Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTMORESBY162
2006-04-13 01:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Port Moresby
how-toVZCZCXRO1709 PP RUEHPB DE RUEHPB #0162 1030130 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P R 130130Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4408 INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0768 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0171 RHMFISS/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 1774
C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT MORESBY 000162
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL BP
SUBJECT: SOLOMON ISLANDS/GUATEMALA/CHINA
REF: PORT MORESBY 154
CLASSIFIED BY: Robert Fitts, Ambassador, AMB, STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT MORESBY 000162
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL BP
SUBJECT: SOLOMON ISLANDS/GUATEMALA/CHINA
REF: PORT MORESBY 154
CLASSIFIED BY: Robert Fitts, Ambassador, AMB, STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (d)
1.(SBU) Many-sided negotiations over the next Solomon Islands
government are ongoing. It now looks like a reconfigured version
of the former coalition, but with a weaker prime minister, may
come out on top.
2.(C) Laurie Chan, the former Foreign Minister told Ambassador
that he was now set to repeat that role in the next government
(assuming the coalition wins) and pledged they would support
Guatemala for the UNSC seat. Chan was confident of the outcome,
but indicated that Snyder Rini, might become PM. Rini, known
for sometimes feckless behavior, had been DPM and Minister of
education.
3.(C) One worrying note: Chan indicated that PRC business
interests (apparently logging companies) were providing funding
to groups that would unite around Charles Dausebea as PM. Their
obvious intent would be to overturn the previous coalition's
long-term support for Taiwan (which in turn has long funded its
candidates.) However, Dausebea has made little secret of his
desire to oust RAMSI, the Australian-led assistance mission
which has restored order to Solomon Islands and is now working
to restore governance.
4. COMMENT: (C) Touching wood, we rate Dausebea's chances as
low. However, this is another instance of Chinese activity in
the South Pacific plays to local weakness and tends to undermine
the work of more responsible partners. A vote to determine the
next government in Solomon Islands is tentatively set for April
18.
FITTS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/ANP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL BP
SUBJECT: SOLOMON ISLANDS/GUATEMALA/CHINA
REF: PORT MORESBY 154
CLASSIFIED BY: Robert Fitts, Ambassador, AMB, STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (d)
1.(SBU) Many-sided negotiations over the next Solomon Islands
government are ongoing. It now looks like a reconfigured version
of the former coalition, but with a weaker prime minister, may
come out on top.
2.(C) Laurie Chan, the former Foreign Minister told Ambassador
that he was now set to repeat that role in the next government
(assuming the coalition wins) and pledged they would support
Guatemala for the UNSC seat. Chan was confident of the outcome,
but indicated that Snyder Rini, might become PM. Rini, known
for sometimes feckless behavior, had been DPM and Minister of
education.
3.(C) One worrying note: Chan indicated that PRC business
interests (apparently logging companies) were providing funding
to groups that would unite around Charles Dausebea as PM. Their
obvious intent would be to overturn the previous coalition's
long-term support for Taiwan (which in turn has long funded its
candidates.) However, Dausebea has made little secret of his
desire to oust RAMSI, the Australian-led assistance mission
which has restored order to Solomon Islands and is now working
to restore governance.
4. COMMENT: (C) Touching wood, we rate Dausebea's chances as
low. However, this is another instance of Chinese activity in
the South Pacific plays to local weakness and tends to undermine
the work of more responsible partners. A vote to determine the
next government in Solomon Islands is tentatively set for April
18.
FITTS