pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 373 http://www.foreignpolicy.com /story/ Islands Patrick Cole as persona non cms.php?story_id=4480 grata in the . This Independence Magazine 2008. Special and other issues, including concerns magazine insert, Post Courier, about the gcc government’s “dictato- 16 September. rial” leadership style, led to Sogavare’s ouster. The National. Daily. . Sogavare was replaced in December Post Courier. Daily. Port Moresby. 2007 by Dr , a longtime Radio . Online at http://www public servant who was in his fi rst .radioaustralia.net.au / term as a member of Parliament. Sikua formed a Coalition for rnzi, Radio New Zealand International. National Unity and Rural Advance- Online at http://www.rnzi.com ment (c-nura) government that faced many challenges, including how to deliver services and salvage relations with neighbors like Australia, New Solomon Islands Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Yet For Solomon Islands, 2008 was domi- expectations were high for improved nated by the establishment of a new governance under c-nura leadership. government, the mending of diplo- The failure of the Sogavare-led gov- matic relations, an attempt to improve ernment to deliver on its “Bottom Up governance processes, and the continu- Approach” policy, the controversial ing challenges associated with post- manner in which it fi lled important confl ict development and a struggling positions, and its mishandling of dip- economy. For most Solomon Islanders lomatic relations had caused wide- there was an expectation that political spread skepticism in the government, leadership, especially at the national and placed pressure on the c-nura level, would improve. This was seen as government to turn the tides of public the core of the country’s challenges. opinion. There was also a dire need to In late 2007, the Manasseh Soga- salvage Solomon Islands’ reputation vare–led Grand Coalition for Change in the international arena, improve the (gcc) government, which had been in delivery of social services, and provide power since April 2006, was ousted in credible leadership. a motion of no confi dence. Many of In January 2008, the c-nura the cabinet ministers in the Sogavare government launched its policy state- government withdrew their support ment, outlining a broad number of amid controversies over the appoint- issues that it hoped to address. One of ment of Julian Moti to the position the fi rst things the Sikua-led govern- of attorney general and Jahir Khan ment did was dismiss Julian Moti as as commissioner of police. In late attorney general and replace him with 2006, the appointment of Moti, an Gabriel Suri as acting attorney general. Australian citizen wanted for child This was part of an attempt to give sex charges, strained relations with credibility to the Offi ce of the Attor- Australia and led to a diplomatic row ney General and to mend relations that saw the declaration of the Austra- with neighboring countries, especially lian High Commissioner to Solomon Australia. The commissioner of police, 374 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:2 (2009)

Jahir Khan, who had been appointed Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands under similarly controversial circum- (ramsi) in February 2008. During the stances, was also asked to resign. visit Smith reiterated Australia’s com- Immediately after assuming offi ce, mitment to provide “an environment the Sikua-led government set out to of peace and stability and security mend and strengthen relations with to enable the Solomon Islands to governments of neighboring countries get back on its feet again in terms of and donor agencies, which had been building itself as a nation” (Pacnews, strained under the previous adminis- 22 Feb 2008). Smith’s February visit tration. As part of the government’s was complemented by the inaugural efforts to mend relations, in January meeting of the Pacifi c Islands Forum 2008 Sikua visited Australia, New Ministerial Standing Committee on Zealand, and Papua New Guinea, ramsi. The committee was tasked and met with his counterparts in these with overseeing the Australian-led countries. This was vital because assistance mission. During that meet- Solomon Islands depended on Aus- ing, the committee agreed that ramsi tralia, New Zealand, and other aid would now report directly to the Solo- donors to fi nance its development mon Islands government. This, it was programs. In its 2009 national budget, envisaged, would ensure that ramsi for example, Solomon Islands develop- post-confl ict reconstruction efforts ment expenditure of si$2.7 billion was were aligned with the Solomon Islands to be funded entirely by development government’s development plans and partners. (One Solomon Islands dollar priorities. is the equivalent of approximately Australia Prime Minister Kevin us$.14.) Rudd visited Solomon Islands in At the national level, the prime March 2008. The Labour Government minister wanted to reassure the in Australia, which came to power in country of his government’s commit- 2007, had pledged to work coopera- ments as stated in its policy statement. tively with its Pacifi c Island neighbors. Therefore he visited Malaita and Rudd reaffi rmed his government’s the Western Provinces and met with commitment, saying that relations provincial leaders. This was a move with Pacifi c Island countries would be designed to familiarize himself with based on partnership: “I will use the issues that were pertinent to those visit to underscore Australia’s com- provinces and at the same time share mitment to work in partnership with with provincial leaders the national our friends and neighbours in Papua government’s visions and development New Guinea and Solomon Islands on policies. regional challenges, including eco- For Australia, the advent of a new nomic sustainability, effective develop- Solomon Islands government pro- ment and climate change” (Pacnews, vided an opportunity to mend and 3 March 2008). strengthen bilateral relations. Austra- Meanwhile, Taiwan was also keen lia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen to ensure that a change in government Smith made his inaugural visit to Solo- did not mean a change in Solomon mon Islands to review the Regional Islands policy to accord diplomatic pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 375 recognition to Taiwan. Consequently, community believe in—democracy, Taiwanese Vice President Annette good governance, anti-terrorism—can Lu visited Honiara in January 2008. entertain a country that works against During that visit, Prime Minister Sikua every principles that all right thinking told Ms Lu that Solomon Islands governments of the world believe” would continue to support Taiwan’s (Pacnews, 29 Oct 2008). The c-nura bid for membership in the United government defended its plan to sign a Nations and defend its interests at the bilateral cooperation agreement with international level (Pacnews, 4 Feb Iran. Foreign Affairs Minister William 2008). In March, Dr Sikua visited Haomae called for Iran’s assistance Taiwan, where he met the Taiwan- in dam construction, training skilled ese president, vice president, and personnel in oil and gas industries, government ministers. In a show of and trade. goodwill, the Taiwanese government As of this writing, Solomon Islands offered to fi nance the completion of has yet to establish diplomatic rela- the multimillion-dollar Stage 2 of tions with Iran, although it has the Solomon Islands National Parlia- signed a cooperative memorandum to ment Building Project. Stages 2 and allowed the two countries to explore 3 of the building project included the specifi c cooperative arrangements, construction of offi ces for members including the possibility of formaliz- of Parliament as well as amenities for ing diplomatic relations. Iran and the recreational activities, such as a gym, Solomon Islands are both members swimming pool, and tennis courts of the Group of Developing Coun- (Pacnews, 4 March 2008). The offer tries at the United Nations. Hence, was made on the condition that Solo- the cooperative memorandum was mon Islands agreed to host the 2009 seen as within the spirit of “South- Taiwan–Pacifi c Allies Summit, which it South Cooperation” (Pacnews, 31 Oct agreed to do. In the meantime, Taiwan 2008). Meanwhile, Israel Ambassador continued to provide about si$50 Michael Ronan, during his visit in million annually, to fund the Rural November, commented on Solomon Constituency Development Fund, as Islands’ relations with Iran, saying well as provide fi nancial support for that his country was “not worried at the agriculture and education sectors. all [and] that Solomon Islands is an Despite its success in normalizing independent country and is at liberty relations with Australia and New Zea- to choose its diplomatic friends” (Pac- land, the Sikua-led government was news, 28 Nov 2008). criticized for its moves to strengthen Within the Pacifi c Islands region, bilateral ties with Iran, a country that the Sikua-led government announced US President George W Bush had the establishment of the Solomon branded as a member of the “axis of Islands High Commission Offi ce in evil.” Opposition leader Manasseh in August. However, by March 2009 Sogavare condemned the move: “I’m the offi ce was still without a high com- shocked that a government that boasts missioner. Meanwhile, two impor- itself to believe in the principles that tant international organizations, the other members of the international World Bank and Asian Development 376 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:2 (2009)

Bank, opened their offi ces in Honiara nor-General Sir , in 2008 and expressed the desire to for example, said that he regretted work closely with the Solomon Islands the “serious negligence” shown by government. responsible authorities and relief agen- As the government attempted to cies toward the tsunami victims. Many mend and strengthen its international were still living in tents a year after the relations, in Honiara a group of tsunami destroyed their homes. The people from Malaita demanded com- leaders of the Titiana community who pensation for an allegedly offensive were among the worst hit said that the note left near the Honiara Magistrates tents they were living in were intended Court. The group threatened to start a to be used for only three months, violent demonstration if the national and that after a year of exposure to government did not meet their com- the elements most of the tents were pensation demands. The government unfi t for further use. In response, the convened a series of meetings with prime minister announced that the the Malaita provincial premier, the governments of Australia and New minister for home affairs, the Lord Zealand would provide si$18 million Mayor of Honiara, and various Malai- for reconstruction efforts (Pacnews, 2 tan chiefs. The cabinet eventually April 2008). paid approximately si$42,000 to the In the meantime, the leaders of the group in January 2008 (Pacnews, 28 Western and Guadalcanal provinces Jan 2008). However, many people felt expressed concern about the adminis- that this was a political ploy orches- tration of funds allocated for develop- trated by disgruntled supporters of the ment more generally. The two provin- former Grand Coalition for Change cial premiers jointly renewed calls for government to destabilize the c-nura the c-nura government to increase government. Many also felt that the grants to the Western and Guadalca- compensation payment perpetuated nal provinces in view of the fact that the mentality that any group could they host many of the development demand and receive compensation projects from which the national from government without the due government generates revenue. They process of law. also called on the national government There were other domestic chal- to give priority to the proposed federal lenges such as the rehabilitation of constitution that would facilitate the communities in the Western Solomons establishment of a federal system of that had been affected by the tsu- government. They urged that the draft nami of April 2007. It was revealed federal constitution be presented to that a year after the tsunami many of Parliament for debate in 2009 (sibc those affected had not yet received News, 22 Dec 2008). During the fi rst assistance, despite millions of dol- session of Parliament on April 2008, lars allocated for rehabilitation. Both the prime minister revealed that the provincial and national authorities fi nal draft of the federal constitution expressed concern about the admin- would be completed and delivered to istration of relief assistance. Gover- the government in July 2009. Sikua pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 377 said that a Constitutional Congress was meant to remind government of and an Eminent Persons Advisory the need to address outstanding issues Council were working on fi nal- facing the country (Pacnews, 12 Aug izing the draft federal constitution. 2008). The congress consists of provincial At the fi nal annual sitting of the nominees and national representatives, Parliament in November 2008, a while the council is made up of some national budget worth approximately prominent citizens, including for- us$53 million was passed (rnzi, 10 mer governor-generals, some former Dec 2008). This was the country’s big- politicians, and representatives from a gest budget since independence. “The wide cross-section of society, including 2009 budget comprises an estimated women and youth. recurrent expenditure of about one- During the second sitting of Parlia- point-six billion dollars, and a devel- ment in July 2008 a motion to review opment budget of about two-point- the Facilitation of International two billion dollars. [The] Finance Assistance Act was passed. Sikua said Minister, Mr. Rini, said the govern- that the motion sought approval from ment is expected to collect more than Parliament to refer the International one-point-six billion dollars in domes- Assistance Notice to the Foreign tic revenue and additional support Relations Committee for inquiry. The of more than one-point-seven billion review looked at “the composition dollars from development partners” of the assisting countries,” “public (sto, 11 Dec 2008; for budget details, purpose,” and the “agreement which see npsi 2008b). covers the operations and activities” There were challenges in fi nanc- (npsi 2008a). Sikua indicated that the ing the budget. Although government Foreign Relations Committee would was expecting to fund 100 percent of also explore ways in which ramsi its recurrent budget from domestic could develop programs that are revenue, the forestry sector, which aligned with Solomon Islands’ plans accounted for 66.6 percent of total and aspirations. export revenue in 2007, is forecasted During the July meeting of Parlia- to decline by 2010 (cbsi 2008). The ment, the Opposition put forth a Central Bank of Solomon Islands motion of no confi dence in the prime (cbsi) warned that the Solomon minister. The motion was convinc- Islands could lose its largest export ingly defeated by 39 votes to 8—an industry in forestry if the govern- overwhelming show of confi dence ment did not take immediate actions in Dr Sikua’s leadership. Opposi- to reduce the rate of logging, assist tion leader , in reforestation projects, and develop accepting the defeat of the motion, the non-logging sector to cushion the said that the Opposition was satisfi ed economy given the potential decline in because it was able to raise issues that export revenue. it wanted the government to address. Meanwhile the Gold Ridge gold Sogavare said that the motion was not mine, another major development an attempt to regain power; rather, it project, was facing numerous chal- 378 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:2 (2009) lenges. Unresolved issues such as land services and caused security concerns acquisition, a resettlement scheme, (Pacnews, 19 June 2008). Acting the tailings dam, landowner demands, Police Commissioner Peter Marshall and political indecision led to delays in warned that essential communication getting the mine back into production services were affected because of the (cbsi 2008). Since 2005 the company industrial dispute. He made the warn- concentrated primarily on construct- ing after the emergency 999 phone ing housing and security infrastruc- number and standard phone lines to ture, resolving outstanding land issues, some police posts stopped working and raising fi nancing overseas. In Feb- (Pacnews, 26 June 2008). ruary 2009, the Gold Ridge landown- Law and order improved signifi - ers expressed concern about the delay cantly in 2008 with the presence of in reopening the mine and requested ramsi. This was due in part to the the developer to provide an explana- recruitment of new police offi cers and tion: “Australia Solomon Gold has the fact that most guns have been an obligation to tell this nation why taken away from communities. In spite they haven’t started actual mining at of this progress, ensuring long-term the gold ridge.” They added, “Land- security remains a challenge as there owners of gold ridge want a serious is an evident increase in house break- and reputable investor in return for ins in Honiara, in the production and sacrifi cing our land for this national sale of home-brewed alcohol (known project amidst these trying times when locally as kwaso), in the use of drugs the world is facing the global fi nancial like marijuana, as well as in unem- crisis” (sto, 25 Feb 2009). ployment and other social problems. While these discussions were tak- The police continued to investi- ing place on Guadalcanal, substantial gate allegations of abuse of public progress was made on the proposed offi ce by some political leaders. Three development of Auluta Palm Oil members of Parliament (mps) were Project on Malaita. On 27 Febru- charged in 2008. In April, former ary 2009, an agreement was signed East Honiara mp Charles Dausabea between the commissioner of lands was found guilty of conversion and and Auluta Basin tribal groups, which sentenced to eighteen months in jail. saw the conversion of tribal land into In court, Magistrate Michael Scott a perpetual estate lease arrangement. said he was satisfi ed with the crown Each of the two main tribes received case that Dausabea fraudulently si$150,000 as a token of appreciation converted si$40,000 of govern- from the government. This project, if ment funds, entrusted to him for the successful, would be the fi rst major church, to his personal bank account. development on Malaita. Dausabea appealed the magistrate’s In the services sector, the cost of decision, but the High Court ruled telecommunication continued to against him. Dausabea subsequently rise. This was said to be one of the lost his seat in Parliament (Pacnews, major disincentives to private sector 23 April 2008). Central Guadalcanal expansion. A strike by workers of mp Peter Shannel also lost his parlia- Our Telekom in June further affected mentary seat after being sentenced to pol i t ical reviews • melanesia 379 a nine-month jail term in July 2008. By December, Solomon Islanders, The Honiara Magistrates Court found like people elsewhere, slowed down Shannel guilty of carrying a dangerous and celebrated Christmas and New weapon in a restricted area (Pacnews, Year with their families and rela- 27 Aug 2008). Similarly, the High tives. It was also a time when parents Court found the former prime minis- became anxious about their children’s ter and member for Savo-Russels, Sir school fees and other back-to-school , guilty of demanding expenses for the next year. To the money with menace, intimidation, and relief of some parents, the c-nura larceny. These crimes were committed government launched its fee-free during the ethnic tension when he was education policy in January 2009. prime minister. Despite sentencing Sir At the offi cial launch of the fee-free Allan to eighteen months in jail, the education, the prime minister said court initially ordered that he serve that his “government has made it one only fi ve months imprisonment. The of its fl agship policies to provide fee- court then ordered that Sir Allan serve free education in the Solomon Islands only two months, with the remaining [and] today marks the implementation three months suspended. In Septem- of this historic policy initiative.” He ber 2008 Sir Allan was jailed, and added that apart from the subsidized consequently, he lost his Savo-Russell school fees, the government would Islands parliamentary seat (Pacnews, 3 continue to give other, additional Sept 2008). grants in support of its fee-free basic Although ramsi contributed sub- education policy. nzaid, Taiwan, stantially to improved law and order, and the Solomon Islands government in early October 2008 a People’s contributed funds to implement the Survey conducted by the Australian basic education policy (sto, 15 Jan National University compared atti- 2009). tudes about ramsi in 2008 with those In terms of livelihood, an increas- in 2007. The survey showed a drop ing proportion of Solomon Island- in support for ramsi’s presence in the ers continue to experience hardships country from 90 to 86 percent. The in the face of increasing infl ation, number of undecided people increased weakening national currency, looming from 4 percent in 2007 to 6 percent negative impacts of the global fi nan- in 2008. In Malaita, the support for cial crisis, and the negative impacts of ramsi declined from 87 percent to natural disaster for which the country 76 percent, while on Guadalcanal, is highly vulnerable. After one year the support for ramsi decreased by 3 in offi ce, the c-nura government is percent, from 97 percent in to 94 per- providing fee-free basic education, cent in 2008 (Pacnews, 17 Oct 2008). has normalized diplomatic rela- The survey was conducted in Central, tions, explored options for establish- Guadalcanal, Malaita, Western, and ing political stability, strengthened Honiara provinces. A total of 4,304 accountability institutions, and signed Solomon Islanders were interviewed a land-lease agreement with land- and seventy-four focus group discus- owners on Malaita, which paved the sions were held. way for developing a major palm oil 380 the contemporary pacifi c • 21:2 (2009) industry. Whether or not the c-nura Parliament, 8th Meeting, Thursday government will remain in power 24 July 2008. http://www.parliament.gov until the next general elections, .sb/index.php?q=node /360 [accessed 12 scheduled for April 2010, remains December 2008]. to be seen. But one thing is certain, ———. 2008b. Hansard Report, 8th Par- Solomon Islands needs a good gov- liament, 9th meeting, Monday 1 December ernment, the com mitment of its 2008. http://www.parliament.gov.sb / citizens, and the continued support index.php?q=node /399 [accessed 12 of its development partners in order January 2009] to achieve sustainable socioeconomic Pacnews. Regional news service, Pacific development. Islands Broadcasting Association, Suva. roselyn lenga sibc News. Local television news, Solo- mon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, Honiara. References SSN, Solomon Star News. Daily newspaper, cbsi, Central Bank of Solomon Islands. Honiara. Online at http://solomonstarnews 2008. Annual Report 2007. Honiara: .com/ cbsi. sto, Solomon Times Online. Daily Internet npsi, National Parliament of Solomon news service, Honiara, Solomon Islands. Islands. 2008a. Hansard Report, 8th http://www.solomontimes.com