Print

Mail

wiki links

Sogavare loses confidence vote

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, right, is pictured speaking to his supporters in Honiara on April 26 last year. PHOTO: AFP

Solomon Islands lawmakers ousted Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in a vote of no-confidence yesterday, as large numbers of police and soldiers patrolled the South Pacific nation's capital in case the ballot triggered unrest.

Sogavare came to power in April last year in the wake of rioting that devastated the Solomons' capital. He has since spurred a series of controversies with his abrasive style and verbal attacks on regional power Australia.

His support gradually eroded amid allegations of abuse of power, growing resentment at his verbal attacks on a multinational security force that had widespread support, and continuing stagnation of the impoverished economy.

Lawmakers voted 25 to 22 in the 48-member parliament to support a no-confidence motion put forward by the opposition led by lawmaker Fred Fono, who has accused Sogavare of arrogance and sending the Solomons' international reputation plummeting during his 20-month rule.

Sogavare, who abstained from voting without explaining why, said he accepted the outcome with "humility." He told reporters he would remain in parliament until his four-year term ends in 2010.

The opposition had called on Sogavare to step down to "protect the integrity of parliament." Sogavare refused, saying he had been elected by parliament and it must remove him.

likely successor

Fono said lawmakers would vote on a new prime minister in the next few days after a new government has been formed. Fono is a leading candidate to win the post.

Sogavare had been fighting to rebuild his parliamentary majority since nine Cabinet ministers and three backbenchers deserted his government early last month.

Those lawmakers accused him of acting like a dictator and plunging the nation's international image to its lowest point since independence from Britain in 1978.

Sogavare took power just days after his predecessor, Snyder Rini, was forced from office by a two-day riot by thousands of protesters who torched Honiara's Chinatown section and injured 30 police.

As lawmakers debated the no-confidence motion Thursday, Solomons police along with soldiers and police from the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands stood guard outside Parliament House. Heavy security was also in place across Honiara.

There were no reports of unrest at press time.

TAIWAN

Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Spokeswoman Phoebe Yeh (葉非比) yesterday said the nation maintained close contact with both the ruling and opposition parties in the Solomon Islands.

Regardless of which party is in office, diplomatic ties between the two governments should not be influenced, Yeh said.

All bilateral projects between Taiwan and the Solomon Islands will continue, she said.

Additional reporting by staff writer
This story has been viewed 1084 times.