VZCZCXRO4819
OO RUEHPB
DE RUEHPB #0188/01 1160702
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O P 260702Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4432
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0778
RHMFISS/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0177
RUEHSV/AMEMBASSY SUVA 0144
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 1804

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT MORESBY 000188 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EAP PDAS STEPHENS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  4/26/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR BP
SUBJECT: SOLOMONS GETS DICEY - TIME FOR A U.S. STATEMENT 
 
REF: A) PORT MORESBY 185  B) 4/21 STANTON/EAP E-MAIL 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Robert Fitts, Ambassador, AMB, STATE. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Robert Fitts, Ambassador, AMB, STATE. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
1.(C) SUMMARY: The barely-elected government in Solomon Islands 
has collapsed. Though constitutional norms have been held to, 
the worrisome outcome could be a government incorporating 
figures tempted to undercut RAMSI and thus the restoration of 
good governance. The population retains a great deal of respect 
for the U.S. We strongly recommend that a senior U.S. official 
make a statement encouraging Solomon Islanders to continue 
working with RAMSI to rebuild their institutions and ensure 
their future. END SUMMARY 
 
15 MINUTES OF FAME 
2.(U) On April 26, barely five days after being sworn in, 
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Rini resigned on the floor of 
Parliament. The day before, his government had barely squeaked 
through election of a Deputy Speaker with 25 votes out of 50. 
That was only made possible by the incarceration of two 
opposition supporters and the walk out of the remaining 23. The 
collapse was triggered when four members of his coalition, 
including three ministers, crossed to the opposition. 
 
OUT WITH THE OLD 
3.(SBU) Rini had served as DPM in the previous government and 
headed essentially the same coalition this time around. (The 
previous Prime Minister was the one who squeaked into the Deputy 
Speakers chair.) The coalition had been backed by local ethnic 
Chinese businessmen and dogged by charges of under-the-table 
funding from Taiwan. Their initial success (27-23) in the new 
Parliament had triggered two days of violence, destroying much 
of the local Chinatown and led to quick military reinforcement 
of RAMSI by Australian and New Zealand troops. 
 
NEW CROWD A DICEY BUNCH 
4.(C) The opposition, now 28 or so, is united only by opposition 
to the old crowd.  However, it includes figures intimately 
involved in the ethnic violence that tore the Solomons apart and 
a fair share of corrupt souls. Still, Solomon Islands lacks 
cohesive parties and there are prominent figures, Parliamentary 
Speaker Keniloria for example, not completely identified with 
either side but who may figure in the mix to hash out the new 
government. Some fragments of the just dissolved coalition could 
figure in the new group as well. For example, the lead defector 
(Industry Minister Sogavare) headed a party of six members. 
Rumor now has it that he may have been offered the PM's job to 
effect his switch. 
 
DON'T LET RAMSI BE MISUNDERSTOOD 
5.(SBU) The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands 
restored order in July, 2003, and has since been working to 
rebuild government institutions particularly the police. It is 
Australian-led and largely perceived as an Australian entity 
though there is a large New Zealand contingent with smaller 
contributions from Pacific Island neighbors. 
 
6.(C) RAMSI - and we - were largely caught by surprise with the 
sudden outbreak of violence following a peaceful election which 
was to have been an important milestone on the road to RAMSI's 
success. Clearly, the ethnic tension has remained under the 
surface of RAMSI-enforced law and order. Local institutions are 
in no sense ready to cope with the forces that would tear the 
government apart. 
 
7.(C) RAMSI and the Solomon Island police, which are perceived 
as under RAMSI control, acted throughout the past week to 
enforce the law and restore order. However, many - and not just 
in the now victorious opposition - argue that RAMSI actions 
bolstered the previous order. Resident Americans told us that 
RAMSI police were guarding assets owned by prominent Chinese 
financiers while allowing the crowds to run riot amongst poorer 
Chinese shop houses. Others, Speaker Keniloria, for example 
argue that inappropriate RAMSI action fed the violence. (NOTE: 
we understand, but do not buy either argument.) 
 
8.(C) Therefore, opposition members will find some support for 
charges that RAMSI took sides.  After all, the initial 
government success in naming the deputy speaker only became 
possible after RAMSI detained and refused bail to two opposition 
MPs. (NOTE: Both of whose actions we understand fully justified 
 
PORT MORES 00000188  002 OF 002 
 
 
the step.) 
 
DON'T GO OFF HALF-COCKED 
9.(C) We therefore are concerned that the new government, when 
it emerges will contain many who are cocky with their success 
and have a real agenda of trimming RAMSI's authority.  Thus 
could jeopardize three years of careful work to rebuild Solomon 
Islands into a nation with a viable government. We judge that 
the Commissioner of Police, an Australian not formally 
affiliated with RAMSI, might come under immediate pressure for 
police actions during the violence. 
 
U.S.G. CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE 
10.(SBU) The Solomons population maintains an abiding respect 
for the U.S. dating back to our effort in Guadalcanal in World 
War II.  Except for missionaries and a very popular Peace Corps 
program (suspended since the ethnic violence), we have been 
largely absent since.  However, we are seen as impartial and 
less self-interested than other powers. 
 
11.(SBU) RAMSI marks a major long-term commitment by Australia 
toward regional stability. Even before recent events, Prime 
Minister Howard spoke of a term of at least ten years. 
 
12.(C) Embassy therefore proposes that a senior U.S. official 
make a statement designed to reinforce the population's support 
for RAMSI assistance and to urge them to keep their eye on the 
ball. The issue is to rebuild government institutions for 
long-term stability rather than the politics of the moment. To 
have an impact, the statement would have to be prominent enough 
to get into the local press. The general population has no 
access to the world press. A statement would be most effective 
if it became public before new nominations for Prime Minister, 
scheduled for May 1. 
 
13.(C) SUGGESTED POINTS: 
The U.S. is concerned by the civil disturbances which have 
shattered recent harmony and may bring about economic hardship 
for Solomon Islands citizens. 
 
However, we are happy to note that, despite deep political 
divisions, each step in the past week has been taken according 
to the constitution. We congratulate the Solomon Islands people 
and leaders for that. 
 
We welcome the assistance to Solomon Islands authorities 
provided by her neighbors working through RAMSI. 
 
We reaffirm our support for Solomon Islands to work with RAMSI 
to build sustainable peace so as to foster economic growth and 
good governance. 
 
Nation building is never an easy process. It takes time and 
there will be setbacks.  But we have a strong commitment to help 
countries in transition, such as Solomon Islands. 
FITTS