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VANUATU Unity of the Nation

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VANUATU Unity of the Nation I .. - ,. POLITICAL REVIEW MELANESIA 373 the prospects for 1990.The govern- turnout (averaging 60 percent) and the ment's success or otherwise in salvag- ambiguity of the results made the out- ing the economy will be the top story of come of the 1991legislative elections I990 (STT, 168, I). difficult to predict. ESAU TUZA Throughout the year, Prime Minis- ter Walter Lini and the Vanua'aku Pati Additional informationfor this review attempted to consolidate their hold 05- the republic. President Sokomanu was was supplied by Peter Lnrmour and Murray Chapman. replaced by Fred Timakata, a high chief and member of parliament for Emae Island in the Shepherds group. ABBREVIATIONS Timakata, an ex-Presbyterian church IB Islands Biisìness minister and ex-minister for health, PIM Pacific Islands Monthly was the official Vanua'aku Pati candi- PR Pacific Report date and won the election by 41 votes SS Solonion Star to I. In contrast to Sokomanu, Tima- STT Solonion Tok Tok kata repeatedly emphasized the nonpo- litical and ceremonial nature of the presidency and pledged to promote the VANUATU unity of the nation. The year began with the ousting of Walter Lini and the Vanua'aku Pati President Sokomanu from office fol- might appear to have emerged stronger lowing a parliamentary vote accusing than ever from the political events of him of gross misconduct. He was tried 1989. However, the young republic is and jailed along with the five members undergoing a deep underlying social of the opposition who took part in his transformation which may modify its interim government. The six men political makeup profoundly. The appealed the decision before the long-standing and pernicious rivalry supreme court and were acquitted in between the so-called francophone and April 1989. anglophone factions, which has Various elections were held during resulted in violent confrontation at the year. The opposition, a coalition of times, is on its way out. Events in 1989 the Union des Partis Modérés and the served to dispel this legacy of the Melanesian Progressive Party, won the Anglo-French condominium govern- Port Vila municipal contest in Febru- ment, making it appear more and more ary. The position of mayor, currently artificial. During the crisis of 1988- occupied by Alick Noel, will remain 1989,Walter Lini gained the support of under their control for the next four various francophones, particularly cer- years. In the regional elections of tain young intellectuals home from August 1989, victory was shared about their studies in France. Conversely, the equally between the governing traditional opposition, the Union des Vanua'aku Pati and the opposition, Partis Modérés led by Maxime Carlo$, with the latter showing substantial has been reinforced by the creation of progress since 1985. The low voter Barak Sope's Melanesian Progressive .*' I. 1990 374 THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC . FALL Party. New alliances are replacing old backed the Matignon Accord and ones and are increasingly determined called for normalization of relations by local political issues rather than by between the two countries. In ex- external issues, such as relations with change, France agreed to send a chargé the ex-colonial powers. Vanuatu d’affaires to Port Vila. Donald Kalpo- appears to be slowly shedding its inher- kas and Sechtary for Foreign Affairs ited neocolonial personality and begin- Nike Nike Vurobaravu’s official visit * ning to define its own political identity. to Paris in November 1989, at Michel In this vein, differences over rela- Rocard’s invitation, signaled the onset tions with France, including the New of more relaxed relations. Caledonian issue, have ceased to be the The happy resolution of this major main divisive factor in ni-Vanuatu poli- diplomatic incident helped alleviate tics. The neutrality observed by French political instability within Vanuatu. officials during the recent crisis, and But the young island state continues to the improvement of the political situa- be plagued by political problems. It tion in New Caledonia, have undoubt- suffers from a chronic economic crisis edly prompted this development. Rela- associated with the downturn ìn world tions with France are becoming a more prices for copra and the steady increase rational foreign policy issue, rather of unemployment in Port Vila. The ! than a focus of passionate internal divi- resource-rich island of Espiritu Santo i sion. This is the case despite a major has not recovered from its rebellion of crisis that erupted between the two a decade ago and has been unable to countries immediately after Jean-Marie recapture its role as a spearhead for Tjibaou’s assassination in May 1989. economic development in the northern Radio Vanuatu, which misinterpreted islands. Walter Lini has had to make a Radio Australia report of the event, some concessions in attempting to rem- accused France of instigating the edy this situation, In February 1989, he Kanak leader’s murder. This state- met for the first time with representa- ment, echoed by Hilda Lini, the prime tives of the local private sector, who minister’s sister, was not reversed until have been urging such consultations much later. since independence. Minister for Foreign Affairs Donald The 1989 budget was austere, with Kalpokas and Marie Lini, Walter Lini’s stringent cuts affecting education and wife, met with French Prime Minister health. However, the Vanuatu police Michel Rocard while attending Jean- force, whose loyalty to Walter Lini Marie Tjibaou’s funeral in Noumea. helped uphold his government in 1988, The ensuing frank dialogue prevented although it subsequently threatened to a complete break in relations between go on strike, received an increase of the two countries. Following the ni- approximately 20 percent over their 1988 Vanuatu delegation’s return to Port allocation. Various ministries i Vila, Radio Vanuatu issued a state- were reshuffled in March 1989, with ment concerning the true circum- the total number reduced from eleven stances of the assassination. Walter to ten. Lini’s government later officially Not all aspects of the economy were *_....... POLITICAL REVIEW MELANESIA 375 entirely negative during 1989. An Air dation has fallen back on a traditional Vanuatu service was launched with the island lifestyle of self-sufficiency based purchase of a Boeing 727 from Austra- on the consumption of root crops, an lian Airlines for A$9.7 million, funded alternative rejected by many young in part by an Australian grant of A$6 people. This has aggravated the gulf- million. An A$I.s million campaign to between the “bush” (the outer islanas) promote tourism filled previously and Port Vila, a situation which the empty hotel rooms. However, tour- opposition has sought to take advan- ism’s ability to help solve the economic tage of while actively campaigning in crisis remained to be seen. the outer islands. Other, older, cultural Seeking to reduce tensions with and geographic tensions existing neighbors as well as internationally, between various islands, as well as the Lini government has adopted an between the north and the south of the increasingly pragmatic foreign policy. archipelago, have re-emerged, further This trend was confirmed at the sharpening latent centrifugal tenden- Vanua‘aku Pati congress in June 1989, cies. - where the need for a policy of “con- Although the events of 1988-1989 structive engagement” was stressed. resulted in a major defeat for the Relations with Australia and New Carlot-Sope opposition, it has not lost Zealand have recently been marked by its zeal. The leaders expect to win the goodwill on all sides, reflecting the Lini 1991 parliamentary elections, provided government’s new emphasis on eco- their parties remain unified. This time nomic issues. they have chosen a legal means of In spite of these efforts, the eco- acceding to power. nomic crisis remains severe. While the ,fl business circle of Port Vila has hardly JOËL ’BONNEMAISON suffered, a large proportion of the pop- EL$E HUFFER i The Contemporary Pacific A Journal of Island Affairs Volume 2 Number2 Fall 1990 CENTER FOR PACIFIC ISLANDS STUDIES e+ UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII PRESS .
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