Anarchic Solomons trouble Fiji summit

By AUDREY YOUNG

The near-ruinous state of the Solomon Islands is testing Pacific leaders meeting at their annual forum near Suva, Fiji.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard says that aid, not just to the Solomons, should be conditional on good governance. New Zealand's Helen Clark says that before aid can even be considered, law and order must be restored to stop donor nations pulling the plug altogether.

Mr Howard sent a plane to pick up the Solomons Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza, because a strike by unpaid airport workers closed normal air links.

His attendance means there is a rare full house at the forum.

Critics say the Solomons Government is corrupt and the police force as criminal as the militia it is meant to be curbing. Despite an arms reduction programme, the number of weapons has actually increased.

"Increasingly there is going to be a linkage between aid and good governance ... and sensible leaders in this region recognise that," Mr Howard said.

"Australia is a huge donor to this region and we'll continue to be a very strong support."

But unless governance was focused upon, "then the future is not good. Increasingly, donor countries, whether they're Australia or Europe or the United States, are going to want recipient countries to address governance issues as a condition of receiving aid".

Helen Clark said New Zealand's general concern was for a Pacific of stable, functioning states.

"Where you develop failed states, you enable small arms to proliferate, and that can have a destabilising effect elsewhere in the region."

She said the Solomons' problems had turned from ethnic conflict to "outright banditry".

Asked if she foresaw a time when it was too unsafe for aid donors to stay, she said: "That's what we are trying to prevent."

Sir Allan was not available for comment yesterday.

New Zealand's policy paper on the Solomons says he was knighted when Deputy Prime Minister for his role in the peace process after two years of ethnic conflict.

However, he was sacked from the previous Government for allegedly paying himself compensation for property damage suffered during the ethic conflict.

"Kemakeza denies any impropriety," the briefing paper adds.

New Zealand withdrew about 25 international peace monitors in June. In October it will send 10 police officers to try to train the police force. The British have supplied a new police commissioner.

Forum chairman Laisenia Qarase, who as Prime Minister of Fiji has been subject to criticism over good governance, endorsed Mr Howard's stand and said good governance underlay any aid, whether from the European Union or Australia.

"We are trying our best to continue to follow the principle of good governance."

Former Foreign Minister and Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon will run a good governance workshop in Fiji after the forum ends today.

Helen Clark and Mr Howard had formal talks last night to plan a diplomatic push for complete suspension of Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth because of its expulsion of white farmers from their farms.

Previously it was expelled only from "councils of the Commonwealth".

Helen Clark is also likely to meet ousted Fiji Prime Minister and Labour leader Mahendra Chaudhry in Suva today. He says Mr Qarase is dragging his heels on testing the constitutional question of a multi-party Cabinet in the Supreme Court.

But the thaw in relations with Fiji since democratic elections last year means Helen Clark is not likely to comment on what is now considered a domestic issue.