Page 10 - IB April 2018

Political Brief

Solomons, Fiji in

twiplomacy row

By Netani Rika

HONIARA, Solomon Islands -- Solomon Islands’ was embroiled Fiji’s Defence Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola (left) and Solomon Islands Deputy
in a diplomatic row with Fiji last month with the former Fijian Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. Photo: www.wikipedia.com
Foreign Affairs Minister dragging war veterans into the fray.
Ratu Inoke Kubuabola – now Defence Minister - took to
Twitter to tell leaders in Honiara that Fijian troops died for the Manasseh Sogavare accused Fiji of bullying MSG countries into
freedom of Solomon Islands in World War II. granting Indonesia full membership of the group.
His tweet was in reaction to suggestions by Matthew Wale, Sogavare said Fiji’s Rear-Admiral Frank Bainimarama bent
Member of Parliament for Aoke-Langalanga, that Fiji had the rules in order to grant entry to Indonesia. He said Bainima-
treated Melanesian Spearhead Group countries poorly. rama conveniently relied on the same rules to block membership
Wale said Fiji’s heart was not in Melanesian brotherhood by pro-independence group, the United Liberation Movement
and it was only interested in financial benefits. for West Papua.
In response, Kubuabola tweeted: “Don’t question Fiji’s heart Fiji and Papua New Guinea are Indonesia’s strongest Pacific
Sol leaders, Fijians died for your freedom.” allies. They have urged the international community to regard
Kubuabola – a nationalist who was at the heart of the 1987 human rights abuses in the annexed West Papua region as an
coup led by Sitiveni Rabuka but has survived three different internal matter.
governments – is from the same province as Corporal Sefanaia A second dispute is looming over the appointment of MSG
Sukanaivalu who posthumously won the highest British award Director-General, Fijian diplomat Amenatave Yauvoli, to replace
for valour in WWII Solomons. Peter Forau of the Solomons.
This is the latest development in the row between Suva and But Forau has hit back at Sogavare, saying the former Prime
Honiara. Minister should have heeded the technical advice of secretariat
It erupted when Solomon Islands Deputy Prime Minister officials to deal with issues more effectively. – IB Online

Morauta lashes out at PM O’Neill by Russia. The plea comes in the wake of last month’s incident
PORT MORESBY, PNG - Sir Mekere Morauta, former Prime in Salisbury, England where a former Russian spy who acted as
Minister of Papua New Guinea launched a scathing attack against a double agent for the British Government Sergei Skirpal and his
the government of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill over its handling daughter Yulia were poisoned by the military grade nerve agent
of the powerful earthquake that hit the highlands of the country known as Novichok. The British Government’s representative to
in February. Papua New Guinea ,he said, had been living danger- Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Federated States of Micronesia,
ously, thanks to the actions of Prime Minister O’Neill. “Now those High Commissioner Melanie Hopkins said no country including
dangers are engulfing the nation,” he said. “The Prime Minister’s the Pacific was safe. “We are encouraging partners to consider
tardy response to the earthquake is an example. The corruption, how this further indication of malign activity directed against our
waste and mismanagement he has presided over in recent years societies and values is reflected in planned bilateral engagement
has crippled Papua New Guinea’s finances and all but destroyed with Russia.” At a press briefing in Suva, the British High Com-
the economy. Severe cash flow problems are getting worse by missioner added Russia’s escalatory actions pose a dire threat to
the day – last fortnight the government had to scrabble around all countries who are part of the UN system, including allies here
looking for sufficient funds to pay public servants.” According in the Pacific. – IB Online
to Sir Mekere, the foreign exchange crisis has not abated despite
O’Neill’s sweet-talk promises.- Pacnews Emergency supplies for Ambae
PORT VILA, Vanuatu – The country’s national disaster manage-
UK calls for Pacific support over Russia ment office says it will get emergency supplies to those affected
LONDON, UK - The British Government has called on the Pacific by Ambae’s erupting volcano as soon as possible. The eruptions
to uphold the principles of the UN Charter on the prohibition of have intensified over the past week with officials raising the alert
chemical weapons which they claimed was recently undermined level. Local NDMO reports said the renewed volcanic activity was

10 Islands Business, April 2018