Solomon Islands accuses Australia of bullying

John Howard

CANBERRA - The Solomon Islands accused Australia of bullying on Thursday, escalating a row over the expulsion of Canberra's top diplomat, but played down fears the spat may destabilise peacekeeping in the tiny nation.

Australia has imposed visa restrictions on visiting Solomon Islands politicians after Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Monday demanded Canberra withdraw its High Commissioner to Honiara, Patrick Cole.

In a move Australia described as outrageous, Sogavare accused Cole of courting opposition lawmakers and undermining a government-ordered inquiry into rioting in Honiara in late April.

"We are bullied, yes. The prime minister is very unhappy," Solomon Islands chief spokesman Alfred Maesulia told Reuters.

"The government thinks Australia is not listening to the Solomon Islands. It is trying to control what the Solomon Islands, especially the government, should do."

But Maesulia said the row would not have an impact on the presence of the Australian-led security mission to the Solomons, known as RAMSI.

"I think that this action of the government this week is isolated from other things. It will not make the government say 'OK, withdraw your RAMSI' because this is a different issue," he said.

Since 2003, Australia has led a Pacific-wide aid mission to stamp out corruption and restore law and order in the Solomons after the island country came close to collapse due to ethnic violence and mismanagement.

Nearly 400 troops and an extra 120 police from Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Papua New Guinea were rushed to the Solomons capital Honiara after national elections sparked the April riots.

The tiny Chinese business population was targeted and most of Honiara's Chinatown was destroyed because of rumours that aid money from Taiwan was used to help influence the election result.

Australia's Prime Minister John Howard today said Australia wanted value for its A$840 million ($990 million) four-year aid package for the Solomon Islands, including A$72 million ($85 million) in humanitarian aid this year.

"We remain concerned about the level of corruption and poor governance in that country," Howard told ABC radio, adding that Australians wanted to help the Solomons, but also wanted to see progress in the nation.

"They want in return an improvement in governance, less corruption, and greater economic progress," Howard said.

- REUTERS