Yearbook 2006
Solomon Islands. After the violence of recent years, the
parliamentary elections in April were conducted under calm
conditions. According to
CountryAAH, the choice was correct
and fair. The government under Allan Kemakeza suffered
defeat, and the majority of the members elected were
independent. Deputy Prime Minister Synder Rini managed to
gather enough support from these to be elected new head of
government. But the Rini election triggered riots in the
capital Honiara. The violence was directed at the Chinese
minority, mainly businessmen, who were accused of being
Rini's favorites and of influencing the election results.
Australia-led peacekeeping force RAMSI flew in
reinforcements and got the situation under control, but
major material damage had been caused to the already
troubled community. When Parliament voted on distrust of
Rini, he chose to resign.
Solomon Islands ended up in diplomatic conflict with
Australia during the latter part of the year when it refused
to extradite Chancellor Julian Moti, who in Australia was
suspected of sexual abuse of children. Prime Minister
Sogavare, a good friend of Moti, instead expelled an
Australian diplomat. The conflict escalated when Sogavare
accused Australia of being in power in the region and
Australian police participated in a raid against Sogavare's
office for seizing evidence in the Motifallet. The raid was
perceived as an abuse of the country's sovereignty and
Sogavare demanded that Australia be deprived of its
leadership role in the peacekeeping force. At a meeting with
the Pacific Islands Forum in October, it was decided to
review the operations of the peace force.
|
