Political battle for Solomon Islands starts again

By BILLY NESSEN

HONIARA - Solomon Islanders sighed in relief at holding peaceful parliamentary elections after last year's coup and ethnic fighting, but they might have to hold their breath again.

The People's Alliance Party led by Alan Kemaza secured 20 seats in the 50-seat parliament. More than 50 per cent of those elected were first-time MPs.

The voting - scrutinised by international monitors who found it only slightly flawed - might seem a light prelude to the backroom political acts which are looming.

Head of the Commonwealth Observer group Bowen Wells said some results were "unreliable because the people elected are leaders of some of the militant groups".

Activists in the Solomon Islands Alliance Coalition said they had captured many of the first-time representatives but face threats.

"They warned us to stop what we were doing," said one coalition activist, who has been harassed repeatedly by armed Malaitan militants since the coup 18 months ago in the capital, Honiara, on Guadacanal Island.

The militants, whose homeland is neighbouring Malaita, are members of the disbanded Malaitan Eagle Force (MEF), which, with the Malaitan-dominated paramilitary police, forced Prime Minister Bartholemew Ulufa'alu to resign.

Ulufa'alu was removed because he would not promise compensation to 40,000 Malaitan settlers who lost their homes after indigenous militants forced them from Guadacanal. He was re-elected with his party taking 12 seats.

Kemaza has close ties to the MEF. He was sacked from the coup-installed Government.

Even if violence is avoided during the tense weeks ahead, Solomon Islanders are likely to be forced to watch a familiar drama - politicians fighting to get into power.



Voters have told politicians to restart the economy, but it is a hard sell. Up for grabs are the many unaffiliated and uninitiated elected members.

Their numbers demonstrate the economic consequences of the ethnic and political crisis.

As companies withdrew, tax dollars shrunk, Government salaries could not be paid and the Government stopped, as did price cushioning for copra, the motor of the rural economy.

Voters cared little about politicians filling their pockets, but when coconuts did not pay and villagers could not buy rice or sugar, they cared a lot.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's People's Progressive Party won only three seats.

A secret ballot will be held on who will be the Prime Minister, who will in turn select a government. The vote is expected by December 17.

The first order of business for any government will be law and order.

Foreign investors and the staff of donor countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, say they will not be comfortable until the police department is reformed, the guns of militants are turned in and extortion and intimidation on the streets ends.

- HERALD CORRESPONDENT, REUTERS