Melanesia in Review: Issues and Events, 2014

New Caledonia and Papua are not reservations about holding an election reviewed in this issue. at all, accused sodelpa of exacerbat- ing ethnic divisions and of planning Fiji to release 2000 coup leader George The first nine months of 2014 in ­Speight, and said that Suva would not Fiji were dominated by preparations be allowed to “burn” again (rnzi, for the long-awaited 17 September 4 Sept 2014; Fiji Sun, 4 Sept 2014; election. In accordance with the fbc, 11 Sept 2014). Heroic interpreta- “Strategic Framework for Change” tions of the military’s response to the set out in July 2009, a new constitu- Speight coup of May 2000 had long tion had been put in place in 2013 been used to consolidate rank-and-file (see Fraenkel 2014), but the associ- control in the army (see Bainimarama ated electoral arrangements were 2014a). Now, in the context of the finalized only in March 2014. In the election campaign, these were used same month, Prime Minister Voreqe to remind the minority communities Bainimarama stepped down as about the risk of instability in the military commander and announced event of a poor showing for FijiFirst. the formation of his new politi- If the early September poll was cal party, FijiFirst. Also in March, correct, voter loyalties polarized in Rewa high chief Ro Teimumu Kepa the weeks before the polls, with the became leader of the main Opposi- smaller parties losing support. The tion party, the Social Democratic and final outcome gave FijiFirst 59.2 Liberal Party (sodelpa, formerly the percent of the national vote and 32 of Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua the 50 parliamentary seats, a landslide [sdl]). Initial polls released by the Fiji victory. sodelpa had 15 seats and Sun’s Razor Research gave Bainima­ 28.2 percent of the national vote. The rama a commanding 79 percent only other party to cross the 5 percent lead and ­suggested negligible sup- threshold was the National Federa- port for sodelpa (Fiji Sun, 2 March tion Party (nfp), which obtained the 2014), but these were widely consid- remaining 3 seats. The Fiji Labour ered untrustworthy. As the polling Party (flp), which had obtained 39.2 day drew closer, a Times-Tebbutt percent of the national vote in 2006, poll found 21 percent support for slumped to 2.4 percent. The People’s sodelpa and 45 percent for FijiFirst, Democratic Party (pdp)—a breakaway implying that the gap was narrow- from the flp—fared only slightly ing and encouraging expectations of ­better, with 3.2 percent. Predictably, a pre­election surge in support for the given the high threshold, the two Opposition (Fiji Times, 6 Sept 2014). ­independents obtained few votes. In the heated atmosphere of early Owing to Fiji’s history of election- September, Bainimarama expressed triggered coups, fears of military inter-

508 political reviews • melanesia 509 vention inevitably lurked in the back- the election, it was announced that the ground during the 2014 campaign, or new commander was relocating to an at least they did so as long as the result office in Berkley Crescent, close to the was uncertain. Bainimarama’s replace- nerve centers of government (Fiji Sun, ment as military commander, former 12 June 2014). Land Force Commander Brigadier The 2014 election was fought using Mosese Tikoitoga, said in April that a new uniquely candidate-centered, the role of the Republic of Fiji Mili- open-list, proportional representa- tary Forces (rfmf) was to defend the tion (pr) system. Open-list systems by new constitution and that “whatever definition center on choices of politi- government the people choose, we will cal party as well as candidate, but support it.” However, he also warned Fiji’s ballot paper offered no obvious that “if people throw out the current party choice whatsoever. Only the constitution as current political parties candidates’ allotted numbers were are talking about—then they have visible on the ballot papers, not their thrown out the chance of avoiding party affiliations. Nevertheless, as in coups” (Islands Business, April 2014; Finland and Brazil, it was the party rnzi, 24 June 2014; FijiLive, 21 June tallies that were indirectly critical for 2014). The desire to keep the military determining how many seats each out of politics may have been genuine, party won. Individual candidate tallies but that commitment proved difficult were summed at the counting center to sustain, particularly for an institu- to reach party tallies, thus determining tion as intertwined with the fabric of how many seats each party obtained. Fijian life as the rfmf. In July, the Only after this calculation of party rfmf announced it was severing all seat entitlements did the highest intra- ties with former military officer and party personal votes determine which sodelpa candidate Ratu Suliano of each party’s candidates were elected Matanitobua after he appealed to the (for further detail on the difference people of Namosi to put obligations between open- and closed-list pr to the vanua (indigenous system) over systems, see ace 2015). Also unusu- loyalties to the rfmf (FijiLive, 31 July ally for open-list pr systems, the 2014 2014). Immunities for actions taken election was fought using a single during the 2006 coup and thereafter national constituency (see the discus- were entrenched in the 2013 Consti- sion by electoral commissioner Father tution and these were as vital to the David Arms of a model using three, rfmf senior command as they were to four, or five multimember constituen- the government leadership. Hence, the cies [Arms 2012]). The voting age was military top brass carefully guarded reduced from 21 to 18, and Fiji citi- its rehabilitated constitutional respon- zens residing in other countries were sibility “to ensure at all times, the for the first time entitled to vote. security, defence and well-being of Most importantly, this was Fiji’s Fiji and all Fijians” (Fiji Government first general election without commu- 2013, section 131 (2) [section 5 (1) nal rolls. Ever since 1929, Fiji’s gen- provides that “all citizens of Fiji shall eral elections had separated “Fijians,” be known as Fijians”]). Shortly before “Indians,” and “Others” by race, and 510 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) required each ethnic group to cast was convicted of exchange control ­ballots entailing choices of leaders fraud in early 2014, but eventu- within their communities (though ally—after the election—he avoided a often with supplementary votes cast fifteen-month prison term by paying in “cross-voting” [1966], “national” a fine of f$2 million (approximately [1972–1987], or “open” [1999–2006] us$1,080,000 in mid-2014). Without constituencies on a common roll). its longtime leader, the flp polled Within Fiji, this major 2014 change poorly. Its ­former strongholds in the was often misleadingly described as sugarcane belts of Ba (western Viti serving to “eliminate racial voting,” Levu) and Macuata (northern Vanua largely because the latter had been Levu) instead gave majority support to one of Bainimarama’s 2012 “non­ FijiFirst. negotiable” provisions expected of Other would-be candidates were the new constitution (for a discussion also prohibited from contesting. of these deliberations, see Fraenkel sodelpa’s preferred representa- 2013). What the new electoral frame- tive for the Lau Islands, sacked civil work did do was remove the insti- servant Anare Jale, had his nomina- tutional endorsement of race-based tion rejected on the grounds that voting and end the long-standing (due to his termination) he had been gerrymander in favor of rural parts of working as a consultant in Solomon the country. Islands and thus was claimed not to Voter registration in 2014 was up be, as required under a belated July 23 percent over 2006 levels, partly amendment to the Electoral Decree, reflecting the new enfranchisement “ordinarily resident in Fiji for at least of those aged 18 to 21. Turnout 2 years immediately before being was also high, averaging 84 percent, nominated” (Fiji Government 2014, despite the abandonment of compul- section 23, paragraph 4[c]; pina, 4 sory voting. The 5 percent threshold Aug 2014). discouraged independents, who would Disagreement flared between the have needed 24,819 votes to gain Electoral Commission and Supervisor a single seat. If they failed to reach of Elections Mohammed Saneem after that threshold, votes for the smaller the latter decided to allow FijiFirst’s parties also entailed wasted votes. Praveen Bala Kumar to contest, The Electoral Decree forbade can- despite his being a public officer at the didates who had “been convicted of time of nomination, and to incorrectly any offence under any law for which disqualify one of the flp candidates the maximum penalty is a term of (rnzi, 23 Aug 2014; FijiLive, 23 imprisonment of 12 months or more” Aug 2014). The commission tried to (Fiji Government 2014, section 23, reverse both decisions, but the super- paragraph 4). That ruled out deposed visor said that their advice had come Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, who too late (rnzi, 26 Aug 2014; Islands had served a one-year prison sentence Business, Aug 2014). The commis- in 2012–2013, and also disqualified sioners boycotted the announcement flp leader and former Prime Minister of the National Candidate List on 23 Mahendra Chaudhry. Mr Chaudhry August and took the matter to court, political reviews • melanesia 511 though the case was dismissed on through Vesikula’s speech in Verata. the grounds that the three-day time The hornet’s nest had been stirred limit for objections was valid in law only on the prime minister’s return (High Court of Fiji 2014). The dispute to Suva, where the favored reaction briefly threatened to ruin the credibil- was punitive rather than political. ity of the election administration, but On election night, Raj had no qualms resignations were avoided. Allegations about appearing on Fiji tv as an overt of bias were inevitable: the supervi- supporter of FijiFirst. sor had close links to the attorney- FijiFirst’s strategy was to seek general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, who to maximize the personal vote for had retained his position as minister Bainimarama, who was able to obtain of elections throughout the campaign 202,459 votes (40.8% of the national despite simultaneously assuming the vote, or 68.9% of the FijiFirst vote). role of general-secretary of FijiFirst. The party’s campaign propaganda Media censorship was gradu- focused on the politics of modern- ally relaxed over 2012–2014 but ization, and described opponents as remained an important constraint “dirty,” “old,” and “corrupt” politi- for the Opposition parties. The C J cians who were together forming a Patel–owned Fiji Sun and the state- “coalition of the hypocrites” (Baini- owned Fiji Broadcasting Corpora- marama 2014b; fbc, 21 Jan 2014). tion—run by the attorney-general’s FijiFirst was registered in May with brother, Riaz Sayed-Khaiyum—were 40,083 signatures, well in excess of strongly pro-government. Other media the 5,000 required under the Political outlets, particularly the Fiji Times and Parties Decree (Fiji tv News, 5 May Fiji Television, were kept in line by 2014; FijiLive, 19 May 2014). regular harassment through the courts On the campaign trail, Bainima- or by controls over licensing arrange- rama contested claims that his govern- ments (FijiVillage, 27 Nov 2012; ment would undermine security of rnzi, 6 June 2012). Self-censorship native land tenure or dismantle indig- had become endemic, as journalists enous traditional institutions. The adjusted to controls under the 2010 prime minister’s fund-raising meetings Media Industry Development Decree. in Auckland and Sydney in August Early in the campaign, Media were well attended, as were rallies Industry Development Authority held in the towns of western Viti Levu. Chairman Ashwin Raj threatened to In a departure from his usual critical take action against “hate speech” after stance toward the government, Profes- Verata chief Ratu Timoci Vesikula sor Wadan Narsey—an economist publicly appealed to Bainimarama not terminated from the University of the to trust his newfound Fiji-Indian allies South Pacific in obedience to political on the grounds that the two communi- pressures—described Bainimarama on ties were as dissimilar as “kerosene the campaign trail as “like a man pos- and water” (Repúblika 2014). Instead sessed, travelling the length and breath of taking the opportunity to emphasize of Fiji as no previous elected leader FijiFirst’s multiethnic agenda, Baini- has done, addressing local community marama had reportedly sat unmoved needs in education, health, roads, 512 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) water etc. some of it quite positive for In the run-up to the election, the Fiji’s development,” and speculating government distributed large numbers “who knows, he may be a changed of sewing machines, brush cutters, man in parliament, like Rabuka” and chainsaws mostly to indigenous (Narsey 2014b). (Sitiveni Rabuka villagers. New roads around eastern was the 1987 coup leader who later Viti Levu and northern Vanua Levu embraced the 1997 Constitution and cultivated support among those long formed an alliance with the main accustomed to official neglect. Subsi- Fiji-Indian Opposition leader, Jai Ram dized primary education and free bus Reddy.) During the early years of its fares for school children encouraged tenure, the Bainimarama administra- the depiction of the incumbents as a tion had been deeply unpopular within development-oriented administration the ethnic Fijian community. Acutely intent on lifting living standards. aware of this and the fact that ethnic The sodelpa campaign empha- Fijians now formed around 60 percent sized threats to Fijian landownership of the population, the government and the negative experience of many had become adept at micromanaging in the indigenous community during loyalties, through both intimidation the eight years since the December and enticements and by making great 2006 coup. Alongside party leader Ro play of public acquiescence by former Teimumu Kepa (Roko Tui Dreketi), adversaries (including videos of such other prominent candidates were events posted on YouTube by the also from the traditional chiefly ­Ministry of Information). hierarchy, including the Tui Cakau, Economic recovery after 2010 Ratu ­Naiqama Lalabalavu, from greatly assisted the government’s Cakaudrove. sodelpa was deeply efforts to cultivate support among hostile to the 2013 Constitution and ­former opponents. Gross domestic its declaration of Fiji as a “secular product was estimated to have grown state.” The party wanted to rein- by 4.6 percent in 2013 and by 3.8 state the disbanded Great Council of percent in 2014 (imf 2014, 4). Tax Chiefs and revive the Qoliqoli Bill, ­revenue was up 17.3 percent for the a controversial piece of legislation year ending September 2014. Govern- drafted under the Qarase government ment debt levels had declined since and aimed at increasing indigenous 2013 but, if the liabilities of state- incomes accruing from coastal and owned corporations are included, reef areas (sodelpa 2014; rnzi, were still close to 80 percent of gross 22 July 2014). These policy stances domestic product (adb 2014). The appealed largely to older Fijians, but budget deficit stood at 7.8 percent less so to younger and newly enfran- for 2014, according to International chised Fijians. Monetary Fund (imf) estimates, but Bainimarama succeeded in put- this rested on uncertain expectations ting sodelpa on the defensive on key of state asset sales that were to be issues, such as the party’s proposals delayed until after the election (imf to turn Fiji into a “Christian state.” 2014, 5). That budget had given Claims that FijiFirst would privatize substantial pay raises to civil servants. communally held land were countered political reviews • melanesia 513 by highlighting land sales under previ- two-day preelection media blackout ous ethno-nationalist governments, was rigorously enforced. On the main including the Momi Bay and Denarau Election Day itself, polling was con- tourism developments in western Viti ducted reasonably smoothly, but the Levu. A letter circulated to all fifty- announcement of provisional tallies six divisions of the Methodist Church phoned in from the polling stations warning voters not to be “swayed” by was poorly handled. Counting was “the developments carried out” gener- abruptly halted early on 18 Septem- ated a furious reaction by the prime ber and recommenced from scratch, minister (Fiji Sun, 25 Sept 2014; fbc, based instead on the more reliable 25 Sept 2014). official paperwork sent in from the On key issues where the govern- polling venues. Many citizens were left ment was potentially vulnerable, such bewildered, and they were encouraged as government corruption and the in this sentiment by defeated politi- declaration of personal assets required cians’ allegations of malpractice (see under the Political Parties Decree, the report in The Australian, 18 Sept sodelpa failed to put strong pressure 2014). on Bainimarama and cabinet ministers The multinational observer group contesting under the FijiFirst banner. (mog), led by Australia, Indonesia, Critically, this was the first Fiji general and India—eager to offer an early election fought by a mainstream initial verdict and in some cases to indigenous party from a position quickly depart the country—called a in Opposition. In all previous elec- press conference at 4 pm on 18 Sep- tions, the largest ethnic Fijian–backed tember before the full results had offi- party had always campaigned as the cially been announced. The observers incumbent, increasing the likelihood declared the election “credible,” said that potentially dissident areas would that “the conditions were in place for render grudging support. Whenever Fijians to exercise their right to vote out of government, the mainstream freely,” and concluded that the result indigenous party had been returned by was on track to “broadly represent the way of a constitutional crisis (1977) will of the people” (FijiLive, 18 Sept or a coup (in 1987 and 2000). Con- 2014). Aware of the impending mog testing from a position in Opposi- event, the Opposition parties called tion required a set of political skills a rival press conference outside the quite different from those employed counting center at the fmf Dome, also at previous elections, and these were at 4 pm on 18 September, and claimed not easily learned in the run up to the evidence of ballot rigging and electoral September 2014 polls. fraud. One Fiji leader, Filimoni Vosa- Polling took place on a single day, rogo, whose party had secured only 17 September, in contrast to the previ- 1.2 percent of the national vote, failed ous practice of allowing a week for the to turn up at the Opposition press casting of ballots. The task was eased conference. In the days that followed, by “pre-polling” of fifty thousand the initial shock felt at FijiFirst’s voters, mostly those on outer islands landslide victory faded, and the pdp and in isolated parts of the interior. A withdrew from the joint press state- 514 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) ment (FijiVillage, 22 Sept 2014). The of the vote, while the Western and final Opposition statement contained Central divisions accounted for 79.7 claims of election irregularities (flp- percent. The residual, 1.4 percent, was nfp-sodelpa 2014), but the super- made up of postal ­ballots, of which 55 visor and the chair of the Electoral percent were cast for FijiFirst. Commission competently accounted Parliament was no longer to sit at for most of these (Fijian Electoral the magnificent purpose-built com- Commission 2014; Fiji Times, 21 Sept plex out at Veiuto, the epicenter of 2014). No evidence was presented by George Speight’s failed May 2000 the Opposition showing how alleged coup. Instead, the assembly was to misdemeanors had influenced the be ­relocated to its pre-1987 home in overall result. Ultimately, no disputed Government Buildings in central Suva, returns were lodged with the courts. a shift symbolic of efforts to end the Geographically, support for Fiji- twenty-seven-year-old so-called coup First was reasonably evenly spread culture by returning to the venue across the country, in both urban and where soldiers had first wielded guns rural areas, and in both the poorer to depose an elected government. settlements and richer suburbs (for Bainimarama’s government would more detail, see Fraenkel 2015). Of no longer be conducted by decree the four divisions, sodelpa had but would be constrained to operate majority backing (63.2%) only in the through parliamentary procedure. Eastern Division (covering the Lau It was to prove a difficult transi- and Lomaiviti island groups), despite tion. After the election, Bainimarama a FijiFirst majority on tiny Rotuma spoke—without magnanimity—about (administratively counted as part of meeting again in Parliament with the Eastern Division despite being the “losers” and “liars I met on the in the country’s extreme northwest). campaign trail” (Fiji Sun, 19 Sept sodelpa also had a sizable share 2014; FijiLive, 24 Sept 2014). No of support in the Northern Division olive branch would be extended to the (36.2%), particularly in the rural areas Opposition parties. of Vanua Levu. These are parts of the The new Speaker was Jiko Luveni, country with relatively small popula- who stood down as a FijiFirst mem- tions, where indigenous villagers are ber of Parliament to take up the post. mostly engaged in subsistence culti- Ro Teimumu Kepa became leader of vation and fishing, and from which the Opposition. The nfp’s Dr Biman there exist high rates of outmigra- Prasad was made shadow finance min- tion to the Suva-Nausori corridor. By ister and chair of the Public Accounts contrast, FijiFirst had 68.8 percent of Committee, tasked with reviewing the the vote in the Western Division and thirty-two auditor-general reports cov- 55.9 percent of the vote in the Central ering 2007–2013 that were published ­Division. These are the most densely soon after the election (oag 2014). populated areas, with the lion’s share Among those reports was evidence of of the country’s formal sector jobs. major expenditures over budget by the Taken together, the Eastern and rfmf and confirmation that ministe- Northern accounted for 18.8 percent rial salaries had for years been paid political reviews • melanesia 515 outside normal channels through Aliz the government would be “keeping an Pacific, an accounting firm owned eye” on Nawaikula and threatened to by Nur Bano Ali, the aunt of the bring him in “for questioning” (fbc, attorney-general (Auditor-General’s 16 Oct 2014; FijiLive, 17 Oct 2014). Report 2010, volume 2, section 4, Use of surveillance technologies page 11; Narsey 2014a; Fraenkel was well known: Vodafone admitted 2012). In the new parliament, Aiyaz to having allowed 760 Fiji phone taps Sayed-Khaiyum would play a prime in 2013 (The Guardian, 6 June 2014). ministerial-style role, as well as serving Public justification of stiffer forms of as attorney-general (a post he only repression had also become a familiar briefly relinquished to Faiyaz Koya part of the political landscape, and but then reassumed within a few days) this did not abate after the election. and holding the portfolios for finance, In 2013, the gruesome torture of two public enterprises, public service, and escaped prisoners by the security communications. Bainimarama would forces was shown in a widely circu- continue to play a more presidential lated video, but—to the horror of role, traveling regularly overseas and Amnesty International—the officers’ touring Fiji on official visits. actions were publicly defended by Parliamentary proceedings were Bainimarama (Amnesty International to be live-streamed on the Internet. 2014). In June 2014, military com- November 2014 was the budget mander Brigadier Tikoitoga justified ­sitting, with the 2015 spending plans beatings of opponents to “stave off pushed through by way of the solid civil disorder” (Tikoitoga, quoted in FijiFirst majority and in the face of a The Age, 20 June 2014). After the sodelpa walkout (Fiji Times, 9 Dec September election, the new police 2014). Disagreement flared over a law commissioner, Ben Groenewald, said to restrict urban land sales to foreign- he was investigating allegations that a ers and—above all—when contrac- sixty-year-old teacher, Josefa Bilitaki, tual disputes meant that the Fijian had been assaulted by army officers. Sevens rugby team’s performance in Bilitaki had allegedly sent angry text Dubai could not be screened live on messages to Bainimarama, claiming national tv. Potential lines of cross- that his songs had been used without party linkage existed, but the consti- authorization in FijiFirst’s campaign tutional provision regarding forfeit of materials (abc, 1 Oct 2014). seats in the event of expulsion could These were not isolated cases or be expected to stiffen party loyalties departures from an otherwise nonvio- into the distant future. Much bad lent ideology. At the October 2014 blood remained. In his maiden speech, postelection budget forum, FijiFirst sodelpa’s Niko Nawaikula said he supporters looked sympathetically “despised” the FijiFirst members of to Lee Kwan Yew’s Singapore as a Parliament, called for another consti- model of an initially impoverished tutional review, and said that failure to and ethnically divided state where do so would constitute “an invitation an “autocratic government” had for another coup” (Hansard, 15 Oct needed “to suspend a large measure of 2014). Bainimarama responded that their [citizens’] freedom” in order to 516 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) achieve long-run economic develop- high ­commissioners (Kubuabola and ment (Delaibatiki 2014). Bishop 2014). With Parliament once again sit- Not everything on the diplomatic ting, obstacles had been removed to front was plain sailing. Frictions with a full rapprochement with Australia, Papua New Guinea (PNG) continued New Zealand, and the European with a dispute over the selection of Union. Australian Foreign Minister Dame Meg Taylor as the Forum’s new Julie Bishop had visited in February, secretary-general instead of former signaling a warming of relations. After Fiji Foreign Minister Kaliopate Tavola Bainimarama stepped down as rfmf (abc, 7 Aug 2014). “Backstabbed” commander in March, the remaining was the Fiji Sun’s headline (4 Aug travel bans had been dropped, various 2014), echoing claims that PNG Prime aid-funded programs were announced, Minister Peter O’Neill had reneged on and Fiji was to be brought into the a deal with Fiji. Yet even this could Australian seasonal workers’ program not overshadow the pinnacle of Baini- (The Australian, 15 Feb 2014). A marama’s 2014 success in projecting “credible” election had been critical himself as a regional leader. On route for both bilateral and multilateral from the Group of 20 (g20) summit partners, and the standards of what in Brisbane, both Chinese President constituted “credibility” were not Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister too exacting. The Asian Development Narendra Modi visited Fiji at different Bank now promised us$350 million, points in November, hosting summits and the World Bank was also poised in the country also with other Pacific to embark on a new program of Island leaders. Modi addressed the lending, triggering expectations of an new Parliament, though the session economic boom (fbc, 21 Oct 2014). was unwisely boycotted by sodelpa’s The remaining Australian and New fifteen members. Zealand sanctions were now dropped. Commentators speculated that Fiji was readmitted to the Common- the timing of these diplomatic visits wealth and allowed, if it chose to do was triggered by Sino-Indian ten- so, to return to the Pacific Islands sions and claimed that New Delhi felt Forum. “threatened by China’s expanding Earlier, Bainimarama had insisted presence in this Indo-Pacific region” that Fiji would not rejoin the Forum (Balaji Chandramohan, quoted by unless there was a major reorgani­ rnzi, 11 Nov 2014). More plausibly, zation of the Pacific regional archi- Fiji’s heightened diplomatic activity tecture, including the exclusion as on the world stage (including new ­members of Australia and New embassies across the globe, 2013 Zealand. Keen to avoid any dispute, chairmanship of the Group of 77 Australian Foreign Minister Bishop [g77], and the establishment of the proposed a summit to address these Suva-based Pacific Islands Develop- concerns in early 2015. Diplomatic ment Forum; see Firth 2013), as well relations would meanwhile be as the Fiji government’s willingness restored between Canberra and to take an independent stance from Suva, including the exchange of Australia, enhanced its attractive- political reviews • melanesia 517 ness as a stopping-off point in the Arms, David. 2012. Fiji’s Proposed New age of US President Barrack Obama’s Open List pr System: Resolving Some so-called pivot or rebalancing toward Details. Version 3, 26 June. http://crosbiew the Asia-Pacific. Other regional play- .blogspot.com/2012/09/fr-david-arms-on ers too were keen to respond to the -open-list-system.html [accessed 12 March ] perceived heightened geostrategic 2015 significance of Fiji. Also in November, The Australian. Daily newspaper, Sydney. Australia’s defense-funded think tank, http://www.theaustralian.com.au the Australian Strategic Policy Insti- Bainimarama, Voreqe. 2014a. Prime tute, proposed that Canberra fund a Minister Bainimarama’s Speech at the regional peacekeeping center at Black First Commander’s Parade of 2014. Rock Camp in Nadi (The Australian, fbctv News, 20 January. 24 Nov 2014). A succession of senior ———. 2014b. Prime Minister Josaia military officers from Australia, New Voreqe Bainimarama’s Short Response Zealand, and the United States visited to the sodelpa Leader’s Announcement. Fiji in late 2014, eager to rejuve- 10 March. Available at http://www.fiji nate defense linkages now that the .gov.fj/Media-Center/Speeches/PRIME perceived political impediments had -MINISTER-JOSAIA-VOREQE been removed. Fiji thus entered 2015 -BAINIMARAMA-s-SHORT-R.aspx with the context much changed from [accessed 12 March 2015] that at the start of 2014, both on the Delaibatiki, Nemani. 2014. A New Fijian domestic and international fronts, but Economic Model? Fiji Sun, 4 October. it remained a country deeply unsettled. fbc, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. jon fraenkel http://www.fbc.com.fj Fijian Electoral Commission. 2014. Public letter to & One References nfp, flp, pdp, sodelpa Fiji Party, 20 September. abc, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Fiji Government. 2013. Constitution ­www.abc.net.au/ of the Republic of Fiji. Available at ace, The Electoral Knowledge Network. http://www.electionsfiji.gov.fj/wp-content/ 2015. Open, Closed and Free Lists. uploads/2013/09/Constitution-of-the http://aceproject.org/ace-en/topics/es/ -Republic-of-Fiji-.pdf [accessed esd/esd02/esd02e/esd02e03. [accessed 12 March 2015] March ] 12 2015 ———. 2014. Electoral Decree 2014. adb, Asian Development Bank. 2014. 28 March. http://www.electionsfiji.gov.fj/ Pacific Economic Monitor, December. wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Electoral -Decree-2014.pdf [accessed 12 March The Age. Daily newspaper, Melbourne. 2015] http://www.theage.com.au FijiLive. Online news service. fijilive.com/ Amnesty International. 2014. Fiji Fair Play: A Human Rights Agenda. Fiji Sun. Daily. Suva. www.sun.com.fj/ http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ Fiji Times. Daily. Suva. www.fijitimes.com/ ASA18/003/2014/en/68bbca92-0fc8-4af1 -82a1-eeeac3671f95/asa180032014en.pdf Fiji tv News. National television service. [accessed 12 March 2015] Suva. fijione.tv/ 518 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015)

FijiVillage. Online news service. www. Kubuabola, Inoke, and Julie Bishop. fijivillage.com/ 2014. Fiji-Australia: A New Chapter. Joint Statement by the Hon. Foreign Ministers Firth, Stewart. 2013. New Developments of Australia and Fiji. Media release, in the International Relations of the Pacific 31 October. http://www.foreignaffairs.gov Islands. The Journal of Pacific History .fj/media-resources/media-release/756 48 (3): 286–293. -fiji-australia-a-new-chapter [accessed flp-nfp-sodelpa. 2014. Election 2014: 12 March 2015] Interim Report on Irregularities by the Narsey, Wadan. a. The Bombshell Members of the Participating Political 2014 Auditor General Reports for to Parties including the Fiji Labour Party, 2007 . November. http://narseyonfiji National Federation Party, Social Demo- 2013 6 .wordpress.com/2014/11/06/the cratic Liberal Party. 22 September. -bombshell-auditor-general-reports Copy in author’s files. -for-2007-to-2013-6-nov-2014/ Fraenkel, Jon. 2012. Melanesia in Review: [accessed 12 March 2015] Issues and Events, 2011; Fiji. The Contem- ———. 2014b. Challenges and Options porary Pacific 24:377–389. for the Fiji Public Service Association ———. 2013. Melanesia in Review: Issues in Fiji 2014. Speech at the fpsa Annual and Events, 2012; Fiji. The Contemporary ­General Meeting, Novotel, 15 March. Pacific 25:370–382. https://narseyonfiji.wordpress.com/ 2014/03/26/challenges-and-options-for ———. 2014. Melanesia in Review: Issues -the-fpsa-in-2014-you-shall-overcome and Events, 2013; Fiji. The Contemporary -speech-by-professor-wadan-narsey-at Pacific 26:476–495. -the-fpsa-agm-novotel-15-march-2014/ ———. 2015. An Analysis of Provincial, [accessed 12 March 2015] Urban and Ethnic Loyalties in Fiji’s 2014 oag, Office of the Auditor-General. Election. The Journal of Pacific History 2014. Audit Reports 2007–2013 available 50 (1): 38–53. at http://www.oag.gov.fj/index.php/ The Guardian. Daily. London. component/content/article/2- http://www.theguardian.com/uk uncategorised/66-reports [accessed March ] imf, International Monetary Fund. 2014. 12 2015 2014 Article IV Consultation—Staff pina, Pacific Islands News Association. Report. imf Country Report 14/321. http://www.pina.com.fj November. https://www.imf.org/external/ Repúblika. 2014. Media Authority Ruling pubs/ft/scr/2014/cr14321.pdf [accessed on Hate Speech against Fiji tv. 3 April. 12 March 2015] http://republikamagazine.com/2014/04/ Islands Business. Monthly. Suva. media-industry-development-authority www.islandsbusiness.com/ -ruling-on-hate-speech-against-fiji-tv/ [accessed 12 March 2015] Hansard. 2014. Wednesday, 15th October. http://www.parliament.gov.fj/ rnzi, Radio New Zealand International. getattachment/Hansard/WEDNESDAY www.radionz.co.nz -15TH-OCTOBER-2014.pdf.aspx sodelpa, Social Democratic Liberal Party. [accessed 12 March 2015] 2014. Reclaiming Fiji: The Manifesto High Court of Fiji. 2014. Electoral Com- of sodelpa. 18 July. http://sodelpa.org/ mission v Supervisor of Elections, fjhc SODELPA-Manifesto-LR.pdf [accessed 627; hbc240.2014 (24 Aug 2014). 12 March 2015] political reviews • melanesia 519

much to its mineral, forestry, and fish- Papua New Guinea eries resources. The year 2014 marks another period Although Papua New Guinea ranks in Papua New Guinea’s political as the second-biggest recipient of history that saw a number of unprec- Australian Aid (AusAID) after Indo­ edented challenges facing the govern- nesia, Prime Minister O’Neill contin- ment of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill. ues to make aid commitments to other An accountant by profession who has Pacific Island countries. The PNG held various senior ministerial portfo- government declared at the September lios in previous governments, O’Neill 2013 Pacific Islands Forum meeting in is the leader of the People’s National Majuro that in 2014 it would intro- Congress (pnc) Party and was sworn duce a special budget allocation to in as prime minister on 4 August 2012 fund a regional development assistance after a period of political impasse that program. The announcement was saw the deposition of the government followed by O’Neill’s proclamation of Sir Michael Somare, the country’s of “ongoing support to the Govern- founding prime minister, who had ment of Marshall Islands, with a us$1 enjoyed the prodigious feat of almost million grant to assist with Forum ten years in power. costs” and to assist with droughts and After the 2012 election, the flooding that affected the atoll nation O’Neill government made a num- (Maclellan 2013). ber of significant domestic invest- Noting that Papua New Guinea had ments and regional commitments, provided assistance to Sāmoa after ­exhibiting Papua New Guinea’s Cyclone Evan in 2012, O’Neill also clout as the rising regional power. As announced the allocation of k5 million Papua New Guinea expects to host each to Tuvalu and Tonga for pro- the Pacific Games in July 2015 and grams in climate change assistance and the Asia Pacific Economic Coopera- cyclone relief, respectively. (In 2014, tion (apec) meeting of world lead- one PNG kina [k] averaged us$.38.) ers in 2018, the government looked In addition to these direct grants, toward China’s construction industry, Papua New Guinea was also support- awarding a bulk of the construction ing smaller Pacific nations through contracts to major Chinese compa- regional agreements such as the Parties nies to fulfill its endeavor of hav- to the Nauru Agreement on regional ing the necessary infrastructure in fisheries (Maclellan 2013). place to cater for these major events. In May, Exxon Mobil PNG Ltd China’s ­investment in the coun- sent the first shipment of 80,000 try has expanded exponentially; in tonnes of liquefied natural gas (lng) 2014, almost 80 percent of China’s to Japan. Prime Minister O’Neill EximBank loan and project financ- stated that Papua New Guinea has ing component in the Pacific region been elevated to the exclusive club of was dedicated to Papua New Guinea nations that produce and export lng. (Middleton 2014). This goes to show The economic growth of the project the country’s economic ­prominence resulted in the employment and train- among Pacific Island nations, owing ing of thousands of locals, more than 520 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) k10 billion spent on the project, and Sweep (itfs), which was established hundreds of millions of kina invested by the National Executive Council in infrastructure and community in 2011, became one of the most programs. It was expected that the controversial issues of the year. The benefits would flow to landown- itfs investigation looked into a letter ers through the payment of royalties signed by the prime minister autho- (O’Neill 2014; The National, 15 May rizing a payment of k71.8 million to 2014). lawyer Paul Paraka’s firm. The prime Although the first lng shipment minister, however, claimed that the marked a milestone for Papua New signature on the letter authorizing the Guinea, the government acknowledged payment was a forgery. In late 2013, that the country would not see actual the principal of the law firm had been profits from lng export immediately, charged with eighteen counts of alleg- but rather in the next few years. As edly receiving a$30 million (us$29 revenue trickles in, it is crucial that million) in fraudulent payments from the government not lose sight of the the PNG government (Radio Australia value of the PNG Sovereign Wealth 2013). Fund initiated by the last government. In June 2014, police attempted to The organic law establishing this arrest Prime Minister O’Neill after fund “was designed to ensure that all the Investigation Task Force Sweep ­government revenues from minerals received the findings of an analysis and petroleum passed through a stabi- of the prime minister’s signature lisation fund prior to flowing through by a Sydney forensic analysis com- to the National Budget in accordance pany, confirming that the signature with a specified formula, and that was O’Neill’s (Cochrane 2014). The PNG lng dividends accruing to the attempted arrest of the prime minister PNG Government would be paid spiraled into a flurry of court injunc- into a development fund for PNG’s tions challenging the process by which economic and social development” the referral was made and questioning (Osborne 2014). the impartiality of the police fraud Among the many issues that squad, labeling the move as “politi- haunted the government were the cally motivated”; this became the prime minister’s arrest warrant as a catchphrase used by other members result of a letter supposedly signed of Parliament who were also referred by him authorizing illegal payments to the Ombudsman Commission or to one of the biggest PNG law firms, accused of other instances of alleged Paul Paraka Lawyers, and O’Neill’s misconduct. signing of a k3 billion Union Bank of The prime minister was served Switzerland (ubs) loan purportedly a warrant of arrest and ordered to without following the Public Finance present himself to the Police Fraud Act procedures and seeking the Squad for an interview. Police Com- endorsement of the National Execu- missioner Toami Kulunga at that time tive Council (nec). had recently taken leave, after the The investigation of the prime min- court found him guilty of contempt ister by the Investigation Task Force for having failed to follow a National political reviews • melanesia 521

Court order to reinstate another police to establish whether Police Commis- officer, Geoffrey Vaki, who himself sioner Vaki had standing to challenge was suspended for a disciplinary case the validity of a warrant of arrest (Papua New Guinea Today 2014). obtained by a Police Fraud Squad In a dramatic turn of events, the ­officer for the arrest of the prime National Executive Council replaced minister. The reference stemmed from Kulunga, who had voluntarily stepped a judicial review application filed by down after his conviction, with Vaki to challenge the District Court’s ­Geoffrey Vaki as acting police com- decision that issued the warrant for missioner (The National, 17 July the arrest of O’Neill with regard to 2014). As soon as Vaki was appointed, the letter approving an alleged fraudu- he immediately suspended Assistant lent payment to Paul Paraka Lawyers Police Commissioner for Crimes (PNG Post-Courier, 21 July 2014). Thomas Eluh, who was leading the After the disbanding of the itfs, Police Fraud Squad, along with other the prime minister also announced the members of the squad. This action setting up of a Commission of Inquiry, raised doubts as to the impartiality of to be headed by retired Australian the new police commissioner. When judge Justice Warwick Andrews, to Vaki allegedly failed to enforce the investigate the controversial payments warrant of arrest for Prime Minister to Paraka Lawyers (Islands Business O’Neill, the fraud squad immedi- 2014a). ately instituted contempt proceedings The prime minister’s decision not to against the police commissioner (PNG step down and the itfs disbanding led Post-Courier, 29 July 2014). to growing calls from former Attor- The National Executive Council is ney General Kerenga Kua, Opposi- chaired by the prime minister and his tion Leader Belden Namah, and the cabinet ministers, who met soon after general public for O’Neill to resign and resolved to have the Investigation (Islands Business 2014c). In June, Task Force Sweep disbanded. In July, Prime Minister O’Neill had removed the National Court issued a permanent Kua and replaced him with Minister stop order preventing the nec deci- Ano Pala. The prime minister, in a sion regarding the itfs disbanding. meeting with Kua, explained that he Sam Koim, the itfs chairman, filed an was sacking him because of Kua’s application in court to review two nec unwillingness “to amend section 145 decisions, the first concerning the itfs of the constitution to further restrict disbanding, and a second regarding the rights of members of parliament the establishment of an Interim Office to move a motion of no confidence, to for Anti-Corruption to replace the restrict the nomination of an alterna- Investigation Task Force Sweep (PNG tive candidate as pm to the ruling Post-Courier, 29 July 2014). party, [and] for allegedly instructing The National Court also stayed the solicitor general to act against the the arrest of Prime Minister O’Neill interests of the Prime Minister” (PNG pending the hearing of a constitu- Facts website 2014). tional reference at the Supreme Court. In November, Attorney General The Supreme Court reference was and Minister of Justice Ano Pala 522 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) was charged with having conspired 6,116 ballot papers containing serial with others on 11 July to pervert the numbers at the back with bar codes course of justice in relation to the were found at a public cemetery (PNG Paraka Lawyers legal bills payments Post-Courier, 29 July 2014). case. However, he obtained interim In July, the Office of the Registrar injunctions from the National Court of Political Parties Dr Alphonse Gelu “restraining the police from executing announced that there would be certain that warrant of arrest until his matter­ changes to the Organic Law on Integ- was heard and determined” (PNG rity of Political Parties and Candidates Post-Courier, 14 Nov 2014). that would also see constitutional The Pacific Islands Forum leaders at amendments for the registrar’s office their retreat in July appointed Papua to access bank accounts of individual New Guinea’s Dame Meg Taylor as mps and political parties. The changes the new Forum secretary-general, the will address party and candidates’ first female to be appointed to the accounts, fundraising, and donations position. Dame Taylor was serving as from businesses and other organiza- a senior official at the World Bank’s tions (PNG Post-Courier, 25 July International Financial Corporation. 2014). While this approach may be The Pacific leaders also announced applauded as a way forward in hold- that Papua New Guinea would be ing mps and political parties account- hosting the 46th Pacific Island Leaders able and promoting transparency, Forum in 2015. particularly when it comes to election- Election petitions with the Court related funding, it also raises issues of of Disputed Returns continued to privacy and the constitutionality of haunt many members of Parliament accessing mps’ private bank accounts. (mps) with challenges to 2012 elec- There is to be yet more consultation tion results. This has been one of the on the legal basis of this proposal as negative features of the PNG electoral well as more discussions with other system and has prevented mps from relevant stakeholders, such as banks fully performing their roles in deliver- and financial institutions, on laws ing goods and services. regulating confidentiality and privacy. One of those election petition cases In August 2014, the National is that of the Madang Open electorate. ­Executive Council suspended the In June 2013, the election of Nixon Clerk of Parliament Vela Konivaro Duban was voided by the National over ­serious allegations of finan- Court due to allegations of bribery of cial mismanagement (PNG Post- potential voters. Duban is a member Courier, 8 Aug 2014). It surfaced of Prime Minister O’Neill’s pnc Party that ­Konivaro also was involved and was minister for police (Albaniel- in manipulating and changing the Evara 2013). A by-election was called, content of draft bills that came before and Duban won the election, return- the National Executive Council to be ing to his portfolio as police minister. presented in Parliament. This was con- The challenge was not over, however, sidered a very serious allegation, given as Madang businessman Peter Yama ­Konivaro’s title. filed another petition, arguing that The government takeover of the political reviews • melanesia 523

PNG Sustainable Development Pro- Morauta argued that Prime Minister gram (pngsdp) emerged as another O’Neill was continuing to issue false highlight of the year. In early 2014, statements (PNG Post-Courier, 4 the government discovered that Sept 2014). The pngsdp commenced pngsdp, under the chairmanship of legal action against the state in the former Prime Minister Sir Mekere Singapore courts and also in the Morauta, had removed any represen- International Centre for Settlement of tation by the PNG Government and Investment Disputes. In May 2014, the people of Western Province from the Singapore High Court dismissed its board when it met in Australia the state’s application to appoint a and had also amended its Articles of receiver to take control of pngsdp Association, specifically article 24(b), assets. which provides for the appointment As the country prepares to host of directors by the PNG government major events such as the Pacific (Islands Business 2014b). Games and the apec meeting, national The pngsdp had been set up after law enforcement and security agencies the exit of mining company bhp from have been tasked to improve security the Ok Tedi mine in Western Province. and intelligence capacity to show The main tasks of the pngsdp were that Papua New Guinea is capable of (1) to invest two-thirds of Ok Tedi’s ensuring and having necessary security dividends into a long-term fund to arrangements in place for these events. be available to the people of Western The country’s response to such reports Province after the closure of the mine is crucial to show that its national and (2) to spend the other one-third agencies are able to act swiftly to on development projects throughout address any terrorist concerns in the Papua New Guinea (Howes 2013). country. When the action taken by pngsdp In September, in response to a to allegedly remove PNG representa- headline article in the local newspaper,­ tion from its board was discovered, the PNG Post-Courier, the prime the government unanimously passed minister ordered national agencies legislation in Parliament to give Papua to investigate alleged international New Guinea ownership of the coun- terrorist links in the country. This try’s largest company, Ok Tedi Mining followed media reports of a Middle Ltd, and control over pngsdp as the Eastern family with alleged ties to second-largest development organi- terrorists that has invested in Papua zation. This also led to the sacking New Guinea over the past ten years. of Chairman Morauta. The PNG The report stated that at least three shares are in a trust fund registered in companies with Australia-based Singapore as a public company, and principals had family members who the government’s taking ownership of were connected with terrorist activities them did not go without a challenge (PNG Post-Courier, 4 Sept 2014). A from pngsdp, which took action in task force led by the National Intel- the Singapore Supreme Court against ligence Organisation was set up to the state for what it claimed was a lead the investigations. The task force continuing breach of court rules. was given thirty days to conduct the 524 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) investigation, take appropriate action constitution in that the Parliament, to dismantle the alleged terrorist which authorizes such loans, did not network, and report on the outcome do so in this case through the annual of actions taken (PNG Post-Courier, ­budget process. It was believed that 12 Sept 2014). the proceeds from the lng project Also in September, the National were mortgaged toward repaying the Executive Council approved the loan and that the country will not expenditure of a massive k2 billion benefit from the project until years over the next ten years for a complete after the loan has been repaid (Yalo overhaul of the police force’s opera- 2014). However, the prime minister tional activities. A committee will maintains that there was nothing comprise top police hierarchy to look improper in obtaining the loan and at all police needs and priorities (PNG the government had complied with all Post-Courier, 4 Sept 2014). relevant laws. He also claimed that the As the government continues with purchase of shares would benefit the major infrastructural developments nation ­(Walton 2014). in the capital, Port Moresby, it also In August, Public Prosecutor endeavors to connect the capital to Pondros Kaluwin received the refer- other provinces by road. The road ral of Prime Minister O’Neill from network among most provinces is the Ombudsman Commission to still nonexistent. However, the gov­ determine whether there was suffi­ ernment’s proposed highway to con- cient, credible, and cogent evidence nect the highlands provinces to Port to ask the chief justice to appoint Moresby and the Papuan region was a Leadership Tribunal. The refer- met with stiff resistance from political­ ral was for alleged misconduct in leaders, especially from the latter office (PNG Post-Courier, 14 Aug region. This has somewhat rekindled 2014). The subject of the referral secessionist sentiments in the Papua relates to ­allegations that (1) the Besena movement of the 1970s by prime minister had failed to comply astute Papua secessionist leader and with adminis­trative and financial former mp Dame Josephine Abaijah processes, ­including normal overseas (PNG Post-Courier, 3 Nov 2014). borrowing processes in the approval In another controversy facing of the ubs k3 billion loan; (2) the Prime Minister O’Neill, the gov- prime minister had sacked former ernment obtained a loan of k3 bil- Minister for ­Treasury Don Polye, lion from the global finance service accusing the ­minister in the media company Union Bank of Switzerland of causing instability in the govern- (ubs) to buy shares in the company ment, when the actual reason was Oil Search Ltd. Commentators say Polye’s refusal to sign the ubs loan that not only is the loan economically deal, which the prime minister had unwise but the manner in which the unilaterally approved on 6 March loan was obtained also breached the 2014; and (3) the prime minister had relevant laws of the country. It was made a ­misleading ­statement on local argued that the process of obtaining television station emtv that he had the loan breached section 209 of the obtained advice from state ­agencies political reviews • melanesia 525 including Bank of Papua New Guinea victed corrupt public official since on the ubs loan to purchase Oil PNG independence. Search shares, which was contrary to In December, Kandep mp Don the evidence received (PNG Post-­ Polye became the new Opposition Courier, 14 Aug 2014). leader when the six-member Opposi- The Ombudsman Commission tion caucus called a meeting without investigated the prime minister’s the former leader, Vanimo-Green mp alleged misconduct in office, which Belden Namah. Namah disputed the arose from his failure to uphold his election of Polye by Opposition caucus duties and responsibilities of office members; however, Polye’s election as required under section 27 of was recognized by Speaker of Parlia- the Constitution and the Organic ment Theo Zurenuoc (PNG Post- Law on Duties and Responsibili- Courier 2014). ties of ­Leadership. The Ombudsman The Manus Island Regional Pro- ­Commission was satisfied that there cessing Centre, which was reopened was a prima facie case and conse- in 2012, continues to raise the ire of quently made the referral to Public human rights groups against Austra- Prosecutor Kaluwin. lia’s transfer of irregular maritime Among the politicians charged arrivals (or “boat people”) to Manus for misappropriation was Komo- Island in Papua New Guinea. The Magarima mp Francis Potape. The Australian government aims to com- National Court found Potape has a bat people smuggling by seeking PNG case to answer in relation to alleged support in this regional approach. On misappropriation of k60,000 (PNG 19 July 2013, the Australian and PNG Post-Courier, 14 Aug 2014). In Octo- governments entered into a Regional ber, the National Court found Potape Resettlement Agreement, which states guilty of misusing k330,000 in public that Australia would transfer asylum funds, of which k60,000 was awarded seekers who have arrived by boat to to himself as an allowance. He was Papua New Guinea for processing of sentenced to thirty months in prison their asylum claims, and that Papua (The National 2014). New Guinea, not Australia, would In October, Gulf Province Gov- settle, on a permanent basis, those ernor Havila Kavo was also found asylum seekers who are determined guilty of misusing k130,000 from a to be refugees (PNG icsa 2013). On trust account belonging to the people 6 August 2013, the PNG and Aus- of Kikori district for infrastructure, tralian governments entered into a and he was sentenced to three years’ new memorandum of understanding, imprisonment (Mathias 2014). which supports the resettlement agree- Earlier in April the National Court ment and supersedes the memoran- had sentenced former Finance Minis- dum of understanding of 8 September ter and mp Paul Tiensten to nine years 2012 (mou 2013). with hard labor for misappropriat- The operations of the Manus ing k10 million in public funds. His Regional Processing Centre and the ­sentence was the most severe penalty Regional Resettlement Agreement any PNG Court has given to a con- policy brought the Australian immi- 526 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) gration policy on offshore processing and national purse will be critical to centers to a low point and became a ensure that these dividends translate focus of controversy for the Australian into tangible economic outcomes, not and PNG governments on the treat- only changing the infrastructural face ment of asylum seekers after a riot at of Port Moresby but, most important, the processing center in February 2014 raising living standards and improving led to the death of Iranian asylum the livelihoods of those in rural areas seeker Reza Barati, allegedly caused by giving them the opportunity to by security personnel working at the participate in the country’s economic center (The Guardian 2015). Austra- development. lian and PNG authorities commenced solomon kantha separate investigations into the death of Barati and have identified the The views expressed in this review alleged perpetrators, but they have yet are those of the author and do not to be prosecuted. represent those of his employer, the While the O’Neill government PNG Immigration and Citizenship deserved praise for a number of Service Authority. important milestones in terms of meeting the government’s prioritized ­policies and development plans and References the government’s commitment to investment and economic growth, Albaniel-Evara, Rosalyn. 2013. PNG there continue to be significant Police Minister Duban Loses Election ­challenges to ensuring that major deci- ­Petition. PNG Post-Courier, 4 June. ­Available via Pacific Islands Report: sions affecting the country are made http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/ within defined procedures, policies, 2013/June/06-05-09.htm [accessed and the rule of law. 16 Feb 2015] The fight against corruption is yet to be tangibly seen, when the dis­ Cochrane, Liam. 2014. PNG Prime ­Minister Peter O’Neill Instructs His banding of the team and delay itfs Lawyers to Withdraw All Appeals over in the establishment of institutions His Arrest Warrant. abc news, last such as the Office of Anti-Corrup- updated 8 July 2014. http://www.abc.net tion continue­ to engender a loss of .au/news/2014-07-07/png-legal-monday/ ­confidence in the government in 5579210 [accessed 16 Feb 2015] ­tackling corruption. There remain The Guardian. 2015. Links to several many unresolved cases involving the Guardian news reports regarding Reza prime minister, ministers of govern- Barati from February 2014–February ment, and members of Parliament, 2015. http://www.theguardian.com/ with most of the cases often hampered australia-news/reza-barati [accessed by court processes. 16 Feb 2015] As Papua New Guinea enters a Howes, Stephen. 2013. The Remarkable period of economic boom from its Story of the Nationalization of PNG’s mineral resources and enjoys the Largest Mine and Its Second Largest proceeds from the lng project, the Development Partner, All in One Day. management of the country’s revenue DevPolicyBlog, 24 September. http:// political reviews • melanesia 527 devpolicy.org/ok-tedi-sdp-20130924/ Government Department of Foreign [accessed 16 Feb 2015] Affairs and Trade website: http://www .dfat.gov.au/geo/papua-new-guinea/Pages/ Islands Business. 2014a. PNG Temporary memorandum-of-understanding-between Anti-Corruption Office Set Up. 26 June. -the-government-of-the-independent-state http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/ -of-papua-new-guinea-and-the-government papua-new-guinea/5651/png-temporary -of-austr.aspx [accessed Feb ] -anti-corruption-office-set-up/ [accessed 16 2015 21 March 2015] The National. Daily. Port Moresby. http://www.thenational.com.pg ———. 2014b. pngsdp Board Cuts Ties with Government. 30 April. http://www The National. 2014. PNG mp Found .islandsbusiness.com/news/papua-new Guilty of Misusing Public Funds. -guinea/5260/pngsdp-board-cuts-ties-with 17 October. Available via Pacific Islands -government/ [accessed 16 Feb 2015] Report: http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/ pireport/2014/October/10-17-19.htm ———. 2014b. Thousands Want PNG [accessed 16 Feb 2015] pm to Step Aside, Police Minister Vows to Take Demands to Govt. 25 June. O’Neill, Peter. 2014. Address by Prime http://www.pina.com.fj/?p=pacnews&m Minister Peter O’Neill, PNG lng Project =read&o=76955599953a9f4e6aaf9091 Celebration Dinner, Port Moresby, 15 daa481 [accessed 2 July 2015] August. http://www.pm.gov.pg/index.php/ news-centre/media-releases/33-address-by Maclellan, Nic. 2013. PNG Rolls Out -pm-o-neill-at-the-png-lng-project-dinner Aid Program for Pacific. Islands Business, [accessed 27 March 2015] 6 September. http://www.islandsbusiness .com/news/44th-pacific-islands-forum/ Osborne, David. 2014. What Has Hap- 2779/png-rolls-out-aid-program-for pened to Papua New Guinea’s Sovereign -pacific/ [accessed 16 Feb 2015] Wealth Fund? DevPolicyBlog, 28 October. http://devpolicy.org/what-has-happened-to Mathias, Adrian. 2014. Gulf Governor -papua-new-guineas-sovereign-wealth-fund Found Guilty of Misusing PNG lng Trust -20141028/ [accessed 21 March 2015] Fund. PNG Post-Courier, 25 September. Available via Pacific Islands Report: Papua New Guinea Today. 2014. PNG http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/ Police Commissioner Toami Kulunga Faces 2014/September/09-25-02.htm [accessed Imprisonment with Hard Labour. Papua 16 Feb 2015] New Guinea Today, 3 June. Posted on PNG Facts website: http://news.pngfacts Middleton, Alison. 2014. China Exim .com/ / /png-police-commisioner Bank Eyes Continued PNG Investment. 2014 06 -toami-kulunga.html [accessed 16 Feb PNG Industry News, 21 November. http:// ] www.pngindustrynews.net/storyview.asp 2015 ?storyid=826939219 [accessed 16 Feb PNG Facts website. 2014. Kua: Calls 2015] On Prime Minister O’Neill to Resign. PNG Facts: The Niuguini Voice, 20 June. mou, Memorandum of Understanding. http://www.pngfacts.com/-news/kua-calls 2013. Memorandum of Understanding -on-prime-minister-oneill-to-resign between the Government of the Indepen- [accessed Feb ] dent State of Papua New Guinea and the 16 2015 Government of Australia, relating to the PNG icsa, Papua New Guinea Immigra- transfer to, and assessment and settlement tion and Citizenship Service Authority. in, Papua New Guinea of certain persons, 2013. Regional Resettlement Arrangement. and related issues. 6 August. Australian http://www.immigration.gov.pg/manus 528 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015)

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

4 January. http://www.sibconline.com TransparencySI/posts/304333706390633 .sb/opposition-worried-over-rence-sores [accessed 18 Feb 201] -appointment-as-s-s-p-m/ [accessed Wood, Terence. 2014a. The 2014 Elections Feb ] 18 2015 in Solomon Islands: Did Anything Change? siec, Solomon Islands Electoral Commis- Will Anything Change? ­DevPolicyBlog, sion. 2014. Biometric Voter Registration. Development Policy ­Centre, The Austra- Vavaya, Honiara: siec. lian National Univer­sity, 22 January. http://devpolicy.org/the-2014-elections ssn, Solomon Star News. 2014a. 6,000 -in-solomon-islands-did-anything-change Fraudulent Voters Detected. 19 June. -will-anything-change- / [accessed http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/ 20150122 8 Feb 2014] national/2540-6-000-fraudulent-voters -detected [accessed 18 Feb 2015] ———. 2014b. Why Can’t Women Win? Impediments to Women’s Electoral ———. 2014b. adb Gives us$200k for ­Success in the Solomon Islands. Centre for Relief Effort. 18 April. http://www Democratic Institutions ( ) Discussion .solomonstarnews.com/news/business/ cdi Paper 2014/1. Canberra: The Australian 576-adb-gives-us-200k-for-relief-effort National University. [accessed 17 Feb 2015] ———. 2014c. Call to Ban Card Buying. 27 May. http://www.solomonstarnews .com/news/national/2081-call-to-ban-card -buying [accessed 18 Feb 2015] Timor-Leste ———. 2014d. Students Plan Boycott. For Timor-Leste, 2014 began with 14 July. http://www.solomonstarnews looming political uncertainty. In .com/news/national/2882-students-plan November 2013, Prime Minister -boycott [accessed 17 Feb 2015] José Alexandre “Xanana” Gusmão ———. 2014e. Students Renew Allow- announced that he intended to resign ances Call. 14 August. http://www from office in the coming year, with .solomonstarnews.com/news/national/ September floated as a possible date, 3470-students-renew-allowances-call ostensibly in order to promote gen- [accessed 17 Feb 2015] erational renewal of national leader- ———. 2015a. Award Fraud Uncovered; ship. According to some accounts, Two ntu Officers Suspended. 22 January. Gusmão’s plan was to establish a http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/ small council of senior advisors (of national/5692-award-fraud-uncovered which he would be a member) drawn -two-ntu-officers-suspended [accessed from across the political spectrum 17 Feb 2015] that would provide direction to his ———. 2015b. Core Issue of Air Dispute hand-selected replacement and new Not Solved, Says Solomon Airlines. government. But September 2014 16 January. http://www.solomonstarnews passed with Gusmão still in office and .com/news/5590-core-issue-of-air-dispute continuing to trumpet the benefits -not-solved-says-solomon-airlines of major development projects while [accessed 18 Feb 2015] dismissing criticism of corruption Transparency Solomon Islands. 2014. within his government and passage of Transparency Solomon Islands. Facebook new restrictions curtailing basic rights. post, 15 May. https://www.facebook.com/ After a flurry of new rumors in early 538 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015)

2015, Prime Minister Gusmão did in leum Corridor along the south coast, fact tender his resignation to President once promoted through flashy public Taur Matan Ruak on 5 February. A presentations, wisely has been cur- week later, the president approved tailed, with only $52 million budgeted the appointment of former Minister (out of a total projection of $291 of Health Dr Rui Maria Araújo, from million) for the Tasi Mane supply base the opposition party Fretilin, as prime near Suai. The proposed new national minister, and a slimmed-down new airport in Dili and the new port facil- cabinet was announced. ity in Tibar are still in the planning The state budget is the fulcrum stages so received relatively modest around which almost all aspects of allocations. politics, development, and social The most dramatic—indeed fan- debate in Timor-Leste now revolve, so tastical—addition to the long-term it is with an overview of the budget national development plans was pas- that any review of the previous year’s sage of Law 3/2014 making Oecusse events must begin. The proposed District a special administrative 2014 state budget totaled $1.5 bil- region and the announcement that the lion—representing a slight decrease enclave would be the recipient of a from the budget proposed for 2013 huge makeover, including the develop- ($1.67 billion) but an increase over the ment of a new port and airport, an amount actually executed the previous industrial zone, and an entirely new year. When the budget was ratified in planned city called the Special Zones early 2014, the breakdown by major of the Social Market Economy of category was as follows: salaries and Timor-Leste (known by the Tetum- wages $167 million (11.1%); goods acronym zeesm). This project has and services $476 million (31.7%); been handed to former Fretilin Prime public transfers $292 million (19.4%); Minister Mari Alkatiri, effectively minor capital $40 million (2.6%); ­buying off the only serious political and development capital $526 million opposition. While the long-term plan- (35%) (all budget figures are from ning is for a joint public-private invest- La‘o Hamutuk 2015). ment of $4.1 billion, the immediate Development capital, which focus is on preparation of infrastruc- includes the infrastructure fund, ture for the five-hundred-year anniver- accounted for one-third of the total sary of the first arrival of Portuguese budget. Within this category the explorers later this year and the hope largest allocation was for repair or of attracting a visit by Pope Francis in construction of roads and bridges the near future (Yoder 2015). ($90 million), including a Japanese- While much of the discussion by supported project to improve the both the government and its critics main road from Liquiçá District to the has focused on the feasibility and Indonesian border and a World Bank– utility of these major infrastructure assisted project to rebuild the major projects, another line under “public north-south road through Ainaro transfers” in the national budget has District to the south coast. Plans for quickly emerged as a mega-project of the development of a so-called Petro- its own: payments to veterans. Over political reviews • melanesia 539 the past several years the government estimated. In 2013, ­ConocoPhillips, passed legislation for veterans’ pen- which operates Timor-Leste’s most sions and cash transfers for widows important oil and gas field (Bayu- and children of fallen veterans, at Undan), revised its production pro- staggered rates depending on the num- jections downward, estimating that ber of years of service. The enacted Timor-Leste would receive nearly 50 2014 budget included $88 million for percent less revenue than in previous veterans, representing nearly as much forecasts. Production from the Kitan as the already bloated expenditure on field is due to end in 2016 and that security. Even more revealing are the from Bayu-Undan in 2020. Of equal negotiations that took place late in the concern, in 2014 global oil prices fell year over the proposed 2015 budget, by over 40 percent, with the decline during which it was agreed that while continuing into early 2015. Taken most other forms of public transfers together, these two factors indicate (social security, housing, etc) would be that current withdrawals from the decreased, veterans’ payments would Petroleum Fund and financial plan- be raised by 56 percent to $137 mil- ning are even less sustainable than the lion. This constitutes 9 percent of the government originally predicted or has total national budget, a figure that cared to admit (Scheiner 2015). at the end of the year will inevitably A second issue relating to the be even higher as a percentage of the government’s major infrastructure total executed budget. Reflecting their projects concerns the geographic consolidation as a political bloc, veter- distribution of the benefits and local ans have emerged as the most “mega” oversight. The bulk of this spending of the current mega-projects. is seen to benefit Dili (new airport Timor-Leste is one of the most and port facilities as well as construc- petroleum-dependent countries in the tion of government buildings); Suai world. In 2014, an estimated 95 per- district (the Supply Base and whatever cent of state revenue was derived from comes of the petroleum corridor); this sector, and 89 percent of the state and Oecusse (zeesm). Recognizing budget was drawn from the Petroleum the need for greater local involve- Fund. The availability of and depen- ment in the development process, dence on revenue from a single natural the ­government has made the first resource brought three issues to the tentative steps to initiate decentraliza- fore in public discussions and media tion. In ­October 2009, the govern- reporting during 2014. ment ­published Ministry Diploma First, despite verbal commitments 7 to establish a Commission for the to abide by the Estimated Sustainable Preparation of Municipalities. But Income (esi) of the Petroleum Fund, it was not until early 2014 that the the second Gusmão-led government Council of Ministers approved Decree has consistently violated this core prin- Law 4/2014 on the Organic Statute of ciple. In 2014, new concerns about the Administrative Pre-Deconcentration. esi emerged on two different fronts. In contrast to the plan formulated by Timor-Leste’s oil and gas reserves the Fretilin government in 2003–04, may not be as large as previously which called for decentralization at 540 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) the ­subdistrict level, the new decree in Macau, and his family’s passports law stipulates replacing the current were confiscated. system of districts with municipali- While charges of corruption are not ties, each of which will be headed by new in Timor-Leste, the proliferation an appointed manager and an elected of such cases in 2014 led opposition municipal assembly (Ximenes 2010). figures, journalists, and civil society The new law authorizes the munici- organizations to charge that Prime palities to produce an annual budget, Minister Gusmão was actively pro- an annual report, and a municipal tecting corrupt officials within his development plan. However, it is not government (Allard 2014). On 22 clear whether or when this interim October, Gusmão submitted an official experiment with administrative request to the National Parliament ­deconcentration under appointed asking that members of government heads will be followed by direct remain immune from prosecution until elections or the granting of political after the 2017 election, but Parlia- authority to raise revenue. ment turned down the request. On Third, corruption cases prolifer- the ­anniversary of the 1999 Popular ated in 2014. At least eight members Consultation on independence from of Gusmão’s cabinet were under Indonesian rule, President Taur Matan investigation by the independent Anti- Ruak granted a pardon to five prison- Corruption Commission. Minister of ers, among whom was former ­Minister Education João Câncio Freitas was of Justice Lúcia Maria Lobato, who convicted of corruption, while the had been convicted of corruption trial of Minister of Finance Emília and ­sentenced to a five-year prison Pires, originally scheduled to begin in term. (This was not the first instance October, was postponed indefinitely of a controversial pardon. In 2008 because of political interference. President José Ramos Horta granted Beyond high-ranking officials, for- a ­pardon to former Minister of the eigners working for the Timor-Leste ­Interior Rogerio Lobato, who had government and in the private sector been found guilty of manslaughter also have been involved in corrup- and the distribution of weapons to tion cases. In June 2014, an Ameri- ­civilians.) can ­lawyer named Bobby Boye, who The ballooning of the state budget worked as an advisor in the Timor- over the past several years has enabled Leste Ministry of Finance from 2010 the government to effectively buy off until 2013, was arrested by US agents most parliamentary opposition. The and charged with wire fraud and centerpiece of this strategy in 2014 using his influence to have the minis- was the accommodation reached try pay $3.5 million into an account between Prime Minister Gusmão and of a fictitious company. In another his onetime foe, Fretilin leader Mari case, a Portuguese­ businessman from Alkatiri, and the agreement to hand Macau who worked in the telecom- management of the Oecusse Special munications sector was imprisoned Administrative and Economic Zone to without trial on charges of transfer- Alkatiri. This political accommodation ring $800,000 to his wife’s account was sealed in late 2014 when Gusmão political reviews • melanesia 541 publicly stated that he had been Gama returned to Timor-Leste from wrong to rely on Australian sources the Netherlands, where he had lived with regard to then-Prime Minister for nearly thirty years. In 1984, Alkatiri’s involvement in the arms Mauk Moruk had been involved scandal that provided the immediate in a struggle over leadership of the trigger for the outbreak of violence resistance but came out on the los- in 2006—which had paved the way ing end and surrendered, eventually for Gusmão’s own ascension to the making his way into exile. Soon after position of prime minister. Mean- his return to Timor-Leste, Mauk while, the generous veterans’ benefits Moruk declared the establishment of initiated over the past few years have the Maubere ­Revolutionary Council made former­ members of the resis- (crm) and called for the resignation tance, regardless of party affiliation, of the government and a return to the an increasingly confident pro-Gusmão 1975 constitution. Supporters in his bloc within Parliament and one that home region of Laga, wearing military is backed by a wide and influential uniforms, carried out public demon- constituency throughout all thirteen strations. In response to the perceived districts. threat, on 3 March 2014 Parliament In the absence of meaningful issued Resolution 15/2014, stating democratic opposition in Parliament, that Mauk Moruk’s crm and cpd- the locus of opposition has shifted rdtl violated the constitution, the outward to the districts. The longest- penal code, and Decree Law 7/2014. standing focal point for criticism now Both organizations were thereby resides with the Popular Democratic declared illegal. Leaders of crm and Council of the People’s Democratic cpd-rdtl quickly rejected the par- Republic of Timor-Leste (cpd-rdtl), liamentary resolution and the accusa- an organization that in 1999 claimed tions that they were armed and had to stand for the 1975 constitution misused military uniforms (Marisa and therefore opposed the United Gonçalves 2014). Nations interim administration and The March parliamentary resolu- the continued international presence tion provided legal grounds for the in the country. Although the behavior National Police of Timor-Leste (pntl) and statements made by cpd-rdtl to begin conducting operations against leaders are often erratic, grassroots both crm and cpd-rdtl. Arrests support for the group’s ideals has not commenced at the cpd-rdtl head only persisted but spread during the office in Balide, Dili, where nineteen past year. The organization appears to members were detained. In Laga, have greatest support in Baucau and pntl personnel lowered the flags at Bobonaro districts but has also been the crm base at Lalulai and detained active in Manufahi, Covalima, and two people, but other supporters elsewhere. evaded arrest. (National police had Expressions of opposition to the also arrested members of the Bua government intensified in late 2013 Malus group, which is led by Labarik when a former resistance commander Maia, in Buruma, Baucau, in Decem- named Paulino “Mauk Moruk” ber 2013.) On 13 March, the pntl 542 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) arrested Mauk Moruk at the crm stimulated widespread outcry from headquarters in Fatuhada, Dili. Mauk human rights organizations, journal- Moruk, his brother Cornelio “L-7” ists, and civil society in the country Gama, and the Bua Malus leader and received considerable interna- Labarik Maia were then brought to tional media coverage. Human Rights court for pretrial proceedings. All Watch expressed concern about the three were detained in Becora prison requirement that all journalists must while awaiting trial. In response obtain licenses, the establishment to a police order for all crm and of a five-member press council, and cpd-rdtl members to report to the the unclear definitions of “national ­security forces, some supporters of culture” and “public interest.” Civil these groups are reported to have gone society groups argued that the stipula- into hiding. tion that all journalists must obtain The most important issue regard- a license and the definition of jour- ing rights in 2014 involved a new nalistic activities would adversely Media Law significantly curtailing affect civil society, freelance writers, the freedom of journalists (including bloggers, and other commentators. fines for violating the law), regulating Others agreed that the law would media ownership, and requiring for- prevent the media from reporting on eign journalists who wish to operate corruption and other cases involving within the country to obtain official public officials. In an interview with permits. During the first half of 2014, The Economist, José Antonio Belo, Parliament debated a draft of the law, the president of the Timor-Leste Press which, despite widespread objections Union, publicly stated that he would from civil society, was approved on not register as a journalist and was 6 May 2014 and then submitted to ready to pay any fines imposed and the president of the republic. Rather even go to prison (Economist 11 Sept than using his prerogative right to 2014). approve or veto the law, President A second critical issue relating to Taur Matan Ruak asked the Court of the law emerged in October 2014 Appeal to examine it. After delibera- when Parliament, acting at the request tion, the Court of Appeal returned of Prime Minister Gusmão, secretly the draft law to the National Parlia- passed a resolution calling for an ment for improvement and advised audit of the judicial system and the that the draft law must be compatible immediate dismissal of all foreigners with the constitution. On 16 Decem- working in the judicial sector, includ- ber, the Court of Appeal declared the ing foreign judges, prosecutors, public Media Law to be unconstitutional. defenders, and judicial advisors. On In response, Vice President of Parlia- the same day, the government issued ment Adriano Nascimento rejected the a resolution terminating the contracts court decision on grounds that it was of foreign judicial workers on grounds issued by an international judge who of national interest. In late October, was subsequently expelled from the the president of the Court of Appeal country. stated that the resolution violated the Passage of the new Media Law principle of separation of powers and political reviews • melanesia 543 called on all foreign judicial workers mega-projects and profligate budget- to return to their functions. Never- ing for veterans are diverting resources theless, the government ordered the and attention from the pressing issues Immigration Department to immedi- of domestic food security, accessible ately revoke the working visas of eight health care, and job creation. For foreign judges and prosecutors and these reasons, in the coming year the insisted that they leave the coun- newly installed government led by try within two days (Leach 2014). Prime Minister Rui Maria Araújo is Several of the judges whose contracts likely to face increased friction around were terminated were due to hear questions of budgeting, corruption, corruption cases involving govern- and internal security, as well as diffi- ment officials, the current Speaker of culties holding the patchwork cross- the National Parliament, and police party government together. personnel, reinforcing the perception douglas kammen that the prime minister was acting to protect cabinet members charged with corrupt practices. This government decision prompted References outrage domestically and sharp con- Allard, Tom. 2014. Exclusive: Timor pm demnation from international human Protecting “Corrupt” Cabinet Ministers. rights organizations. Amnesty Inter- Sydney Morning Herald, 26 November. national issued a statement expressing Amnesty International. 2014. Timor-Leste: concern that the sudden departure of Victims’ Rights and Independence of Judi- the foreign judicial workers would ciary Threatened by Arbitrary Removal delay access to justice for victims, of Judicial Officers. Public statement, particularly women and children who asa 57/003/2014, 21 November. have experienced domestic violence, The Economist. 2014. Press Freedom in and would adversely affect trial dates Timor-Leste: Muzzling the Messenger. for those in prison (Amnesty Inter- 11 September. national 2014). What impact this Gonçalves, Marisa. 2014. Ex-Guerrillas decision will have on access to the law Threaten Political Stability in East and judicial independence is one of the Timor. Global Voices, 1 April. http:// great unknowns going into 2015. globalvoicesonline.org/2014/04/01/ex Government officials have taken -guerrillas-threaten-political-stability-in great pride in the fact that economic -east-timor/ [accessed 13 March 2015] growth has exceeded 7 percent for the La‘o Hamutuk. 2015. 2014 and 2015 last few years and continue to promise General State Budgets. Available at the that investment in major development website of the Timor-Leste Institute for projects will bring long-term ben- Development Monitoring and Analysis efits. While there is a desperate need (La‘o Hamutuk), Dili: www.laohamutuk to improve basic infrastructure, the .org/econ/ [accessed 13 March 2015] much-heralded South Coast Petroleum Leach, Michael. 2014. Concerns over Corridor is now on hold and the pro- Judicial Independence in Timor-Leste. jected spending on the Oecusse Special East Asia Forum, 31 October. http://www Zone is unlikely to succeed. These .eastasiaforum.org/2014/10/31/concerns 544 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015)

-over-judicial-independence-in-timor-leste/ earlier in 2014 after the usual quiet [accessed 13 March 2015] Christmas/New Year holiday period, Scheiner, Charles. 2015. Can the due to the election of a new Muni­ ­Petroleum Fund Exorcise the Resource cipal Council, scheduled for 7 Janu- Curse from Timor-Leste? Paper posted at ary. The vote was significant, since it http://www.laohamutuk.org/econ/exor/ was to be based on an amendment to 14ExorcisePaper.htm the Municipalities Act (Municipali- Ximenes, Valentim. 2010. Policy For- ties [Amendment] Act 11 of 2013), mulation on Local Government Reform approved by Parliament the previ- in Timor-Leste. In Locating Democracy: ous year, which guaranteed that 30 Representation, Elections and Governance to 34 percent of municipal council in Timor-Leste, edited by Steven Farram, seats were to be reserved for women 9–19. Darwin: Charles Darwin University. (Van Trease 2014, 545). The new law Yoder, Laura S Meitzner. 2015. Excep- applies to the two existing municipal tional Erasure: Making Etic and Emic councils in Vanuatu—Port Vila and Sense of Fantastical Development Schemes Luganville—and any future municipal in the Oecusse Enclave. Conference paper councils that might be established. The presented at “Co-habitations and Power procedure subsequently approved by Dynamics: Land, Exchange, Gover- the Council of Ministers allows voters nance; Timor-Leste in Context.” Lisbon, in each municipal ward (five in Port January. 19–24 Vila, for a total of seventeen seats) two votes—one for a general list consisting of both male and female candidates and a second for a list reserved for Vanuatu female candidates only. In many ways, 2014 in Vanuatu was While interest seemed high, voter much like any other year: periods turnout was low, common for munici- of political instability with rumored pal elections in Vanuatu, with only 35 votes of no confidence, one leading percent of the 28,691 registered voters to a change of government; accusa- casting their ballots. The counting of tions of fraud and corruption; and votes for the general seats is based on court challenges. At the same time, a system of proportional representa- there were periods of relative calm and tion reflecting the number of candi- moments of proud achievement with dates fielded by the different parties, the introduction of a new system to while the seats reserved for women elect municipal councils that guaran- are determined by first past the post— tees women a third of the seats and one seat for each of the five wards. the smooth election of Vanuatu’s The results reflected those of the Port eighth president, and celebration when Vila constituency in the 2012 general Vanuatu was finally connected to the election, when the parties then in Southern Cross undersea cable, pro- Opposition—now the current govern- viding a new level of communication ment—dominated. The Vanua‘aku to the rest of the world. Pati (vp) won 5 seats, Green Confed- Compared to previous years, the eration 5, Union of Moderate Parties population of Port Vila woke up a bit (ump) 4, Graon mo Jastis Pati (gjp) 2, political reviews • melanesia 545 and there was one independent (vdp, The election was indeed revolutionary 18 Jan 2014; Republic of Vanuatu, in Vanuatu’s electoral history and a Official Gazette). first among Pacific Island countries as The ump, vp, and gjp signed a a whole. memorandum of understanding to run Except for the National United the Municipal Council (vdp, 20 Jan Party (nup), the Opposition did not 2014). One of the ump councilors, get involved in the municipal elec- Ulrich Sumptoh, defeated a Green can- tion, but it had not gone to sleep. didate for the position of mayor. This By mid-February, rumors began to was not surprising given the failure of surface of an impending motion of the Greens (led by then Prime Minister no confidence against the Carcasses and Member of Parliament [mp] for government (vdp, 17 Feb 2014). The Port Vila Moana Carcasses) to follow last such motion had occurred in July through on a preelection agreement 2013—tabled by the then leader of whereby the gjp would forgo running the ­Opposition, Ham Lini—but was candidates for the general seats in the dismissed on technical grounds relat- southern ward in return for the Greens ing to the validity of signatures (Van not running a candidate for the wom- Trease 2014, 548). With a reported an’s reserved seat. The Greens, in fact, 27 out of 52 mps having signed the ran an independent candidate on the motion for an extraordinary session to general list, who won the seat, costing be convened, the government appeared the gjp an expected victory (Repub- to be under threat with only 24 mps lic of Vanuatu, Official Results). The on its side (vdp, 18 Feb 2014). (Note failure of the Green Confederation that the Speaker, who is an elected mp, to honor this agreement with gjp on does not vote unless there is a tie or in municipal-level politics had a carry- the case of the actual election of prime over effect nationally. It signaled the minister.) perception that the leaders of these Up to this time, government sup- two parties were no longer as close as port had been quite solid with a total they once appeared to be. of 36 mps out of 52, comprising basi- There was no evidence of any reluc- cally two blocs—the Carcasses group tance to accept the new voting system, and a group led by Edward Natapei, and therefore, for the first time in deputy prime minister and leader of Vanuatu’s electoral history, thousands the Vanua‘aku Pati. In addition to the of both men and women voted for and vp, the Natapei group consisted of elected multiple female candidates to mps from the gjp, ump, and Mela- political office. It should be noted that nesian Progressive Party (mpp), none women do not use their numerical of whom, it was reported in a press power to unite in support of female release, had signed the motion of no candidates but rather seem to follow confidence. the men in their families. As a result, The problem for the government since independence, only five women arose when 11 mps who had been have been elected to Parliament and part of the Carcasses group switched a similar number to the municipal sides and formally reconciled with councils of Port Vila and Luganville. the Opposition. Included were mem- 546 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) bers representing the Iauko Group, United Party, Reunification of Move- Nagriamel, Natatok, and the Vanu- ment for Change, Vanuatu Republi- atu Republican Party, as well as an can Party, Vanuatu Progressive Party, independent. The Opposition at that Nagriamel, People’s Progressive Party, point had comprised 16 members Iauko Group, Hope, and Natatok and was led by Ham Lini, leader of (vdp, 3 March 2014). the National United Party, as well as Rumors of yet another move mps from the People’s Progressive against the government became reality Party, Reunification of Movement for when a motion of no confidence was Change, Vanuatu Liberal Democratic tabled during the second week of May, Party, and an independent. lodged by the leader of the Opposi- It was reported that the eleven tion, Ham Lini, and the deputy leader disaffected mps had decided to move of the Opposition, Sato Kilman. It against the government because was signed by thirteen mps, all from ­Carcasses had failed to follow through the Opposition, and was scheduled on undertakings he made the previous for debate on the afternoon of 15 year. He had not supported a prom- May. Six reasons were given for the ised increase of mp allocations from motion, which accused the prime 4 million vatu to 10 million (us$1.00 minister of reckless financial policies averaged around 96.8 vatu [vt] in “with the potential to destroy the 2014), given to mps to fund projects country’s ­foreign reserves and import in their own constituencies, which cover in the near future . . . [that he] he later denied, and had not fairly is gambling the future of the country ­distributed roofing iron given by the on questionable schemes . . . without Chinese government to Carcasses’s the required due diligence,” such as Green Confederation (vdp, 26 Feb the ciip scheme [Capital Investment 2014). Immigration Plan, designed to sell Realizing they did not have the permanent residence visas to wealthy numbers to survive a no-confidence Chinese], real estate deals and the vote, the government boycotted the proposed international airport. He extraordinary session of Parliament was also accused of allowing the that was scheduled for 24 February. ­“deterioration of the health services At a press conference on the same throughout the rural areas” and of day, Prime Minister Carcasses made becoming ­“dictatorial” toward key an offer of four ministerial portfo- government institutions and “inter­ lios to members of the Opposition fering with the Public Service Com­ bloc, which was initially rejected but mission to promote his political accepted a few days later, returning ­supporters” (vdp, 10 May 2014). the government to a majority of 28 In a press conference on the day with the Opposition at 23. Realizing before the impending vote, ­Carcasses they no longer had the numbers, the rejected all the allegations leveled Opposition withdrew the motion of against him, and Deputy Prime no confidence (vdp, 27 Feb 2014). A Minister Edward Natapei attempted total of nine political parties remained to assuage rumors that his own united in opposition: the National Vanua‘aku Pati was backing the political reviews • melanesia 547 motion. Natapei pledged his sup- million guarantee for the construc- port and that of the bloc of parties he tion of a new airport by a Singapore headed, totaling 18 mps out of the 35 company best known for tobacco who made up the coalition—the vp, production—appears to be the most gjp, and ump—and confirmed that he compelling reason uniting the 35 had not received any indication from mps from the Opposition and within the other two parties that they were the government coalition to vote to contemplating a move in support of replace Carsasses (Van Trease 2014, the Opposition’s motion. Furthermore, 549–550). he assured the prime minister that he Carcasses himself would have would inform him, as required under been surprised by the outcome of the the coalition agreement, if he heard motion, since those plotting against anything. When quizzed by a reporter him did not have to reveal the full “if he would be the sole vp mp stick- degree of their support until the actual ing with the pm while all the other day of the debate. They only needed vp mps would be moving to ­support nine signatures to table a motion of the motion,” he made the point that no confidence, since Parliament was “it is important for the future and the in session (Parliamentary Standing solidarity of the party [vp] for all of us Orders, Para 14 [1]). If Parliament to remain with the Government” (vdp, is not in session, a motion presented 15 May 2014). to the Speaker must be accompanied Nevertheless, when the motion was by a request to call an extraordinary voted on the following day, 35 mps, session, which requires the support including those from the vp and the of a majority of mps, or 27 signa- gjp, joined the opposition to remove tures. Since the motion in May was Carcasses. He was replaced by vet- tabled during an ordinary session eran vp politician Joe Natuman from of Parliament, there was no need to the island of Tanna, who was the recall Parliament and, therefore, no sole nominee and who received an need to demonstrate support beyond unprecedented 40 votes out of the the required 9 mps who signed the total of 52 mps, with 9 voting against motion, though 13 actually signed. and 3 abstaining. More mps voted for Carcasses, therefore, seems to have ­Natuman than had crossed the floor been unaware of the substantial back- to vote to censure Carcasses. ing for the motion and would have There were reports that the move been moderately confident of surviving against Carcasses stemmed from his the no-confidence vote, having been successful attempt at removing Nata- assured by Natapei of the support of pei as prime minister in 2010 and that the largest party grouping in his gov- Natapei had been aware of the plot erning coalition. It was reported that all along. While there may be an ele- on the day the motion was debated, ment of truth in the “revenge” theory, the vp and gjp symbolically “crossed growing concern over a number of the the floor”—accompanied by Deputy prime minister’s policies as outlined Speaker Edward Natapei—to join in the motion—but, in particular, his with the Opposition to bring him promotion since 2013 of a us$350 down. This brought to an early end 548 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) the one-year leadership of the nation ency of Tanna. The election had been by Carcasses, whose accession to challenged on broad grounds relating the position, as the first naturalized to the use of unauthorized envelopes citizen to do so, was controversial. He for casting votes, proxy voting, and may now be a spent force in Vanuatu allegations of bribery. The petition national politics. was one of twenty-four lodged after The new government moved the election, all of which were ulti- quickly to demonstrate a new course. mately dismissed. In the Tanna case, Prime Minister Natuman aligned him- the Supreme Court found that the self and his new government with the petitioners had failed to establish “core values” of the founding fathers grounds for overturning the election of the country—“honesty, respect, results, thus eliminating any doubt as transparent and accountable, and to Natuman’s position and authority proper” management of government (vdp, 24 May 2014). The inordinate “not to live beyond your means” (vdp, delay in resolving the election petitions 22 May 2014). The prime minister brought to light a weakness in the also announced that portfolios would overall voting system, which needs to not be offered to mps who perpetually be resolved in the future. crossed the floor in Parliament and The two coalitions of parties that contributed to ongoing political insta- emerged to form the new government bility. Members of the Iauko Group, and the Opposition revealed what in particular, were mentioned. At the may become an increasingly important same time, the government gave notice trend in Vanuatu politics—the attempt that it intended to introduce a leader- to reconstitute the old party group- ship integrity bill to ban mps from ings from the time of independence. crossing the floor in Parliament (vdp, During the 1980s, Vanuatu politics 21 May 2014). As a result of these was dominated by just two parties: the decisions, it soon became clear that ­Vanua‘aku Pati, which held govern- the government would not be able to ment throughout the decade, and the sustain the very large degree of parlia- Union of Moderate Parties. However, mentary support it had enjoyed in the both parties eventually splintered due vote of no confidence and election of to internal leadership rivalries. Natuman as prime minister. However, In 1987, following a failed attempt while rumors of votes of no confi- to unseat Father Walter Lini as presi- dence surfaced almost immediately, dent, Barak Sope left the vp and set the government was never seriously up his own Melanesian Progressive threatened for the rest of the year. Party (mpp). The most significant Just one week after Natuman took split occurred in 1991, when Lini over as prime minister, his position was forced out of the vp in a power was strengthened beyond doubt when struggle and established his own the Supreme Court announced that it National United Party (nup), led had dismissed election petition case 3, today by his brother Ham Lini. Sato relating back to the national election Kilman broke away from the mpp in in 2012, involving all seven seats in 2001 and established the People’s Pro- the prime minister’s home constitu- gressive Party (ppp). Having divided political reviews • melanesia 549 their followers, neither the vp nor speak on behalf of Nagriamel, John nup was able to win a majority in the Frum, and Kapiel, rejected the ump 1991 national election, allowing the call for unity (vdp, 4 Feb, 6 Feb 2014). Union of Moderate parties (ump), led It should be noted that Salwai joined by Maxime Carlot Korman, to form a with the vp, nup, and gjp to topple coalition with nup—a chance for Lini Carcasses, who with Vohor (ump) to get revenge on his former vp allies formed the new Opposition in May. who had maneuvered his demise (Van The Vanua‘aku Pati, which has Trease 1995, 73–163). Within a few recently been identified as representing years, however, the ump also began to the “Nationalists”—harkening back have leadership problems. By 1995, to its role as leader of the group that Serge Vohor had forced Korman out led the struggle for independence—has of the ump, the latter establishing announced its intention to reconcile his own Vanuatu Republican Party with its former political allies but has (vrp), and in 2012 Charlot Salwai not found the process any easier to broke away and established what he achieve than that of the ump. While now calls Reunification of Move- informal discussions have been under- ment for Change (rmc). Not long way for some time with Ham Lini and after, Korman lost control of the vrp nup, and with Barak Sope’s mpp, the and formed the Vanuatu Democratic outcome of vp’s 38th party congress Party, and his nephew, Alfred Carlot, in August demonstrated that politi- ­reconstituted the Natatok Party (Van cal rivalries among top leaders—both Trease 2014, 531–532). within and breakaway—were far from Earlier in 2014, the leaders of both being resolved. the vp and the ump announced their Particularly difficult were rela- intention to attempt to reconcile the tions with the Iauko Group, headed breakaway political groups from their by Pascal Iauko (son of vp break- respective parties. ump organized a away Harry Iauko from the island of meeting of “Moderates” in Lugan- Tanna), whose quest for leadership ville, where then Minister Serge Vohor at the ­Tongoa congress in 2010 split (leader of the ump) correctly argued the party, leaving Edward Natapei as that the total number of votes for president. Iauko was forced eventu- moderate candidates was not reflected ally to adopt the name “Iauko Group” in the number of mps elected. Those in order to contest the 2012 election, invited to the meeting included Prime in which he was returned as mp for Minister Moana Carcasses (Green Tanna (Van Trease 2014, 532). The Confederation), Vincent Boulekone fact that Harry Iauko had been one (former Tan Union), mps Stephen of Nata­pei’s strongest supporters Kalsakau and Charlot Salwai (Reuni- in 1999, when he was elected party fication of Movement for Change), president (see below), demonstrates mp Paul Telukluk (Namaki Aute), how fickle big party politics can be mp Willie Jimmy (Liberal Democratic in Vanuatu. Following Iauko’s death Party), Nagriamel leaders, and mod- under mysterious circumstances in erate leaders from Tanna (eg, John December 2012 in Santo—suspected Frum, Kapiel). Salwai, claiming to also to be linked to the presence of the 550 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) mega yacht Phocea,­ which was was elected president of the Vanua‘aku anchored in Port Vila harbor for ten Pati, while Natuman retained his posi- months during 2012 and 2013—his tion as vice president and, of course, son, Pascal Sebastien Iauko, won a prime minister of the republic. Both by-election in May 2013 to replace his men assured the congress that they father (Van Trease 2014, 547). would respect the outcome (vdp, 26 Election of the party executive Aug, 28 Aug, 29 Aug 2014). turned out to be the most divisive The day prior to the start of the problem facing the vp at the August congress, the four “nationalist parties” 2014 congress. Traditionally, though (the vp, nup, mpp, and ppp) signed an it is not specifically stated in the party agreement that they hoped would lead by-laws, the senior leadership role to their reunification (vdp, 25 Aug (president of the party) should hold 2014). It is significant to note that the senior position in Parliament— the Iauko Group was not included in that is, prime minister or leader of the signing, despite the fact that they the Opposition—should the possibil- had helped topple Carcasses in May ity present itself. This fundamental and had formally reconciled with issue, however, has never been fully the vp in a ceremony in June (vdp, addressed and has led to tension 25 June 2014). This was most likely between rival leaders on at least one due to lingering discontent from the other occasion. In 1999, the newly fact that the Iauko Group had not elected party president, Edward Nata­ been included in the distribution of pei, stepped aside to allow mp Donald portfolios following the ouster of Kalpokas to take the leading role as the Carcasses government, making prime minister. Within two years, a permanent reconciliation difficult. rivalry between the two men and their The outcome of the congress clearly supporters had developed to the point indicates that the vp still has work to that in a snap election in 2002, Kalpo­ do to produce a functioning party that kas was forced to run as part of a reunites all its breakaway parts. separate vp faction, called the Vanua- Making the issue more problem- K Group, and lost the election when atic is the fact that over the years, but opposition vp—Natapei supporters— particularly since 1991, increasing ran rival candidates in his constituency numbers of independents have been of Efate. Natapei, therefore, continued elected—some taking on party names as president of the party. and others remaining as independents. When the 2014 congress convened They usually disappear after one elec- in Port Vila, the vp again faced the tion, but an exception has been the ­situation of two strong leaders vying Graon mo Jastis Pati, led by Ralph for the top party position—both Regenvanu, who was first elected in ­Natuman and Natapei were nomi- 2008 as an independent and, after nated for the position of president— the foundation of his own party in creating tension among the delegates. 2010, succeeded in getting four mps At one point, balloting was suspended elected (including himself) in the for a time and some votes were 2012 election. He is known for taking declared invalid. In the end, Natapei principled positions based on issues political reviews • melanesia 551 of good governance and has served in which side do the party groupings the Kilman, Carcasses, and, at present, stand today? The astounding thing Natuman governments. Regenvanu is that these issues are hardly ever has become very influential in politics spoken about—they are taboo sub- today, having spearheaded significant jects, which everyone seems to want to reform legislation as minister of lands forget—and yet they lie just below the in 2013 and emerging as a driving surface and silently affect relationships force in the toppling of the Carcasses far more than the two groups are will- government in May. His style of ing to admit to themselves, let alone politics has begun to attract consider- to each other. The desire to reduce able support, and not only in his own instability is an admirable goal, and electorate of Port Vila, where in the the leaders of the old parties should be 2012 election he received the high- praised for focusing on the problem. est total vote ever by a candidate in Knowing and acknowledging one’s ­Vanuatu’s electoral history. The issue history is essential for understand- worth watching is whether Vanuatu ing the present, but as the old saying voters will be attracted to the call of goes: “You can’t move forward by just the old parties to reunite on the basis ­staring in the rearview mirror!” of past history or turn to the likes of Perhaps sensing the opportune the new Graon mo Jastis Pati, which moment, on 29 August, the Carcasses- focuses much more clearly on dealing led opposition tabled a new motion with the challenges of today. of no confidence and request to call Indeed, one wonders if the two Parliament into session, signed by 27 groups—Nationalists and Moder- mps, with the backing of some gov- ates—are really serious about reviving ernment backbenchers (vdp, 30 Aug past glories as the basis for modern 2014). Subsequently, the Speaker ruled parties today, especially since an that the motion was not in order due increasing majority of voters were not to the fact that several of the govern- even born at the time of independence ment backbenchers claimed they had in 1980 and would not be aware of withdrawn their signatures prior to or the events, let alone the policies of the after the motion was actually tabled two major parties. It is never dis- (vdp, 1 Sept, 2 Sept 2014). The dispute cussed, but the Moderates and Nation- finally ended up in court, confirming alists reflect the old Anglo/French the Speaker’s decision to reject the divide, which made the achievement of motion (vdp, 9 Sept 2014). independence for Vanuatu extremely In the midst of this unsettled politi- difficult. Will the two sides want to cal situation, Parliament turned to debate each other again over the old the important task of electing a new issue of the need for immediate or president to replace His Excellency delayed independence? Do they really President Iolu Johnson Abbil, whose want to fight over which systems of five-year term in office was about to education, local ­government, or law expire. It was obvious to most politi- are better, or which language is more cal leaders that this would be a diffi- important—English or French? And, cult task, as Parliament was narrowly of course, there is the rebellion. On divided, making it highly unlikely that 552 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) either side of politics—the National- were approved and submitted to the ists or the Moderates—would have Electoral College for consideration. the numbers to elect one of their own The 13 candidates included mostly candidates without support from former politicians: two prime minis- another party. ters (Barak Tame Sope and Maxime According to the Vanuatu Constitu- Carlot Korman), several ministers and tion, “the election of the President of elected mps, a clerk to Parliament, and the Republic shall take place within one clergyman. Six of the candidates 3 weeks of the end of the term of would have been identified with the office of the previous President. . . . government side, while four were any indigenous Vanuatu citizen quali- associated with the Opposition. The fied to be elected to Parliament shall remaining three had not been actively be eligible for election as President of involved in politics (vdp, 10 Sept, 15 the Republic” (Constitution, chapter Sept 2014). 6, article 34, schedule 1 and article While experience, reputation, and 35). Following on, “every citizen of political affiliation are important Vanuatu who is at least 25 years of considerations, island of origin was age shall be eligible to stand for elec- also clearly a factor in the selec- tion to Parliament” (Constitution, tion process. Of the seven previous chapter 4, article 17 [2]). In other presidents, one was from Efate and words, the office of president is open one from Emae (Shefa Province); only to “indigenous” citizens of at one from Aneityum and one from least twenty-five years of age. Tanna (Tafea Province); one from The president is elected by a two- Pentecost (Penama Province); and thirds majority of a 58-seat Electoral one from Ambrym (Malampa Prov- College—39 votes—consisting of ince). It was suggested in the press the 52 mps plus the presidents of the that the new president would most 6 provincial governments. At the time, likely come from one of the islands the government controlled only two of or provinces that had yet to produce the provinces (Malampa and Penama) a head of state, and this was reflected and the Opposition four (Banks/­Torres, in the number of candidates who Sanma, Shefa and Tafea), which gave had applied: the islands of Malakula the government an estimated 32 votes (4), Santo (3), Torba (1), and Ambae and the opposition 26; it is difficult to (1). There were no candidates from be more precise because of the waver- Tafea Province, which had already ing support of certain mps. produced two presidents, includ- A total of 23 individuals expressed ing the current president, Iolu Abbil, to the Electoral Office their intention from the island of Tanna. One local to apply for the vacant position. Two journalist described how the National- were women, but they did not pro- ists (the government coalition) were ceed to fill out the forms. Likewise, keen that someone be elected who several of the remaining men did not had been associated with the inde- submit completed forms, leaving only pendence struggle. The Opposition 13 names, which were duly screened moderates were thought to be focus- by the Electoral Office; all of them ing on someone from the Nagriamel political reviews • melanesia 553

­movement, which was on the other demonstration marked the start of a side of ­independence politics (vdp, new round of activities, which culmi- 17 Sept 2014). nated in a gathering of West Papuan The Electoral College convened political leaders in mid-December. on 16 September with Chief Justice The purpose of the conference was to Vincent Lunabek presiding. Not allow all pro-independence groupings surprising, given the political atmo- inside and outside West Papua to unite sphere at the time, reaching a decision under one umbrella in preparation was extremely difficult. The Elec- for submitting an application to the toral College had to meet on seven Melanesian Spearhead Group to join separate days before one candidate the subregional group as a full mem- received the required two-thirds of ber (vdp, 17 Sept 2014). The Vanuatu the votes. Baldwin Jackson Lonsdale, government pledged financial backing from the island of Motalava in the for the conference, and Prime Min- Banks Islands (Torba Province), was ister Natuman made an impassioned elected with 46 votes—7 more than plea in late September at the United the minimum 39 required under the Nations General Assembly in support constitution. His election was surpris- of the West Papuan cause (vdp, 19 ing for some, as he was one of the Sept, 1 Oct 2014). least political of the candidates, but The Indonesian government, this may actually explain his election, through its embassy in Canberra, given the political divisions at the expressed its displeasure at the time. He began employment in 1968, ­Vanuatu government’s intended sup- before independence, working as an port for the West Papuan conference officer in the British National Service, (vdp, 1 Dec 2014). Prime Minister and he had subsequently trained to Natuman responded that he “would become an Anglican priest, attaining consider altering the Vanuatu-Indone- tertiary level qualifications in New sia Bilateral Agreement, if Indonesia Zealand. He later taught at several continues to interfere in Vanuatu’s different ­educational institutions and stand on West Papua issues” (vdp, served as the secretary-general of 9 Dec 2014). On 6 December, the Torba ­Province from 1998 to 2006 leaders of the three major pro-inde- (vdp, 23 Sept 2014). pendence groups (the Federal Republic In mid-July, students at the Emalus of West Papua, the National Parlia- Campus of the University of the South ment of West Papua, and the National Pacific in Port Vila staged a peace- Coalition for Liberation) deliberated ful demonstration in support of West in the Chiefs’ Nakamal in Port Vila Papua’s struggle for independence and signed an agreement to establish from Indonesia—not a new issue in a new body called the United Libera- Vanuatu, which is the only country tion Movement for West Papua (vdp, in the Pacific in which an interna- 8 Dec 2014). Carcasses joined the tional issue has taken on political government in expressing his support significance and is openly supported for the meeting and congratulated the by most political parties, from both West Papuans for their achievement in the government and Opposition. This obtaining unity (vdp, 12 Dec 2014). 554 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015)

In early November, the prime (Constitution, chapter 10, article 66 minister requested that the Speaker [1 and 2]). call Parliament for a regular session, It came as no surprise that the scheduled for 18 and 19 December, to next day, the leader of the Opposition consider the 2015 budget (vdp, 5 Nov tabled a motion of no confidence in 2014). Not surprising, rumors of the prime minister, giving five reasons: the possible tabling of a new motion that the prime minister (1) was ­causing of no confidence surfaced, but with harm to the country for ­refusing to the puzzling news in the local press enforce the airport ­concession, risk- that amounts of money between ing damages expected to total more vt500,000 and vt1 million, totaling than 3 billion vatu; (2) had interfered vt14.5 million, had allegedly been in the function of the Public Ser- paid into the accounts of a number vice by removing the chairman and of mps (vdp, 11 Nov 2014). Ten days members of the Citizenship Com- later, it was announced that the prime mission; (3) had failed to act on the minister and the deputy prime minister e-visa scheme in China and to deal had lodged a motion in Parliament to with alleged misuse of funds; (4) had suspend sixteen Opposition mps for stopped the decentralization of council alleged bribery. The motion contained of ministers’ meetings in the provinces; the facts, verified by the police, that and (5) was leading the country in the leader of the Opposition, Moana the wrong direction by favoritism and Carcasses, had deposited a check for focusing on the past rather than the vt35 million in his personal account future. at a local bank and subsequently The Speaker pointed out that transferred money to Opposition mps the motion of no confidence in the as described above, which he claimed prime minister had come two days were loans. It was alleged in the news- after the motion to suspend sixteen paper that Carcasses had not denied mps and would, therefore, be dealt these facts and had openly stated that with after that of the prime minister. he was offering the money as loans Under Parliamentary Standing Orders, “to any mp of either the Opposition three days is required before a writ- or the Government sides who will ten motion can be debated. He also pledge their allegiance to him” (vdp, pointed out that the two movers of 21 Nov 2014). the second motion were among those The basis of the motion for suspen- listed in the motion of the prime min- sion was chapter 10 of the Vanuatu ister for suspension, which could have Constitution (article 66 [1 and 2]), an impact on the final outcome (vdp, which establishes the Leadership Code 22 Nov 2014). and requires leaders in government to Indeed, when the motion was conduct themselves so as to avoid any debated, the leader of the Opposition, activity that might demean their office Moana Carcasses, and his deputy, or the integrity of the Republic of Serge Vohor, were suspended, along Vanuatu. In particular, leaders should with fourteen other mps. The motion not engage in any activity involving a claimed that by accepting the “loans,” conflict of interest or for personal gain the accused mps had broken the political reviews • melanesia 555

Leadership Code, which stipulates Natuman responded strongly to the that “a leader must not accept a loan accusations against him. He labeled (other than on commercial terms from the airport concession agreement a recognised lending institution) and signed by the Carcasses-led govern- only if the leader satisfies the lending ment as a “scam” and noted that in institution’s usual business criteria” July, Parliament, including Carcasses, (Supreme Court, Leadership Code Act had voted to allow the agreement to [cap 240], part 3—Breaches of Lead- lapse after receiving the report of an ership, section 21). Ad Hoc Committee engaged to inves- Carcasses’s response was that he tigate the project, which reported that would seek redress in the court, argu- “99% of the contract did not favor the ing that the rights of the suspended government, the people and Vanuatu­ mps had been infringed, “as only the but ‘only foreigners and it could cause court has the right to punish anyone a catastrophe.’” The prime minister and not the parliament” (vdp, 26 Nov also cautioned that “there were people 2014). When asked about the source around trying to get the Opposition of the money he had distributed, to return to government to reopen Carcasses claimed that “the money the agreement.” He noted as well that belonged to me. I sold my properties” although the sixteen mps were offi- (vdp, 27 Nov 2014). The sixteen mps cially back in Parliament, the police left Parliament and remained absent were resuming their investigation for the remainder of the session. against them relating to the complaint The Supreme Court, however, of alleged bribery (vdp, 5 Dec 2014). decided that the suspension of the mps With the closure of Parliament, “had breached the petitioners’ consti- the political tension in the air sub- tutional rights under various Articles sided. However, the serious allega- of the Constitution specified in their tions of bribery against the sixteen petition”; therefore, “the suspension mps remained to be resolved, with the was invalid, void, and of no effect” Public Prosecutor’s office preparing a (vdp, 3 Dec 2014). In response, the case that was expected to be presented Speaker called for a judicial review, in court around mid-March 2015. The expressing his concern that the court impact of a conviction would be sub- decision had intruded in the affairs stantial, with the possibility of either of Parliament—that is, that it inter- a “fine not exceeding vt5,000,000” fered with the “separation of pow- or “imprisonment for a period not ers between the legislature and the exceeding 10 years” (Supreme Court, judiciary under the constitution of the Leadership Code Act [cap 240], part country . . . and that Parliament had 6—Punishment of Leaders, section a duty to act to protect its integrity by 41[a] and [b]). This was the first time deciding to discipline those members that accusations of bribery against concerned” (vdp, 4 Dec 2014). elected government officials had Following the court decision, the reached this stage of investigation sixteen mps removed the motion of no and possible prosecution, though the confidence due to a lack of numbers suspicion of money changing hands to pass it. However, Prime Minister during votes of no confidence and 556 the contemporary pacific • 27:2 (2015) coalition formation is constant and Supreme Court of the Republic of widespread. Whatever the result, the ­Vanuatu. 2014. Constitutional Case publicity surrounding the potential 10 of 2014. Available from the Pacific court case raised the consciousness Islands Legal Information Institute: among the public, at least in Port Vila, http://www.paclii.org/ as to the seriousness of the allegations. Van Trease, Howard. 1995. Melanesian There seemed to be little awareness, Politics: Stael Blong Vanuatu. Christ- however, of the significance that a church: Macmillan Brown Centre for negative court judgment could have: Pacific Studies; Suva: Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific. the potential for sixteen mps (30% of Parliament) to lose their seats. Politics ______. 2011. Melanesia in Review: in the first few months of 2015 are Issues and Events, 2010: Vanuatu. sure to be of great interest. The Contemporary Pacific 23:511–530. howard van trease ______. 2014. Melanesia in Review: Issues and Events, 2013: Vanuatu. The Contemporary Pacific 26:524–552. References Vanuatu Consolidated Legislation. 2006. The Leadership Code Act (cap 240). Constitution of the Republic of Vanuatu. ­Available from Pacific Islands Legal Infor- Available from the Pacific Islands Legal mation Institute: http://www.paclii.org. Information Institute: http://www.paclii .org/ vdp, Vanuatu Daily Post. Newspaper. Port Vila. Republic of Vanuatu, Official Gazette. 2014. Declaration of Results for the Port Vila Municipal Election of 7th January 2014, Orders 2 and 3 of 2014.