PM Sogavare's reply to Alexander Downer
RESPONSE TO MINISTER DOWNER’S CONDEMNATION OF APPOINTMENT OF TWO ‘JAILED’ MPS AS MINISTERS IN THE NEW SOLOMON ISLANDS GOVERNMENT.
The diplomatic relations between Solomon Islands and Australia is governed by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations which forms part of Solomon Islands law by virtue of the Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act 1978.
The critical comments of Minister Downer not only fall totally outside the terms of that protocol but amounts to serious act of interference with the domestic affairs of Solomon Islands.
In terms of regional assistance provided to Solomon Islands jointly by Australia and other regional countries the terms of that agreement is based on the provisions of the Facilitation of International Assistance Act 2003. Nowhere in this Act of Parliament is there a provision which allows Australia and Members of the RAMSI to interfere in matters concerning appointment or removal of ministers within the Government of Solomon Islands.
The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands is code named “Operation Helpem Fren”. One of the corner stones of this partnership is respect for each other’s sovereignty. It is not a partnership to enhance Australian paternalism in Solomon Islands. It is a partnership purposely built on the basis of providing assistance to selected institutions of Solomon Islands social, security and economic sectors. Beyond those, Solomon Islands retains total sovereignty to decide on how it should conduct its own domestic and foreign policies.
As things stand at the moment, Australia seemed to have used the provisions of the current partnership as a license to infiltrate almost all sectors of the public sector. By their high level engagement in senior posts within the Government we have a situation where foreign nationals have direct and unrestrictedaccess to the nerve center of Solomon Islands public administration, security and leadership. This is an unhealthy situation.
The new government will be reviewing the terms of the current RAMSI regime in order to ensure that the partnership fully benefits Solomon Islands in the long term.
On appointment of ministers, Hon. Dausabea and Hon. Ne’e are not in jail because of conviction. They are not remand pending trial. Until and unless they are convicted they remain innocent citizens.
The appointment of the two MPS as minister is to give Honiara a fair and equitable representation in Cabinet. With a population of more than 50,000, the national capital is entitled to have two ministers in the government.
News By: Johnson Honimae at 7 May 2006 - http://www.pmc.gov.sb
The diplomatic relations between Solomon Islands and Australia is governed by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations which forms part of Solomon Islands law by virtue of the Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act 1978.
The critical comments of Minister Downer not only fall totally outside the terms of that protocol but amounts to serious act of interference with the domestic affairs of Solomon Islands.
In terms of regional assistance provided to Solomon Islands jointly by Australia and other regional countries the terms of that agreement is based on the provisions of the Facilitation of International Assistance Act 2003. Nowhere in this Act of Parliament is there a provision which allows Australia and Members of the RAMSI to interfere in matters concerning appointment or removal of ministers within the Government of Solomon Islands.
The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands is code named “Operation Helpem Fren”. One of the corner stones of this partnership is respect for each other’s sovereignty. It is not a partnership to enhance Australian paternalism in Solomon Islands. It is a partnership purposely built on the basis of providing assistance to selected institutions of Solomon Islands social, security and economic sectors. Beyond those, Solomon Islands retains total sovereignty to decide on how it should conduct its own domestic and foreign policies.
As things stand at the moment, Australia seemed to have used the provisions of the current partnership as a license to infiltrate almost all sectors of the public sector. By their high level engagement in senior posts within the Government we have a situation where foreign nationals have direct and unrestrictedaccess to the nerve center of Solomon Islands public administration, security and leadership. This is an unhealthy situation.
The new government will be reviewing the terms of the current RAMSI regime in order to ensure that the partnership fully benefits Solomon Islands in the long term.
On appointment of ministers, Hon. Dausabea and Hon. Ne’e are not in jail because of conviction. They are not remand pending trial. Until and unless they are convicted they remain innocent citizens.
The appointment of the two MPS as minister is to give Honiara a fair and equitable representation in Cabinet. With a population of more than 50,000, the national capital is entitled to have two ministers in the government.
News By: Johnson Honimae at 7 May 2006 - http://www.pmc.gov.sb
posted by TARD @ 9:34 AM
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2 Comments:
At 10:10 AM,
Anonymous said…
Wrong Manasseh! We are a sovereign state messed up by the very leaders whom the country's population had mandated to lead.
At 11:08 PM,
Anonymous said…
i'm sorry to see that our leaders are blind even to the simple fact that appointing a questionable leader such as those who are currently remanded in custody will tarnish our international image...what else do we have to throw down the drain??? our economy is already in the drains , our reputation is now going down the drains(if its not already in the drains)and now our leaders are leading from the drains...too bad!!!sorre lo iumi nao!!!
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