Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manesseh Sogavare faces a no-confidence vote when Parliment resumes next Tuesday.  He claims that he has the numbers to survive the motion and is unconcerned.  This is the second no-confidence motion Sogavare’s Government will have faced in its fifteen months in power.  However, the Solomon Star reports that a “well-placed Government source” has informed them that some of Sogavare’s own ministers have signed with the opposition.  The source claims that these ministers feel that the Government is losing the trust of the people, and therefore, although they have told Sogavare that they support him, in reality, they plan to vote against him next week.

Lobbying has been intense, and will remain so through the vote.  The Government faces pressure from a variety of civil society organizations, mainly over the appointments of Julian Moti and Jahir Khan.  Sogavare has dismissed the concerns of the Civil Society Group, which sent a letter to the Government requesting the termination of Moti and Khan, and requested that the rearmament programme be changed.  He said, “Government ministers and backbenchers would not give into any demand made by a so-called Civil Society Group made up of a bunch of individuals who serve foreign interests for their own benefit.”  He continued on to state the the Civil Society Group did not represent the views of Solomon Islanders in any way, and cited poor attendance to the Group’s public lectures as proof.  Sogavare has also said that it is ridiculous to pursue constitutional issues through the media, and that those who wish to challenge Government appointments should do so through the court system.

However, citizens in Guadalcanal have stated that these three issues are foremost in their minds during the province’s 25th anniversary celebrations on Wednesday.  Premier Joash Salani made these issues the focus of his address, and said that Guadalcanal is vocal about them because they are at the concern of ordinary citizens in its province.  Sogavare, who was present as guest of honour during the ceremonies, responded that the Moti and Khan appointments were done under Solomons law and that the rearmament is being undertaken with RAMSI to provide security for the Government.

Please see also:
“Solomons leader says he is not worried by latest no confidence motion”  Radio New Zealand International (01 August 2007)
“PM denounces Civil Society letter”  Solomon Star (02 August 2007)
“Moti, Khan appointment expressed”  Solomon Star (02 August 2007)
“Some Sogavare backers may oppose him in no-confidence vote”  Pacific Magazine (03 August 2007)