Sogavare Government Ousted

Sogavare Government Ousted

By Sarah C. LaBelle
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

For background information on the political crisis in the Solomon Islands, please see the Impunity Watch articles here, here, and here.

For more information on the Moti affair, a key element of the opposition’s argument against Sogavare’s government, please see the Impunity Watchreports on Moti’s appointment as attorney general for the Solomons, PNG government involvement in Moti’s escape, the Vanuatu case status, Australia’s extradition attempt and the missing PNG inquiry report, PNG court refusal to suppress the inquiry report, and Moti’s fear of assassination attempts.  The inquiry report itself was released to Dade on 28 September, and he found the inquiry to be illegal at the end of October.  The issue is on appeal in the PNG court system, barring public debate at this time.

HONIARA, Solomon Islands – Manasseh Sogavare was removed from office this afternoon, making him the first prime minister since Solomon Islands independence in 1978 to be removed on a no confidence motion.  Debates between the sides grew more and more heated in the preceeding weeks, culminating in lawsuits.  The final vote was 25 for the motion and 22 against, with one member abstaining.

The government made an eleventh-hour appeal to Governor General Sir Nathaniel Waena on Sunday to change the parliament meeting date to December 24th, but that request was rejected.  The government maintained its argument  in court proceedings that Waena did not have the power to convene parliament, but the outcome of the court proceedings is now unlikely to matter.

The no confidence motion was the first order of business when parliament convened today at 10am, with police and RAMSI (the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands) increasing security in key areas in downtown Honiara.  RAMSI deployment to the Honiara Hotel, where some members of the opposition are based, led to accusations of taking sides.  Deputy commissioner Peter Marshall assured the Solomon Star that, “We want to be fair and balanced and utterly reject any suggestion that RAMSI or PPF is involved in partisan security operations.”  Parliament was declared out-of-bounds to the public today, except for members of the media and local and foreign dignitaries.

Much of the opposition’s arguments against the government centered around Julian Moti, the controversial attorney general of the Solomon Islands, who is wanted in his native Australia on child sex tourism charges.  Although the opposition has said that they will turn Moti over to Australian authorities after ousting Sogavare’s government, there are now concerns that Moti will flee to Fiji.  Fiji’s immigration director, Vilieme Naupoto, has confirmed that Fiji will accept Moti should he choose to travel there, since he is not on their watch list.

The opposition’s media spokesman, George Atkin, described the scene after the successful no confidence vote as friendly and cordial, with “members hug[ging] each other despite their political affiliations” and said that Sogavare “bowed out with humility in his speech.”  Sogavare said that he does not take the vote personally and that he holds no grudges against his former ministers who defected to the opposition, and shook hands with them after the vote.

Atkin also confirmed that the opposition has not yet selected a prime minister, and leader Fred Fono has indicated publicly that he is not interested in the position.  The opposition will caucus tomorrow, and the four likely candidates are considered to be Fono and former Sogavare ministers Gordon Lilo, Dr. Derrick Sikua, and Toswell Kaua.

Observers believe that there will be a major shift in Solomon Islands international relations and its relations with RAMSI once the new government takes power.

For more information, please see:

Solomon Star – Waena rejects gov’t December 24 date – 12 December 2007

Solomon Star – Security beef up for parliament meeting – 12 December 2007

Solomon Times – Solomon Islands Prepares for Political Showdown – 12 December 2007

Solomon Times – Solomon Islands PM Defeated in No-Confidence Motion – 13 December 2007

Islands Business – Debate continues on no confidence motion against Sogavare – 13 December 2007

Islands Business – Sogavare ousted, opposition celebrate win – 13 December 2007

The Australian – Moti plan to flee if Sogavare ousted – 13 December 2007

The Australian – Sogavare out, Moti may face trial here – 13 December 2007

Radio New Zealand International – Solomons leader dumped in vote of no confidence – 13 December 2007

Sydney Morning Herald – Solomon Islands Prime Minister ousted – 14 December 2007

New Zealand Herald – Solomons PM voted out of power – 14 December 2007

BRIEF: Rights Group Says Egypt Terror Case Based on Torture and False Confession

CAIRO, Egypt – Human Rights Watch on Tuesday accused the Egyptian government of using torture and false confessions in a high-profile terrorism case in 2006.

In 74-page report “Anatomy of a State Security Case: The ‘Victorious Sect’ Arrests,” the rights group examines how 22 young Egyptians were tortured into making false confessions about their plan to carry out attacks on tourists and other civilian targets in Cairo. According to the report, there are indications that even the name of the group “Victorious Sect” was created by security agents who arrested them back in February and March 2006.

Although government prosecutors eventually dismissed all charges against the 22 detainees, 10 of them still remain in custody. The rights groups said those who were released are afraid to speak publicly for fear of exposing themselves or their co-defendants to further harassment by state intelligence agency. One of the 22 detainees who did speak out told Human Rights Watch that they were “beaten up with fists and sticks, and kicked around” and the authorities used electricity on different parts of the body, “including sensitive areas.”

For more information, please see:

New York Times – Rights group says Egypt used torture in terror case – 12 December 2007

Human Rights Watch – Torture and Coerced Confessions Used in High-Profile Terrorism Investigation – 11 December 2007

Unted Press International – Rights group Faults Egypt over arrests – 11 December 2007

Former Sudanese Rebels to Rejoin Government

By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

KHARTOUM, Sudan – After a two-month absence, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) have said they will rejoin the national unity government in Sudan.  In October, the SPLM withdrew amid accusations that President Bashir’s National Congress Party was failing to implement the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement which ended the 21-year civil war. 

The SPLM has agreed to end the boycott following a meeting between their leader, First Vice President Salva Kiir and Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir.  The parties agreed to funding for a census and a timetable to pull troops out of the north-south border.  The government will also move to the southern capital of Juba every three months.

Although there is still no agreement regarding the oil-rich Abyei region, SPLM’s Secretary General Pagan Amum said most issues had been resolved. Abyei “is a complicated question whose resolution requires a lot of efforts and we hope that it will be resolved by December 31 [or] that there will be an agreement on how to resolve it” said a member of Bashir’s National Congress Party. 

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement ended Africa’s longest running civil war that resulted in 2 million deaths and 4 million displaced.  It was largely between Khartoum’s Islamist government and Christian and animist rebels.  The agreement provides for a six-year transition period, which allows the south to retain autonomy and participate in the national government.  A national referendum is scheduled for 2011 on whether to create a separate southern state.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Sudanese peace deal back on track – 12 December 2007

AFP – Former Sudanese rebels to rejoin unity cabinet – 12 December 2007

Reuters Africa – Sudan moves parliament south to heal rift – 12 December 2007

VOA News – Southern Ministers Set to Rejoin Sudan Government – 12 December 2007

BRIEF: Bomb Kills a High-Ranking General in Lebanon

BEIRUT, Lebanon – On the morning of December 12, a car bomb exploded and killed General Francois al-Hajj.  He had left his home in Baabda, a suburb of Beirut, minute earlier and was on his way to the Ministry of Defense when a parked car, filled with explosives, was triggered.  The Explosion left a crater two meters across and a meter deep and set fire to several cars nearby.  Hajj, his bodyguard, and his driver were killed in an explosion, which left a crater two meters across.

Hajj is the eighth assassination in Lebanon since former Prime Minister Hariri was killed in 2005.  However, this is the first attack on a high ranking member of the military.  The military is seen as neutral and as the only institution capable of maintaining peace and stability in Lebanon.  The attack has caused outrage amongst both pro-government and the Pro-Syrian opposition and both sides have condemned the attack.  So far no group has claimed responsibility for the attack; however, one suspect has been detained.

Hajj was the chief of operations during this summer’s fifteen week battle against the Islamist militants in Nahr al-Bared refugee camp.  If General Suleiman is elected president, it was thought that Hajj would succeed Suleiman as the army’s chief of staff.

For more information, please see:
Al Jazeera – Lebanon Blast Kills Army General – 12 December 2007

The Associated Press – Car Bomb Kills General in Lebanon – 12 December 2007

BBC – Blast Kills Lebanon Army General – 12 December 2007

The Daily Star – General Among Four Killed in Lebanon Car Bomb – 12 December 2007

The Guardian – Lebanon Bomb Kills Senior General – 12 December 2007

Middle East Times – Bomb Strikes at Core of Lebanon Army – 12 December 2007

The New York Times – General Killed in Bomb Attack in Lebanon – 12 December 2007

BRIEF : Rebels in DRC Seize Critical Town of Mushake

MUSHAKE, DRC –  Reports confirm that the rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo have recaptured the strategic eastern town of Mushake, which they lost to the national army last week. A UN spokesman confirmed that “Nkunda’s troops have taken up positions around Mushake and Mushake itself. The regular army is no longer present there.”

Presently, United Nation forces in the town of Sake, are threatening force against the rebels if the rebels continue to fight. Government officials also fear that the rebels have captured the town of Karuba.

The Defense Minister of the National Army, says that the army is currently planning a counter attack to seize Mushake. Mushake is a strategic military point because it provides an outlook to a critical road in Eastern DRC. The Minister stated, “The insurgents launched a surprise attack. We pulled back and they retook Mushake and Karuba, but this won’t last.”

Observers believe that the recapture of Mushake is both a major set back for the army and for UN peacekeepers, who do not want to resort to methods of violence to end this conflict.

During this part of the conflict, DRC army has suffered heavy casualties. UN General Gaye stated that in an effort to protect civilians, “We can propose solutions to ensure the security of these people but they must also take responsibility and not put themselves in a situation where they endanger their lives.”

For more information, please see:

BBC – DR Congo rebels retake key town – 11 December 2007

All Africa – Congo-Kinshasa: Army Suffers Setback in Offensive Against Rebels  – 11 December 2007

RTE – UN Threatens to Take On DRC Rebels  – 11 December 2007