Howard Government threatens Vanuatu again

Australia's small independent island neighbour of Vanuatu is 
again under severe pressure, threats and interference by the 
Howard Government.

Vanuatu was sufficiently independent-minded earlier this year to 
expel two Australian Federal police officers who were alleged to 
be spying on Vanuatu's political leaders. It is hard to imagine 
why any foreign police officers are needed in the generally 
peaceful society of Vanuatu.

The Australian Government wishes to reconstruct the economic, 
legal and political structures of all South Pacific Island states 
in line with those adopted in Australia and in the interests of 
the Australian ruling class. This makes it easier for Australian 
corporations, with the active assistance of the Australian 
Government, to penetrate and control their economies and their 
political life.

Similar polices are being pursued and imposed by the Howard 
Government in its relations with all the states of the region 
from East Timor, through Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands to 
Fiji and Tonga.

Howard's arrogant hatchet-man Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, 
has decided to penalise Vanuatu by threatening to cut a $10 
million aid package that had been earmarked for agricultural 
development.

In taking "tough action", the Australian Government sent a 
delegation to Vanuatu last week led by a senior Foreign Affairs 
Department official conveying a list of alleged transgressions by 
the Vanuatu Government.

In addition to demanding that the Vanuatu Government continue to 
accept the presence of Australian Federal Police, the delegation 
is said to be calling on the Vanuatu Government to stop 
interfering with the Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit and 
implement existing legislation controlling financial 
transactions. These demands are an obvious interference by the 
Australian Government in what are clearly the internal affairs of 
the Vanuatu Government. 

Trotting out the usual justifications, the apologists for the 
actions of the Australian Government mention the possibility of 
money laundering and drug smuggling unless Vanuatu does what it 
is told by the Australian Government.

In a new display of defiance the Prime Minister of Vanuatu Serge 
Vohar is said to have refused to meet the Australian delegation 
leader.

This latest pressuring of Vanuatu will confirm in the minds of 
the governments and people of the South Pacific states that 
Australia is acting as a South Pacific "big brother" and 
policeman interested in forcing all regional governments to 
comply with its policies or face retribution.

While such tactics may succeed for a time they will, in the long 
run, lead to Australia joining the small club of the "most hated 
nations" in the world. Furthermore, in browbeating the South 
Pacific states the Australian Government is taking on much more 
than the country's resources will be able to handle.

Australia's relations with all countries should be based on the 
principles of peace, friendship, equality, non-interference and 
mutual benefit.