Nauru’s Controversial Election Pronounced ‘Credible’; CNMI Investigates Increase in Human Trafficking; Concern For Solomon Islands’ Donor Dependency

By Hayley J. Campbell
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

YAREN, Nauru — Concerns over Nauru’s April elections were mollified yesterday when the Pacific Islands Forum Monitoring Mission reported that the elections were ultimately credible.

Released today, the report emphasized that the results “accurately reflected the will of the people of Nauru.” The Mission stated, “Both polling and counting were conducted without problems and the Mission commended the Returning Officer and her election staff for this achievement, especially given the extremely short preparation time for the election.”

Absent any signs of foul play, the Mission did admit that the timing of the elections was far from ideal because the elections took place with little notice during a parliamentary deadlock and a State of Emergency.

While declaring the elections “credible,” the Mission also made three recommendations: first, the government should allow at least three weeks prior notice before holding elections to maximize candidate preparedness and voter participation, second, recommendations made by the 2007 Forum Election Observer Team should be implemented as soon as practicable with the help of the Forum Secretariat if needed, and third, Constitutional reforms, set up prior to the elections, should be implemented without delay as to promote political stability, leaders’ accountability, and transparency among Nauru’s political institutions.

The election afforded President Marcus Stephen two additional MPs who support the ruling government.

For more information, please see:
Pacific Magazine –- Nauru Elections ‘Credible’ Says Forum –- 22 May 2008

Radio New Zealand International — Nauru Government ticked off by monitors over election under state of emergency — 22 May 2008


SAIPAN, Northern Marianas Islands
— Shared Hope International has chosen the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) as one of ten U.S. locations to be part of a study funded by the U.S. Department of Justice.

CNMI was selected in part because local authorities are committed to combating the increase in human trafficking. One report stated that incidents of underage human trafficking went up almost fifty percent in 2007. The average age of children entering prostitution is 12.

In addition, CNMI is one of only 10 other U.S. communities to have formed a Human Trafficking Task force. The Justice Department praised CNMI for its willingness to devote energy and resources to the study. CNMI Attorney General, Matthew Gregory, stated, “The CNMI was chosen as a site to review by Shared Hope International not because of an inordinate number of cases in our jurisdiction, but because of the progressive approach the CNMI has taken to identify trafficking, combat its occurrence, and investigate and prosecute wrongdoers.”

Shared Hope International hopes to identify what additional resources local law enforcement requires to combat the human rights issue.

For more information, please see:
Saipan Tribune — CNMI takes lead against human trafficking –- 23 May 2008

Saipan Tribune — Human trafficking in CNMI up almost 50 percent –- 22 May 2008

HONIARA, Solomon Islands -– Outgoing Central Bank Governor, Rick Hou, announced today that politician’s “unproductive” use of funds in the Solomon Islands ultimately may be causing greater harm than benefit.

Hou explains that since the Solomon Island’s independence in 1978, donations have not only increased but diversified. Politicians have taken advantage of the relative ease with which funds from donors can be obtained.

“Easy money options in this country are creating the disease I call ‘Donor Dependency Syndrome’ where the country, its institutions and citizens become paralyzed to normal hard work and shy away from being agents of real economic activity,” Hou said. Rather than promoting political stability and honest policies, the increasing reliance on outside donors has popularized pyramid and other get rich quick schemes.

While Hou criticizes funds stemming from “unproductive channels,” Human Rights organizations have targeted the Solomon Islands as a place in need of aid. Only two months ago, the Australian government announced it would donate over 1.2 million (AUD) to promote Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific region. The funding was intended to promote good governance, and just practices.

Specifically, AUD45,000 was donated to assist the Solomon Islands in addressing the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC). Recently, reports surfaced from UNICEF, UNESCAP, ECPAT, and the Christian Care Centre which analyzed the practice of exploiting children in the Solomon Island.

For more information, please see:
Solomon Times — Unproductive Use of Aid Results in Donor Dependency: Hou –- 22 May 2008

Solomon Times — Australia Promotes Human Rights in Solomon Islands –- 19 March 2008

Author: Impunity Watch Archive