Solomons Tells UN RAMSI Must Go

By Sarah C. LaBelle
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) is an Australian-led peace-keeping force in the Solomon Islands.  It was initially invited by then-Prime Minister Allen Kemakeza in 2003 in response to violent ethnic conflict.  Relations between Australia and the Solomons have been more tense than usual since the July appointment of Julian Moti as Attorney General for the Solomon Islands.

HONIARA, Solomon Islands - Since last week's debacle concerning RAMSI's cancelled presentation and the refusal of the Solomons to meet with the review committee [the Impunity Watch report can be found here], tension between Australia and the Solomons has escalated.

Most of this recent tension surrounds RAMSI rather than the Moti affair.  The Solomons government was sharply criticized for its failure to attend the talks last week, and various public opinion polls are alleged to show strong public approval for RAMSI and the Pacific Islands Forum, which is supposed to mediate disputes between RAMSI and the Solomons.  Solomons Prime Minister Mannasseh Sogavare has said that his government will conduct its own review of RAMSI through examination of the Facilitation of International Assistance Act (FIAA), which provides the legal basis for RAMSI's presence and jurisdiction in the Solomons.  Sogavare places the blame for the missed meetings on RAMSI head Tim George.

On Tuesday, Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Patteson Oti told the General Assembly of the United Nations that the UN needs to be more involved in regional peacekeeping missions to prevent lead nations from conducting the missions for their own political or economic interest.  Oti said, "However dressed and rationalized, intervention and occupation allow 'assisting' nations to spend and earn substantial revenue for their supporting businesses and industries.  Mine is too nationalistic a Government to become captive to fortunes which justify our perpetual retention under siege."

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer replied on Thursday, telling ABC News Radio, "It doesn't really surprise me because you've got a coalition of politicians led by Mr. Sogavare [...] who want to destroy RAMSI.  What stands between RAMSI and its destruction, to tell you the truth, is the very strong public support there is in the Solomon Islands for the continuation of RAMSI, so we're kind of used to this."

Downer said that his main concern is for the well-being of the people of the Solomon Islands.  He said, "[...] if RAMSI were to fail, then I think the consequences for the ordinary people of the Solomons would be dire and that's why they don't want it to fail and I don't want it to fail."

For more information, please see:

Pacific Magazine (RAMSI) - RAMSI Voices Concern Over Basis of Proposed Review of FIA Act - 21 September 2007

Solomon Star - Gov't criticised over failure to attend talks - 24 September 2007

Pacific Islands Report (Solomon Star) - Sogavare, George Lock Horns Over RAMSI Review - 24 September 2007

Solomon Star - PM rejects RAMSI's opinion poll - 27 September 2007

Radio New Zealand International - Solomons' Government to investigate workers who helped RAMSI survey - 02 October 2007

Radio New Zealand International - Solomons castigates Australia at UN - 02 October 2007

Pacific Islands Report (Solomon Islands Department of the Prime Minister) - Solomons Minister Tells UN That RAMSI Must Go - 02 October 2007

Pacific Islands Report (Solomon Times) - Downer Deplores Solomons Attack on RAMSI - 04 October 2007

Pacific Magazine (ABC) - Downer Says Solomons Leaders Running Anti RAMSI Campaign - 04 October 2007

Radio New Zealand International - Australia says Solomons public sustains RAMSI - 04 October 2007