TIME TO SPEAK ON SOLOMON ISLANDS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT MORESBY 000400

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EAP DAS DAVIES

E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/22/2016
TAGS: PREL PINR BP
SUBJECT: TIME TO SPEAK ON SOLOMON ISLANDS

REF: CANBERRA 1411

CLASSIFIED BY: Robert Fitts, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy Port
Moresby, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



1.(C) SUMMARY: The sometimes erratic and often combative Solomon
Islands Prime Minister has signaled he intends to continue to
confront Australia and to try to roll back the influence of
RAMSI. By appointing as Attorney General Julian Moti, a dubious
lawyer and embittered opponent of Australian policies in the
Pacific, Sogavare has shown that his recent expulsion of the
Australian High Commissioner was not a one off event. Though
RAMSI retains public support for its restoration of public
order, the Solomon political elite is restive under RAMSI's
continued anti corruption drive. Thus, we cannot predict the
outcome of the no-confidence motion planned for early October.
We propose that U.S. encourage responsibility by issuing a
statement of support for continuation of the progress made under
RAMSI without specifically addressing the many worrisome
initiatives of the current PM. END SUMMARY

AN ODIOUS A/G
2.(C) On Sept 21, Sogavare's government confirmed its critic's
fears by appointing Julian Moti as Attorney General. In a
region strewn with dubious characters, Moti is particularly
odious. He has long been associated with corrupt politicians
and businessmen in several Pacific countries. In 1994, he was
deported from Solomon Islands for his role in pressing the then
Governor General to bring down a government which was trying to
assert control over Malaysian/Chinese logging companies which
had retained Moti. Next, in Vanuatu he was charged in 1998 with
repeatedly molesting a 13 year old girl. He beat that rap by
appealing a technicality; the charge sheet had specified the
girl was "under" 13 when her age was actually 13. Hardly a
Clarence Darrow moment. The girl then sued and he settled out
of court. Moti was reportedly then made unwelcome in Vanuatu.

3.(U) In view of his past actions and associations, the Solomon
Islands Bar Association strongly recommended against Moti's
long-rumored appointment.

4.(SBU) A resentful Australian of Fijian-Indian heritage, Moti
has blamed the Bar recommendation and his past troubles on
racist white influence over island stooges. In public, he has
declared his readiness to give his all to combat what he terms
as Australia's racist and colonialist policies in the Pacific.

5.(C) His first task is already apparent. He has been the
attorney defending Charles Dausebea and Nelson Ne'e, two MPs
powerful in Sogavare's coalition who are now in jail, charged
with fomenting the April political violence which led to his
ascension into office. Sogavare has since been assiduously
working to free them and Moti as Attorney General is just the
guy to do it.

AN ERRATIC PM
6.(C) Sogavare had appointed Dausebea and Ne'e as ministers in
his government despite their records of corruption and political
thuggery (for which Dausebea is barred from entry to the U.S. or
Australia). But trying at all costs to spring them is not his
only contrary, and occasionally loopy, initiative.

7.(C) Though he will profess to questioners his appreciation for
RAMSI's assistance, Sogavare couples that with a caveat that
RAMSI expat advisors should be eased out of the key line civil
service positions where they now serve as a check on the whims
of his ministers. It is probably no accident that he gives
priority to localizing the positions in the Finance ministry
which must sign off on government expenditures. The last time
he was PM, his government earned a reputation for casual
corruption that was notable even by Solomons standards.

8.(SBU) Under the influence of a shadowy Filipino-Chinese
advisor, Ramon Quitales, Sogavare has been pressing a scheme to
abolish the Central Bank and import a printing press to rapidly
expand the money supply. Though Quitales bills himself a
businessman, no one in the Honiara business community could tell
us what business he was in. The most common opinion was that he
was a bit of a con artist.

9.(C) Sogavare is a bit of a con himself, ready to tell
listeners what they want to hear. He privately assured early
senior visitors from other Melanesian nations that his efforts
on behalf of Dausebea were for show only. His subsequent
actions have given the lie to that assertion. He outlined to us
his grand scheme to solve ethnic divisions by ensuring that all
aggrieved parties were compensated. But then he went on to note

PORT MORES 00000400 002 OF 002


that he would fund this by printing money. Presumably, he
thinks simple islanders would be content with rapidly
depreciating paper. He has told interlocutors that he was
looking to patch things up with Australia, but his choice of
Moti makes that a mockery.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER
10.(C) Sogavare's motley cabinet coalition of five parties
contains other odd ducks. Foreign Minister Patteson Oti can talk
the responsible talk, but in practice waddles along the same as
the PM. We understand that he advised Sogavare to expel the
Australian High Commissioner, assuring him the disturbance would
soon blow over. Though he assured A/S Hill of his support for
RAMSI, Oti has also been chafing to loosen RAMSI's influence
within the government.

AN UNPREDICTABLE PARLIAMENT
11.(SBU) The Solomon Island Parliament now sitting is comprised
of 50 individuals each with their own interests and many with
their own angles. Few are constrained by loyalty to the
fragmented parties into which they are organized. Though, the
last Parliament unanimously voted to invite RAMSI in, many
politicians have since been taken aback by the slow but steady
focus of RAMSI on anti-corruption. Three members of the past
cabinet ended up in jail or facing charges.

12.(C) RAMSI, at least the law and order part, still enjoys such
widespread support that most politicians would not try to take
RAMSI head on. (Dausebea is an exception.) But many would be
delighted to find a way to erode its influence and regain the
freedom of the cookie jar which is the reason they got into
Solomon politics in the first place. Accordingly, we cannot
confidently predict that Sogavare will lose the no-confidence
motion now set for the session of Parliament beginning October 2.

A TIME TO SPEAK
13.(SBU) The EU and the UK have already joined the Australians
and the New Zealanders in expressing sharp and specific concern
over recent developments. Typically, Australia has been the
most direct. Foreign Minister Downer is quoted in the Sydney
Morning Herald as observing that the Solomon Island people have
"been treated very badly and very shoddily and shabbily by their
politicians over many years."

14.(C) That is certainly true. But, Australia and RAMSI must
continue to have sanction of at least a majority of those
politicians to make any progress. Accordingly, we recommend a
more general US statement, appealing to the better side of the
lesser devils. For, in current Solomon politics, there are no
angels.

PROPOSED US STATEMENT
15.(C) The United States congratulates Solomon Islands on the
progress it made over the past three years with the assistance
of its neighbors under RAMSI. However, as illustrated by the
still recovering economy and the lapse back into social violence
last April, there is still enormous work left to do. Though
public order is restored, government institutions must still be
rebuilt so that they can earn the trust of all Solomon Islands
citizens. In particular, the separation of powers among
government branches is vital to ensure that the interests of all
citizens are fairly addressed.

16.(C) The United States therefore urges that the leaders of
Solomon Islands continue to work closely with the neighbors who
have extended their nation such large-scale assistance and
support, both through RAMSI and through bilateral programs.

RECOMMENDED ACTION
17(C) Any US statement should be issued prior to October 2 so as
to register with parliamentarians as they weigh the worrisome
performance of the current government. Though the U.S. now has
few programs in the country, we retain a great deal of respect.
Out statement would count.
FITTS