The Guardian 31 January, 2007
Solomon Islands:
Big brother knows best — or does he?
Last week the Fijian government of Commodore Bainimarama threatened to impose trade and travel restrictions of its own if Australia and New Zealand do not start to recognise his interim government. This is in response to the hasty imposition of sanctions directed against Fijian politicians for the coup of last December when the reactionary government of Qarase was deposed.
The New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters described the Fijian threat as "stupid" and New Zealand’s Prime Minister Helen Clarke says that her government would never recognise the Fijian government until it returned to "democracy". For his part, Australia’s Foreign Minister Alexander Downer claimed that any Fijian sanctions would hurt Fiji more than they would hurt Australia. The arrogant attitude of both the New Zealand and Australian governments is once again on display.
Fiji is a lucrative market for Australian manufacturers and investment so the sanctions imposed on Fiji may turn out to be a double-edged sword if Fiji does take retaliatory action.
The longer terms consequences of the bullying of Fiji may result in the Australian and New Zealand governments being shown to be "stupid" when the Fijian government sends a high level delegation to the People’s Republic of China and some other Asian countries. If this results in trade and travel deals there could be long term losses for Australia and New Zealand both economically and politically. John Howard’s attempt to set himself up as the policeman of the South Pacific island states will unravel even more.
Solomon Islands
In addition to Fiji, the government of the Solomon Islands is also complaining of Australian bullying. Both Fiji and the Solomon Islands have freed themselves of an Australian-appointed police commissioner. The Solomon Islands has decided to re-establish its own armed police force while the Australian government which is running the Solomon Island through the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) claims that the Solomon Islands is "not ready" for a re-armed police force.
As a consequence the Solomon Islands government turned to Taiwan (the Solomon Islands does not yet have diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China) to train its police force. The Australian government has forestalled the Solomon Islands move by persuading Taiwanese authorities to drop any weapons training element in their police training program.
Prime Minister Sogavare claims that RAMSI has failed to provide proper training over the last three years for the Solomon Islands police force and that if that reflects the kind of law enforcement that RAMSI wants for his country it has no place in the Solomon Islands.
Australia’s "big brother knows best" attitude and the arrogant over-riding of a legitimate decision of the Solomon Islands government shows the true face of the Australian and New Zealand governments to their smaller neighbours. It is not about partnership on the basis of equality, respect, mutual benefit and non-interference, but total control of the governments of the island states for the benefit of Australian and New Zealand economic and political interests.