stay Australian Federal Police payments of proceedings with the Queensland to witnesses constituted an “abuse Supreme Court. One point Moti of process” (SSN, 17 Dec 2009). The insisted on, among others, was the Moti case led to the downfall of the allegation that the Australian govern- Manasseh Sogavare regime, and it ment did not want him to play any has continued to haunt the Solomon part in the governing of Solomon Islands government to this day. In the Islands. Moti’s lawyers referred to the meantime Moti is out of the way, but payment of si$1.2 million to witnesses the issue may pop up again in 2010 over a two-year period and a sms politics. Whatever happens, one thing (short message service) text sent by a is clear: Moti entered Solomon Islands witness to an Australian federal agent illegally, and he was probably shown as evidence. In the sms text, a female the exit the same way. witness indicated that if her condi- By mid 2009, a highly conten- tions were not met, then she was being tious issue came to light when the “used as a tool by the Australian gov- Parliamentary Entitlements Commis- ernment for political and neocolonial sion (pec) recommended exorbitant reasons” (SSN, 22 Aug 2009). Moti’s entitlements to members of Parlia- defense lawyers also insisted that the ment (mps) and their spouses. The Australian government had assisted controversial awards appeared in an the cnura government to unlawfully Extraordinary Gazette published on 6 return him to face charges in Australia July and backdated to 1 April 2009. A (SSN, 27 Aug 2009). particular recommendation to award Late in September, the Queensland si$50,000 to mp spouses at the end of Supreme Court heard that witnesses four years was heavily criticized, as it to Moti’s case called by counsel had would add up to si$2.5 million (SSN, been threatened with termination from 14 July 2009). The total amount to be employment if they gave evidence (ISN, met by the government in these entitle- 22 Sept 2009). The Solomon Islands ments would be around si$20 million leader of the Opposition reacted to dollars, at a time when most econo- this and called on the police commis- mies around the world were going sioner and the cnura government through a recession. Immediately after not to meddle with Moti’s case. He the announcement of these awards, claimed, “What’s happening is not Transparency Solomon Islands (tsi) right and this is probably done right slammed the increases. Commending under the nose of the Police Commis- the overwhelming condemnation of sioner and I would like to call on him the pec actions, Transparency Solo- to seriously look at this allegation mon Islands stated: “The increase in and to ensure that officers involved terminal grants would cost the coun- in carrying out the deportation of try si$20 million dollars. There is pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 461 absolutely no good reason for paying the issue. The prime minister and his such payments” (SSN, 22 July 2009). cabinet distanced themselves from the Under the new awards, the prime awards and blamed the Parliamen- minister would receive a taxpayer- tary Entitlements Commission for the funded new house and a car when he decision. During a public forum on leaves office, plus free gas, electric- 19 August, the minister for educa- ity, and water bills. Ex-gratia pay- tion agreed that the entitlements were ments for each consecutive mp term wrong. But the public was uneasy with were also increased from si$25,000 government silence over the issue and, to si$100,000 (SSN, 23 July 2009). with numerous complaints in the local Interestingly, Minister for Finance the media, the government had to act or Honorable Snyder Rini, and another be seen as moving to address their sitting member, the Honorable Francis concerns. The prime minister’s office Zama, chair of the Public Accounts subsequently directed the attorney Committee, are pec members; former general to seek a high court declara- mp Danny Philips was the interim pec tion on whether or not the Parliamen- chair (SSN, 29 July 2009). The inde- tary Entitlements Commission acted pendence of the Parliamentary Entitle- within the constitution when setting ments Commission in recommending these awards (SSN, 25 Aug 2009). these awards was therefore severely Meanwhile, mixed messages were compromised. coming from Parliament, with signs of The Solomon Islands Chamber of a rift slowly emerging in reaction to Commerce and Industries (sicci) and the prime minister’s request. Certain Solomon Islands Council of Trade members wanted him to follow the Unions (sictu) issued a joint state- cabinet decision, that is, to review ment on 10 August pleading for the just three of the 2009 entitlements: entitlements to be scrapped. The state- “the [si]$50,000 grants to be paid to ment noted, “The sicci and sictu spouses of mps every four years; the are in full agreement that the increases [si]$400,000 gratuity for mps leaving in entitlements are unjustifiable, in parliament and the new retirement the context of current economic and package for the prime minister” (SSN, budgetary crises” (NEN, 12 Aug 2009). 16 Sept 2009). Only one minister of In addition, civil society organiza- the Crown came out publicly to forfeit tions under the umbrella of Develop- awards that he and his spouse would ment Services Exchange denounced have received under the 2009 Parlia- the awards, stating: “It is sad to note ment Entitlement Regulations. The that our Parliamentarian[s], who [are] Honorable Steve Abana stated, “I suppose[d] to make decisions to . . . walked into Parliament empty handed, [move the] country forward[,] [seem] so I should return empty handed as to be pulling this country down” (SSN, well” (SSN, 14 Sept 2009). With all 14 Aug 2009). A whole cross-section the debates and the attorney general’s of the country felt betrayed by what application, the case went before the seemed to be Parliamentarians giving country’s high court. On Thursday, 22 themselves and their families more October 2009, the high court quashed monetary benefits. the awards. In his ruling Justice Albert Parliament itself was divided on Palmer stated, “In view of the blatant 462 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) errors committed in the decision mak- negotiated a 9.5 percent cola award ing process, the only proper thing to payment. The 4.5 percent payment do in the circumstances is to order was backdated to January 2009, and that they be quashed with immediate an additional 5 percent increase was effect” (SSN, 23 Oct 2009). This finally to be paid starting 1 January 2010 laid the issue of entitlements to rest, at (SSN, 26 Oct 2009). With the current least for the moment, with new mem- and expected salary increases, the gov- bers appointed to the Parliamentary ernment will spend 30 percent of the Entitlements Commission. total budget on salaries in 2010. The high court ruling on the PEC During 2009 two former convicted decision triggered the Solomon Islands members of Parliament, who recently National Teachers Union (sinta) and served their jail sentences, regained Solomon Islands Public Employees their seats in by-elections. A new Union (sipeu) to launch threats and governor-general was also elected, notices for strike action. It gave them and some ministers were reshuffled or the impetus to ask for salary increases, relieved of their portfolios. Peter Shan- as wages had remained static despite nel, member for Central Guadalcanal, increasing costs of living. The public and Sir Allan Kemakeza, member employees union issued a twenty- for Savo / Russel, both served prison eight-day strike notice to the cabinet terms, having being found guilty of on 24 July. The union demanded hous- various crimes in 2008. Shannel was ing entitlement awards, and, for 2009, convicted for carrying a dangerous allowances and awards, border claims, weapon in a restricted area in July tsunami ex-gratia payments, and a 2008, while Kemakeza was found variable cost of living adjustment guilty of demanding money with (cola), which was pitched at 66 per- menace, intimidation, and larceny in cent (SSN, 4 Aug 2009). Likewise, the September 2008. Both vacated their teachers’ union submitted a two-week parliamentary seats after sentencing. strike notice to the government on 10 In 2009, they both contested by-elec- August for an 18.01 percent cola sal- tions and were duly reelected—Shan- ary increase (SSN, 11 Aug 2009). The nel in May and Kemakeza in October. teachers’ union submissions were out- The legality of Sir Allan’s reelection standing issues but, due to the finan- while he was on suspended sentence cial crises, they had not been taken is still before the courts. For Shannel, up earlier. The pec decision left them once convicted he lost his seat as well with no option but to pressure the as his position as head of the Indepen- government to address them or have dent Group in Parliament. Isaac Inoke, the Parliamentary Entitlements Com- the member for West Honiara, was mission revoke the gazette awards for therefore appointed to head the Inde- members of Parliament. These dis- pendent Group of Parliament starting putes dragged on for several months, in 2009. and sipeu claims are being referred There were also several ministerial to the Trade Disputes Panel, mean- reshuffles during the year. According ing that public officers must return to to Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua, work and await a decision from the such reshuffles were made “in view of panel. The teachers’ union successfully the need to speed up implementation pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 463 of various government programmes tary throughout the year is the Politi- and projects in the ministries con- cal Parties Integrity Bill 2009. This bill cerned” (sto, 6 May 2009). Three is aimed at controlling and limiting the ministers—Edward Hunuehu, Toswell movement of members of Parliament Kaua, and Martin Maga—were also from one political party to another, relieved of their portfolios on medical that is, “crossing the floor.” The grounds. In addition, a new governor- intentions behind the bill are no doubt general, Frank Kabui, was elected in noble, as the country’s political history June to replace Sir Nathaniel Waena, has recorded only one government who had served a five-year term. serving the entire term (2001–2005). Prior to his election, Kabui was the However, the introduction of the bill president of the Solomon Islands Bar to Parliament was complicated by Association and was once the attorney opposition from academics, lawyers, general of the country. He officially and certain members of Parliament. took over the helm on 7 July 2009. He Three Australian political commenta- received his knighthood from Queen tors, for instance, argued that this Elizabeth II of England at Buckingham piece of legislation could make way Palace in November 2009. for the creation of a dictatorial regime A number of high-level consulta- such as that experienced in Papua tions focusing on important legislation New Guinea, Fiji, and elsewhere. They were also carried out throughout the advised that laws against floor cross- year. The Foreign Relations Commit- ing sometimes “have been introduced tee held public hearings on the work in the hope of consolidating one of the Regional Assistance Mission political faction but have ended up to Solomon Islands (ramsi) and the strengthening another” (Fraenkel and partnership it has with the Solomon others 2008, 3). They argued that Islands government (sto, 13 Nov such legislation affords limited leeway 2009). A report on this was submit- to remove unpopular leaders. A local ted to Parliament for its deliberations. lawyer, Andrew Nori, shared similar Another consultation was that of the sentiments, arguing that certain provi- Constitution Congress (cc) and Emi- sions of the bill would pave the way nent Persons Advisory Council (epac), for corruption (sto, 11 Nov 2009). two groups established to oversee the The government paid little attention development of the draft federal con- to this advice, hoping to push the stitution of Solomon Islands. The two bill through Parliament. A group of bodies deliberated and reviewed the parliamentarians led by North New first draft of the federal constitution, Georgia mp Peter Boyers opposed the concluding the task on 26 June (NEN, quick introduction of this bill in the 1 July 2009). Members will bring the November sitting of Parliament. Since reviewed first draft to all provinces it is a constitutional amendment, it in 2010 before finalizing it for Parlia- will require approval by two-thirds of ment’s consideration. These are both members to become law. With the like- works in progress that will carry over lihood that the bill will not secure the into 2010. required number of votes, the prime A piece of legislation that brought minister withdrew it before Parliament much debate and political commen- retired for the 2009 Christmas break. 464 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010)

A committee has been appointed since ing law, order, and governance, the then to review and amend the bill Solomon Islands government has gone before it is re-tabled in Parliament in ahead and strengthened ties with Cuba 2010. and Iran—countries from the other On the regional and international extreme of the political spectrum. front, Solomon Islands continues to Cuban doctors are now serving in the engage with the Pacific Islands Forum country’s health ministry, and more (pif) and partners under the ramsi Solomon Islands students are currently arrangement. The Solomon Islands studying medicine in Cuba, with Iran government undoubtedly requires covering the students’ airfares. In ramsi assistance in its efforts toward November, money sent from Tehran peace and security. The review of the into the anz Bank in Honiara for partnership in 2009 was a move to the airfares of twenty-five students strengthen this. In the case of Fiji’s to Cuba was returned via the Com- status in the Pacific Islands Forum monwealth Bank in Australia allegedly (pif), Solomon Islands employed a for “political reasons” (SSN, 17 Nov double standard. On the one hand, as 2009). After much media speculation a pif member, Solomon Islands agreed on the role of United States on this to a decision to suspend Fiji from the issue, the US ambassador to Solomon organization, in which Australia and Islands denied any American involve- New Zealand were powerful mem- ment with the Iran aid. He neverthe- bers. On the other hand, as a member less stressed that “if the government of of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Solomon Islands wants to do business the Solomon Islands government with Iran or Cuba, it’s their business, approach was more lenient, conveying but we prefer they do not do business the impression that things are normal with them” (SSN, 19 Nov 2009). Once in Fiji. Solomon Islands seemed to be again, Solomon Islands sent signals signaling two contradictory messages of having two tongues when it comes on the same issue—a notable character to regional and international politics. of Solomon Islands politics in 2009. The relationships with Cuba and Iran A similar attitude can be seen in are ongoing, and with Israel’s appoint- Australia, New Zealand, and the ment of a consulate in Honiara and United States and their relationships several visits of Israeli officials in with countries such as Cuba and Iran. recent years, the situation is sure to be The explanation in this case points to an issue for 2010 and beyond. a foreign policy of “friends to all and Toward the end of 2009, Solomon enemies to none.” In normal terms, Islands’ relationship with the Repub- ramsi was the Australian and New lic of China (ROC, Taiwan) was also Zealand response to the United States’ tested. Since the 1980s, Solomon war on terror. ramsi was created Islands has had diplomatic relations after Solomon Islands was termed a with the Republic of China and not “fragile” and “failing” state in the with the People’s Republic of China wake of the social tensions of 1998. (PRC, Mainland China). For this While acknowledging the importance reason, Taiwan has been pumping of the ramsi partnership in maintain- money into the coffers of the Solomon pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 465

Islands government. Taiwan is the Bay Fisheries facility. Irosaea observed sole financier of the popular Rural that “while the Government had been Constituency Development Fund, a giving budgetary support to the three discretionary fund for all members of projects, it appeared to be almost Parliament to use for their constitu- ad hoc with no clear specific goals” encies. When added to the Millen- (sto, 15 Aug 2009). On Guadalcanal, nium Development Funds and Rural the premier asked the government not Livelihood Fund, these discretionary to expand the Honiara city bound- funds amount to si$8 million per ary and to apply heavy penalties to member per four-year term. Through- land trespassers (SSN, 6 Nov 2009). out the year, constituents quizzed their These issues were contained in the members in the media about where Townsville Peace Agreement, which such funds were directed. Allegations had put an end to militia activities in of misuse and vote buying with such 2001, but to date, the government was funds were visible in the opinion col- not doing enough to address them. umns of newspapers throughout 2009. Overall, premiers were unhappy with An interesting conversation emerged the national government’s attitude in late 2009 when Guadalcanal toward the provinces in 2009. The Province signed a fisheries deal with cnura government has responded the Guandong Province of Mainland by setting up a new body to pursue China. The Taiwanese ambassador the premiers’ resolutions (SSN, 7 Oct in Honiara reacted angrily, saying, 2009). Whether this will improve the “Guadalcanal Premier Stephen Panga relationship between these two levels is a leader who cannot be trusted” of government in 2010 is yet to be (SSN, 17 Dec 2009). In response, the seen. premier claimed that his government In the area of peace-building had simply revived a long-established efforts, major factions within the relationship with Guandong Province. former Malaita Eagle Force and the It was alleged that the provincial pre- Isatabu Freedom Movement have mier was reacting to ROC provision moved toward reconciliation. Follow- of funding for members of Parliament ing a Wind of Change conference in with little attention to provinces. May, former Guadalcanal militants Once again there was discontinuity in pledge to pursue peace (SSN, 12 May Solomon Islands politics, here between 2009). Likewise, former Malaita local and national levels. militants and the former Malaitan For provincial leaders, 2009 was government reconciled their differ- seen as one of neglect and disregard ences in August (SSN, 20 Aug 2009). by the national government (SSN, 1 It is important to mention here that Oct 2009). For instance, the Malaita Solomon Islanders also witnessed the Province premier, the Honorable launching of the Truth and Reconcili- Richard N Irosaea, called on the ation Commission (trc) in late April government to fast-track develop- (sibc, 29 April 2009). This launch ment projects on Malaita, including was performed by Bishop Emeri- the Auluta Oil Palm Project, the Bina tus Desmond Tutu of South Africa. Harbour Industrial site, and Suava Although the trc work was delayed 466 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) in 2009, it is highly likely that it will 80 percent of the country in its first commence its work in 2010. twenty-one months of operations. Despite these positive moves, law This was backed by a si$10 million and order remained a problem even performance bond (SSN, 19 Dec 2009). with ramsi’s presence. Group crimes In early 2010, Bemobile’s chief execu- and thugs continued to cause problems tive officer, Julien Coustaury, said that and riots in Honiara despite the Solo- “we want to send a message to the mon Islands Police Force’s assurances Solomon Islands. You can count on early in April that it was now equipped us” (SSN, 14 Jan 2010). Indeed, this is for unrest (SSN, 8 April 2009). A an exciting development that Solomon notable criminal event in 2009 was the Islanders look forward to in 2010. robbing of the police commissioner’s The 2010 national elections are residence in October by ten masked forthcoming, and the current focus men (SSN, 1 Oct 2009). In Novem- is on who should be elected into the ber, a riot broke out in Honiara after next house. New political parties have Malaitan fans were not happy with a formed and old ones have reemerged referee’s decision during the Solomon in anticipation of the elections. Indi- Islands Cup soccer tournament. The vidual politicians and likely candidates Solomon Islands Football Federa- are once again making promises to tion office was burned to the ground, entice would-be voters. As this report destroying all equipment, files, and was being finalized, voter registration valuables (NEN, 20 Nov 2009). This was well under way. A new political took place despite ramsi and Solomon party known as our Party launched Islands Police presence at that time. its political platform on 17 Janu- It is no wonder that two prominent ary 2010 under the leadership of the members of Parliament expressed fears Honorable Manasseh Sogavare and over the possibility of another period the Honorable Patterson Oti. Several of tension if the underlying problems other political parties, including the facing the country are not properly Peace, Oneness and Prosperity Party, addressed (SSN, 9 Dec 2009). claiming to represent women, are As 2009 ended, two exciting preparing to launch in early 2010. developments loom on the horizon: No doubt, Solomon Islands is in for the opening of the telecommunications another interesting national elec- market, and the 2010 national gen- tion. A year from now, we will be eral elections. In early December, the in a better position to comment on local telecommunications market was the programs and activities of a new reopened for competition after Solo- government. Solomon Islands may be mon Telekom received a new license, in need of leadership that is radical ending its fifteen-year monopoly over enough to exert change while at the telecommunications in the country same time attentive enough to listen to (SSN, 8 Dec 2009). A few days after internal and external advice. Without that, a new mobile license was granted this, Solomon Islands will continue to Bemobile Solomon Islands, which with the kind of politics it had enter- was selected over two other appli- tained for the past thirty-one years. cants, Digicel and Milestone Develop- gordon leua nanau ments. The company planned to cover pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 467

References controlling prisoners. Issues of eco- nomic policy also created challenges Fraenkel, Jonathan, Anthony Reagan, and with Vanuatu’s financial services David Hegarty. 2008. The Dangers of sector coming under increasing pres- Political Party Strengthening Legislation in Solomon Islands. State Society and Society sure, the rising cost of living being felt in Melanesia Working Paper (ssgm) quite strongly, and a proposed increase 2008/2. Canberra: ssgm, The Australian to employment conditions creating National University. uncertainty within the private sector. Ham Lini’s National United Party ISN, Island Sun News. Daily newspaper, Honiara. (nup)–led coalition had taken over in December 2004, following a success- mehrd, Ministry of Education and ful vote of no confidence against the Human Resources Development. 2009. government coalition led by Serge Semi-annual Report, January–July. Vohor’s Union of Moderate Parties mehrd: Honiara. (ump), which had been elected only NEN, National Express News. Tri-weekly five months earlier. Although several newspaper, Honiara. reshuffles took place in the intervening sibc, Solomon Islands Broadcasting years, Lini’s ability to survive to the Corporation. Daily Internet news service, end of Parliament’s four-year term was Honiara. http://www.sibconline.com remarkable. The previous decade had SSN, Solomon Star News. Daily news - seen regular votes of no confidence paper, Honiara. Online at and numerous threats of such votes http://solomonstarnews.com / leading to nine different coalition sto, Solomon Times Online. Daily governments and two snap elections. Internet news service, Honiara. Lini was able to stay in power mainly http://www.solomontimes.com because he refused to take action (ie, hold accountable politicians who were members of the coalition accused of mismanagement, corruption, or misbehavior) or make decisions that Vanuatu could jeopardize the coalition. Main- 2008 was an active year in politics for taining political stability was his prime Vanuatu on a number of levels. Vanu- objective. atu national elections were held in In the lead-up to the national elec- September, followed in December by tion on 2 September 2008, some of provincial council elections in Penama, the loudest voices were urging the Malampa, Shefa, and Tafea, which public to vote for change—to elect served to consolidate the power gained a new, younger group of politicians by various parties in the national as the best way to bring about the elections. Municipalities, which have transformation of Vanuatu politics. been the subject of various allegations As is usually the case in Vanuatu, of mismanagement over the past few voter turnout was high —70.4 percent years, continued to be controversial. of registered voters cast their ballots. The country also had to deal with Considering the fact that voting is not significant governance issues relating compulsory, the regularly high turnout to rising crime levels and difficulties in indicates that democratic practices 468 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) have taken root in Vanuatu, although among the seventeen who contested all is not perfect. In several constituen- the election. However, one from the cies there were accusations of bribery, island of Epi lost her seat in a court which unfortunately has also become challenge in which she was accused of standard in Vanuatu elections. A treating (extending favorable treatment total of seven successful candidates to someone) and a male was returned had their elections overturned by the in a by-election later in the year. courts, leading to by-elections on Epi, In addition to the problem of differ- Tanna, and Efate. There was also entiating between the custom practice confusion with regard to electoral of rewarding one’s supporters and rolls, including reported cases of vot- outright bribery, the results of the elec- ers’ names not having been recorded. tion revealed that several disturbing However, overall, the voting went off trends from past elections continued smoothly. or worsened. Most significant was the Counting of votes for Vanuatu’s ever-increasing number of parties and fifty-two members of Parliament independents who chose to contest proceeded quickly, with unofficial the election—a trend that began in results for most constituencies avail- the late 1980s and 1990s as the major able within several days. Early results political parties began to fragment, in the Port Vila constituency showing leading to the current era of coalition almost certain victory for independent governments. The number of parties candidate Ralph Regenvanu seemed to reached an all-time high in the 2008 indicate that the voters had indeed had election with twenty-eight contest- inaf (“enough” in Bislama, the local ing in varying numbers in Vanuatu’s pidgin), as proclaimed on Regenvanu’s seventeen electoral constituencies. In campaign t-shirts. He went on to addition, the 2008 election saw the win with the largest number of votes highest number of independents ever (1,710) received by any candidate in to contest an election—89 out of the the electoral history of Vanuatu—10.8 total of 345 candidates. percent of the votes in the Port Vila Another aspect of the election constituency. Although two long- process that had not changed was the serving members of Parliament were difficulty faced by politicians in 2008 defeated—Barak Sope, leader of the in forming a viable coalition out of Melanesian Progressive Party (mpp), the fifteen separate political parties representing Efate, and Willie Jimmy and four independents who had won (nup), representing Port Vila—it was seats—the direct result of the problem soon clear that instead of the whole- of too many parties and independents. sale ousting of the old guard as trum- None of the parties had the command- peted by the candidates who had cam- ing numbers required to anchor a paigned for change, the result of the solid alliance. Indeed, even two of the voting was just the opposite. A total larger parties together did not provide of thirty sitting members of Parliament a solid majority, and thus politicians (58 percent) were returned—the high- found themselves competing for the est number ever in an election. individual elected members of the Only two women were elected from smaller parties and independents. pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 469

Following the counting of votes Vanua‘aku Pati and one from the and intense maneuvering among the National United Party who had missed major parties, involving accusations out revolted and joined with the of “member stealing” and exchange Opposition to table another motion of large sums of money to secure of no confidence. In the vote that took support, a coalition between the place on 26 November 2008, three of Vanua‘aku Pati (vp), led by Edward the rebel members of Parliament plus Natapei, and the National United several other independents returned Party, led by former Prime Minis- to support the government coalition, ter Ham Lini, emerged to form the allowing it to survive once again. government after Parliament’s first In an attempt to demonstrate the meeting on 22 September. With a slim strength of the new government coali- 27 to 25-seat majority in the country’s tion following its chaotic birth after 52-seat Parliament, and intense rage the September 2008 election, the three among opposition members who had major parties (vp, nup, and ump) and expected until the last minute to form various smaller parties (Labor Party, the majority, the viability of the gov- Nagriamel Movement, mpp, and Peo- ernment appeared to be at risk. ple’s Progressive Party [ppp]) signed a Indeed, several days later the new new memorandum of understanding in Opposition, headed by the president early January 2009. This preceded the of the Vanuatu Republican Party launching of a document laying out (vrp) and former minister of lands the government’s new, four-year policy in the previous government, Maxime direction. Prime Minister Natapei Carlot Korman, tabled a motion of no announced that, as under his predeces- confidence in the new vp/nup coali- sor and now deputy prime minister, tion. However, in a surprise move—or Ham Lini, the new government would not so surprising, depending on one’s focus on maintaining political stability reading of Vanuatu’s political his- within the coalition in order to survive tory—ump leader Serge Vohor decided in power and achieve its goals (VDP, at the last minute to shift allegiance 2 Feb 2009). and joined the vp/nup alliance, defeat- At the same time, the Opposition ing the no-confidence motion on 3 came together (vrp, ppp, and Green October, claiming he did so to ensure Confederation) supporting Maxime political stability in the country. With Carlot Korman as leader and, later, the strength provided by three major ppp President Sato Kilman (VDP, 2 parties—the vp/nup/ump together March 2009). Surprising to many was controlled twenty-six members—the the decision of newly elected indepen- Honorable Edward Natapei, leader of dent mp Ralph Regenvanu to ally with the Vanua‘aku Pati, was reconfirmed the Opposition, since he had been as prime minister. openly critical of its leader during But the political chaos was not the election campaign vowing never over. Incensed by the reallocation to join forces with him. Regenvanu of ministerial portfolios required to most likely would have said that while accommodate the Union of Moderate he did not support Korman, he was Parties, three members of Natapei’s opposed to all of the major parties and 470 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) preferred not to join them in the gov- reshuffle, bringing several members of ernment. Instead, he has joined with the Vanuatu Republican Party into the the smaller parties—Green Confed- coalition—its president, Maxime Car- eration led by Moana Carcasses, the lot Korman, replaced Wells as Speaker. People’s Progressive Party led by Sato Serge Vohor, ump president, gave up Kilman, and others—to form what is a ministry to accommodate one of the known as the Alliance. vp backbenchers who had failed to get To demonstrate their solidarity, the a portfolio when the government was government coalition partners decided first formed and sided with the Oppo- to run a single candidate in the Epi sition (VDP, 11 June, 12 June 2009). by-election, agreeing to back Leinavao The announcement by the court a few Tasso, the successful vp candidate in days later that the elections of the four the national election who had had Efate members were void, costing the her MP title stripped by a court chal- government three seats, encouraged lenge that her associates had been the Opposition in their challenge of guilty of treating (VDP, 2 Jan 2009). the government. But the government’s What should have been an easy vic- temporary loss in numbers was not tory, however, failed to materialize. enough, and the vote of no confidence The election was won by independent on 16 June failed (VDP, 16 June 2009). candidate Ioan Simon, demonstrating However, other political events that that constituents in Vanuatu can- took place during the second half of not always be counted on to follow 2009 would demonstrate that the blindly the decisions of their leaders coalition was still vulnerable. in far-off Port Vila (VDP, 9 Feb 2009). In August, the five-year term of The by-election for Tanna took place President Kalkot Matas Kelekele came in early March, and four for Efate to an end. As a practicing lawyer and in August (all four seats had been former Supreme Court judge, he had declared vacant in a court challenge). fulfilled his duties without incident but It took eleven months to finalize the alienated some politicians by advocat- election—an unacceptable delay by ing substantial constitutional reform. any standard. For example, he favored replacing While the coalition remained Vanuatu’s Westminster form of gov- intact, tensions within the National ernment with a presidential system, as United Party began to increase over a way to deal with the political insta- the failure of the party president, bility Vanuatu had experienced during Ham Lini, to discipline Minister for the previous decade. In total, there Vanuatu Business James Bule (nup) were eleven candidates: the National over alleged corruption. Three nup United Party backed the reelection of members of Parliament, including the president (who, it should be noted, Speaker George Wells, were expelled is married to Ham Lini’s sister); the from the party and joined the Opposi- Vanua‘aku Pati supported two can- tion. Sensing a chance to unseat the didates, veteran politicians Kalo Nial government, the Opposition tabled from Santo and Iolu Johnson Abbil a vote of no confidence in June (VDP, from Tanna; the Union of Moderate 9 June 2009). Natapei negotiated a Parties proclaimed it was time for pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 471 a woman to become president and Vanuatu Republican Party were also nominated long-time supporter and allocated positions, but, significantly, women’s advocate Yvette Sam; and the National United Party was not the Alliance supported former ump involved in the negotiations and was President Vincent Boulekone. The totally excluded (VDP, 19 Nov 2009). Vanuatu Republican Party did not The position of the National nominate a candidate. The Electoral United Party within the coalition College, which consists of all fifty-two had become an issue several months members of Parliament plus the presi- earlier with the announcement by the dents of the six Provincial Councils, Reserve Bank that so-called custom took two days to come to a decision. currencies—livatu and selmane After several ballots—the vote is (shell money)— could not be used as secret—support began to shift. Rumor national custom currencies, nor could had it that the Vanuatu Republican they be used interchangeably with Party supported the nup nomination, the vatu currency. The use of custom while the Alliance and the Union of currencies has been gaining greater Moderate Parties fell in behind the prominence since the development of Vanua‘aku Pati, giving the victory the “National Self Reliance Strategy to Iollu Johnson Abbil, who won 42 2020,” which was supported by the votes in the last round to 16 for the government through its decision to incumbent, Kalkot Matas Kelekele designate both 2007 and 2008 as a (VDP, 2 Sept, 3 Sept 2009). “Year of the Traditional Economy.” The election of a new Port Vila The particular issue that the Reserve municipal government would also test Bank was responding to arose from the ability of the coalition to work a request by the Vanuatu Indigenous together. All the major parties fielded Peoples’ Forum, which is associated candidates for the 14 councillor posi- with an organization based in the tions with the Alliance and Vanua‘aku northeast of the island of Pentecost Pati each winning 4, the National known as the Melanesian Institute of United Party 3, the Union of Moderate Science, Philosophy, Humanity and Parties 2, and the Vanuatu Republican Technology, founded in 1997 by the Party 1 (VDP, 6 Nov 2009). Negotia- late president, Father Walter Lini. Its tions within the coalition soon reached aim is to promote the development an impasse: the Vanua‘aku Pati model of the Turaga Nation, as the expected to hold the top position of supporters of the institution call their lord mayor, but the four newly elected movement—Raga is the indigenous councillors could not agree between name for the island of Pentecost. The themselves. In the end, the leaders of common term used for this develop- the parties had to meet to negotiate ment model is “custom economy,” and agreed to a formula to allocate which Turaga supporters claim (and the positions—the Alliance was given is generally accepted) sustains the the position of lord mayor, and the 80 percent of the people of Vanuatu Vanua‘aku Pati got the positions of who reside in rural areas. Essential deputy mayor and town clerk. The parts of the system were the estab- Union of Moderate Parties and the lishment of Tanbunia custom bank 472 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) and Tanmarahi reserve system, the and the Vanua‘aku Pati, which could valuing of indigenous currencies, and be detected earlier in the presidential the 1998 declaration of a pig tusk as election and in the negotiations fol- the highest valued custom currency lowing the election of the new Port in Vanuatu. The Vanuatu Indigenous Vila municipal government, precipitat- Peoples’ Forum was planning for the ing a reshuffle of the coalition. Declaration of Custom Economic Prime Minister Natapei removed Independence and had requested the the National United Party and the Government of Vanuatu to recognize Vanuatu Republican Party, whose the custom currencies and provide a members had supported the nup donation in Vanuatu vatu of the cash nominee for president, and brought equivalent that had been deposited in in the Alliance with its fifteen associ- Tanbunia for the celebration—20,000 ated members of Parliament. Natapei livatu or 360 million vatu (VDP, 15 also used the opportunity to remove as Aug 2009). (100 vatu equals approxi- minister of lands renegade VP member mately us$1.00.) Harry Iauko, who had been brought Despite the negative position taken back in the last reshuffle and had been by the Reserve Bank, the Council of accused of corruption over land sales. Ministers had, in fact, agreed to make The head of the Alliance, Sato Kill- a contribution based on a proposal man (ppp), was made deputy prime presented to it by Deputy Prime minister and given two additional Minister Ham Lini (nup)—brother portfolios. The Union of Moder- of the late Father Walter Lini and ate Parties came out best—clearly a of Hilda Lini, one of the leaders in reward for the party’s loyalty—acquir- the Turanga Movement. This was ing two additional portfolios, for done, however, without the presence a total of four. In the last reshuffle, of Minister of Finance Sela Molisa Serge Vohor had given up a portfolio (vp), who was away at the time and to help facilitate the new arrangement refused to sign off on the arrangement and had supported the vp nominee for on his return. In a surprise comment, president. The new coalition consisted Molisa blamed the problem on the of the Vanua‘aku Pati, Union of Mod- “legacy of the late Prime Minister erate Parties, and Alliance, supported Father Walter Lini that split the vp [in as well by various independents and 1991] . . . the Prime Minister just had several vrp and nup members who to remove the National United Party refused to go along with their party because it is clear the issue (custom leaders (VDP, 20 Nov 2009). economic independence) is still alive” In a surprise move, believed by (VDP, 21 Nov 2009). While accept- many as an attempt to protect his ing the importance of the custom position as Speaker, Maxime Carlot economy for rural Ni-Vanuatu, Molisa Korman (vrp)—his party having is far more inclined to believe that just been expelled from the coali- Vanuatu’s future lies in integrating tion—countered by declaring that the into the global economy. The effect of prime minister had vacated his seat in this decision was to create a fatal rift Parliament. Natapei was attending an between the National United Party overseas conference and, the Speaker pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 473 alleged, failed to get his permission the police. By the end of June 2008, to be absent from an extraordinary the control of the Correctional Ser- session scheduled at the same time. vices Department was returned to the Natapei appealed to the Supreme police and an order given, permitting Court, and the chief justice ruled that them to be armed during the recapture the Speaker’s decision to unseat the of prisoners. But this change did not prime minister was “unconstitutional improve the situation, and in Decem- and of no legal effect” (VDP, 7 Dec ber a final mass escape occurred, fol- 2009). The saga continued, however, lowing the release by the prisoners of with the prime minister facing a vote a document entitled “Prisons Report of no confidence on his return on 10 2008: Vanuatu’s Notorious Prison in December 2009, moved by the now Disguise” (Prisoners 2008). Vanuatu’s leader of the Opposition, Ham Lini; prisons have in the past been the the motion was defeated. subject of an Amnesty International It was not surprising that the gov- Report documenting human rights ernment reacted straight away with abuses (ai 1998). a motion of no confidence against On 19 December 2008, prisoners Speaker Korman—the Speaker is set fire to their bedding, overpowered elected by the Parliament from among their guards, and escaped en masse its members. It was intended that the (VDP, 20 Dec 2008). Shortly afterward, vote would take place on the same day two members of Parliament represent- as the vote of no confidence against ing Port Vila—Moana Carcasses and the prime minister, but Korman ruled Ralph Regenvanu, both members of that it should be delayed for a week. the Alliance—were arrested and spent Through various manipulations of a night in jail for allegedly aiding the standing orders, he was able to thwart prisoners in their escape. For several three more attempts to unseat him. weeks prior, both had spoken out The issue was not resolved before strongly against prisoner abuse and the end of the parliamentary session the poor conditions of the prison, and (VDP, 16 Dec, 18 Dec 2009). In early when the mass escape took place, they January 2010, he resigned and was organized a safe haven in the Chiefs’ replaced by former Speaker George Nakamal (meeting house), where Wells. the prisoners could assemble and be Rising crime rates in Vila and protected from feared police violence. Luganville—two murders reported on Carcasses and Regenvanu were Efate and levels of theft and violence charged with accessory after the fact, increasing—became dominant issues harboring or assisting a prisoner, and throughout 2008 and 2009. The obstructing a police officer on duty. escape from custody of a number of Conviction would have led to their dangerous prisoners focused much of losing their seats in Parliament and the public outcry on the failures of the prohibition for standing again in an Vanuatu Correctional Services Depart- election for a period of ten years. The ment, which had been established in government was clearly keen to see the 2006 when responsibility for manage- two Opposition members convicted, ment of prisons was transferred from but the case against them was eventu- 474 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010) ally dropped for lack of evidence in during his recapture. According to the late September (VDP, 26 Sept 2009). pathologist’s report, Bule had died as The most pressing issue faced by the result of “extensive blunt force” the new government in 2009 was having been applied to his body. A how to deal with the aftermath of the New Zealand judge on secondment prison riot. Opinion was split—little to Vanuatu, Nevin Dawson, was sympathy for prisoners convicted of appointed coroner to investigate the violent crimes, but at the same time case (VDP, 24 April 2009). During anger at the inability of the govern- hearings that followed, Judge Daw- ment to protect the public. The main son expressed his concern about the focus of discontent was the Cor- lack of cooperation he was receiving rectional Services, as articulated on from police officers involved in the several occasions in strongly worded case, accusing them of “making up comments in the Vanuatu Daily Post evidence” (VDP, 27 Nov 2009). The (VDP). The editor of the newspaper, appointment of Peter Bong as police Marc Neil-Jones, wrote a strong edito- commissioner—he had been suspended rial after the prison riot calling for as acting commissioner following the Acting Director of the Correctional attack on Daily Post editor Marc Niel- Services Joshua Bong to step down Jones—astounded many and raised or be suspended until the results of a serious questions about the willingness government inquiry had been com- of authorities in the Vanuatu govern- pleted. In reaction, on Saturday, 17 ment to deal with the serious problem January 2009, members of the Cor- of violence within the police forces rectional Services assaulted Neil-Jones (VDP, 30 Sept 2009). Insuring that the in his office, leaving him with multiple rule of law applies to everyone—indi- bruises and abrasions. The officers vidual Ni-Vanuatu, politicians, and suspected of the assault have yet to be members of the security forces—is an brought to justice (VDP, 19 Jan 2009). issue that the government has yet to The appointment of a new acting adequately address and will continue director of the Correctional Services, to be an issue in years to come. veteran public servant Mark Bebe, The resurgence of the old Anglo- began to turn things around—at least phone / Francophone rivalry, an issue with regard to prison facilities. The thought by many to have faded away, New Zealand government reaffirmed made a surprising resurgence during its commitment to funding the con- 2009. At the end of January, just prior struction of a new prison and gave to the start of the new academic year, an additional 45 million vatu for the Minister of Education Charlot Salwai, refurbishing of existing facilities. ump member from Pentecost and him- However, issues relating to the self a Francophone, announced that quality of policing remained unre- he was canceling the scholarships for solved. At the end of March 2009, most of the Ni-Vanuatu Francophone the public was shocked to learn of the students studying in Noumea at the death of a prisoner, John Bule, who Université de la Nouvelle- Calédonie, had escaped at the time of the prison citing poor results due to lack of fire, been recaptured, escaped again, discipline and inadequate academic and died in the hands of the police preparation. The minister was signal- pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 475 ing his belief that Francophones were states clearly that “the principal lan- educationally disadvantaged and guages of education are English and announcing his commitment to bring French” (Article 3[1]) and is silent on about change in the country’s educa- the issue of bilingualism, the proposed tion system to correct the situation. change appears to be unconstitutional. Minister of Finance Sela Molisa (vp)— Moreover, the constitution states that an Anglophone—responded positively “a citizen of Vanuatu may obtain, by getting the Council of Ministers’ in the official language that he uses, approval for the allocation of 101 mil- the services which he may rightfully lion vatu of Chinese government aid expect from the administration of the money for the construction of facilities Republic of Vanuatu” (Article 64 [1]). for Francophone students at the Port Denial of the right to be educated in Vila campus of the University of the English would be a clear violation of South Pacific (VDP, 10 Feb 2009). the rights of the individual under the In September, as part of the Constitution. The fact that the min- Ministry of Education’s reform pro- ister of Education is a ump member posals, a new language policy was may explain why there has been no introduced that aroused significant comment from the government as a negative response. In place of the whole on this very sensitive issue; at existing dual system of education— this point there is clearly no interest separate English- and French-medium on the part of the vp-led government schools—the new policy, designed to create instability within the coali- to create bilingual citizens, proposed tion. It is fascinating to note that that a single system be developed in thirty years after independence, the which all students would be taught old political rivalry created by the two in French up to class 8 with the slow colonial powers—Great Britain and introduction of English. The argument France — continues to plague Vanu- was that since French was suppos- atu. Anglophone and Francophone edly harder to learn than English, and politicians find it easier today to work because of the link between English together, but the issue of language has and Vanuatu’s lingua franca, Bislama, not been resolved and will continue to every child should first learn French. be part of the political debate for years What would happen after class 8 was to come. not clear. Since only a modest percent- howard van trease age of students go on to high school, the proposal appeared to many like the old French Condominium plan Special thanks to Anita Jowitt, who to transform Vanuatu (then the New Hebrides) into a French-speaking contributed to the 2008 section of this country. The impact this would have review. on children whose parents had chosen to have them educated in the English system led to strong criticism at sev- References eral public meetings in Port Vila and ai, Amnesty International. 1998. Vanuatu: around the country. No Safe Place for Prisoners. September. ai Since the Vanuatu Constitution Index: asa 44 / 01 / 98. 476 the contemporary pacific • 22:2 (2010)

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