| Politics/ Solomon Islands: A YEAR IN POWER, SOGAVARE GETS HIS WAY |
Controversial victories since coming into power
Evan Wasuka
One year in office and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has managed to achieve three significant, if not controversial, victories.
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PM Manasseh Sogavare (right)... gets what he wants.
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First, his controversial commission of inquiry into the Honiara riots has started. Second, a police commissioner of his choosing is in office, and, thirdly, fugitive Australian lawyer Julian Moti is a step away from becoming the country’s new attorney-general—despite strong protests.
Six months ago—all three outcomes were far from guaranteed due to public outcry and strong opposition from the Opposition and Solomon Islands’ largest aid donor, Australia.
But one year in office and Sogavare has consolidated his hold on power, proving once more that he gets what he wants.
Riot inquiry
Despite its noble intentions, the Commission of Inquiry into the Honiara riots was criticised following accusations it would interfere with the judicial process, especially the court cases of two Honiara parliamentarians—Charles Dausabea and Nelson Ne’e—political allies of Sogavare, who had been charged with inciting the riots.
Opposition to the inquiry even came from within the government ranks with then Attorney-General Primo Afeau taking the government to court over the inquiry’s terms of reference.
He ended up losing the case and his job, although months later, the government removed the two contentious references to the cases of the two lawmakers.
But worse for the government was the stink created by former Australian federal judge, Marcus Einfeld, the man picked to lead the inquiry, after he allegedly lied to a Sydney court over a traffic infringement.
Sogavare decided to dump his Australian counsel in favour of two of Papua New Guineans.
The inquiry was resurrected but under the guidance of former Papua New Guinea judge, Brian Brunton, and former secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum, Noel Levi. Also in the inquiry team are former Solomon Islands politician, Waeta Ben Tabusasi and Charles Levo.
The commission, tasked with finding the truth in the April riots, will gather information through public hearings and interviews, is expected to deliver a report of its findings to the prime minister.
Police chief
A July 2006 ISLANDS BUSINESS front page story pointed to then police commissioner Shane Castles as the man Sogavare wanted to get rid off.
It didn’t take long for the government’s agenda to bear fruit—with the Australian police chief banned by the immigration department from re-entering the country after an overseas trip.
The expulsion of Castles didn’t come as a surprise considering the clashes between him and the prime minister’s office over the Julian Moti affair.
Sogavare’s replacement is Fiji policeman, Jahir Khan, who will begin work sometime this month. Though Khan has been sworn-in, his appointment has met with some resistance from the Public Service Commission (PSC).
The commission chairman attempted to sideline the swearing-in by dramatically announcing minutes before the ceremony that Khan’s appointment did not have the endorsement of the PSC.
But the governor-general still went ahead and swore in Khan saying that all requirements in relation to his appointment had been complied with.
Despite this, the incident has created another public mess for the Sogavare camp—with the Opposition jumping on the bandwagon questioning the validity of the appointment.
It’s about to get even messier with the PSC chairman being singled out for reprisal. He and his commissioners have been referred to a review tribunal where their performances would come under the microscope.
Notably though it is the current members of the Public Service Commission who present the final hurdle to Sogavare’s last prize—the appointment of Moti as attorney-general.
Moti for attorney-general
Fiji-born lawyer Moti is Sogavare’s number one pick for attorney-general. The Australian citizen has practised law in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands and has marched the corridors of power in Honiara for the past 15 years.
But it’s only in the last seven months that his name has become synonymous with disrepute, the outcome of Australian smear campaign, says Sogavare.
Moti, who was cleared by the Vanuatu courts for raping a minor in 1997, was arrested in Papua New Guinea for extradition to Australia last October to face child sex charges as he made his way to Honiara to take up office.
He skipped bail in Port Moresby and sought refuge at the Solomon Islands High Commission before fleeing on a secret mission aboard a Papua New Guinea Defence Force plane to the Solomons.
Right man for the job?
Seven months on and Sogavare is more convinced now than ever before that Moti is the right man for the job.
Sogavare says he will appoint Moti soon but the only thing that is stopping him from doing so is the Public Service Commission (PSC) which has banned Moti from taking up office.
The Honiara Magistrate Court has dropped a case against Moti for entering the country without a passport.
His lawyers proved he was entering the country to take up a public service appointment.
Although the PSC said it has no intention of lifting the ban, Sogavare has clearly made his stance and from experience, what Sogavare wants, he gets.
“We don’t want somebody with a criminal record attached to him and giving him legal advise,” said Opposition leader, Fred Fono, one of the few still fighting the battle.
“How can he give legal advise? He needs to clear his name first before he takes up office,” said Fono.
A return to Australia would no doubt see Moti incarcerated with an extradition order still in place.
The prime minister’s secretary, Dr John Roughan says Australia has failed miserably to prove its case against Moti.
“Australia says it has new information on the case cleared by the Vanuatu courts 10 years ago.
“So far, we have waited for eight months and have yet to see any new information,” said Roughan.
But Fono says the prime minister should convene parliament immediately to discuss the Moti appointment.
“This is a matter of national importance and I don’t think it’s (the decision) been made in the best interest of the nation.”
With the public service commission under fire over Khan’s appointment, it may only be a matter time before the last hurdle is cleared.
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