‘RAMSI Tuesday’ Wasn’t To Do With Intelligence Failure

By: Mike Wheatley
Wednesday 24 May 2006

Supyire Proverb: ‘The stranger’s eyes are wide open, but he does not see anything’

On Tuesday, 18 April 2006, the democratically elected Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands was stoned by an angry mob on the steps of Parliament, tear gas was tossed around, a large chunk of the national capital, Honiara, was burnt to the ground, livelihoods were lost and lives seriously threatened.

How can such a thing happen on RAMSI’s watch — with the region’s pocket superpower, Australia, in charge? Where’s the stench of burning reputations to match the stench of burning Chinese stores? READ MORE

PRIME MINISTER CRITICAL OF AUSTRALIA'S COMMENTS ON THE COMPOSITION OF HIS CABINET.

18:15 hrs
07 May 2006


Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare has described the critical comments leveled against his appointment of two Parliamentarians in police custody as Cabinet Ministers as a serious act of interference with the domestic affairs of Solomon Islands.

Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare has described the critical comments leveled against his appointment of two Parliamentarians in police custody as Cabinet Ministers as a serious act of interference with the domestic affairs of Solomon Islands.

In a press statement, Mr Sogavare refers to criticisms of his action by Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister, Alexander Downer as a breach of the Vienna Convention which governs diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Mr Sogavare says the Convention also forms part of Solomon Islands law which governs diplomatic privileges and the Immunities Act of 1978.

Mr Downer criticised the appointment of east Honiara MP Charles Dausabea as Minister for Police and National Security and Central Honiara MP Nelson Ne'e as Minister for Culture and Tourism.

Both men are being held in police custody and will appear in court this week on charges relating to acts of violence, looting and destruction in the capital Honiara two weeks ago.

The Australian Foreign Affairs Minister described the appointments as a disgrace, demeaning the integrity of Solomon Islands locally and internationally.

But Mr Sogavare defends his Government's action saying both Mr Dausabea and Mr Ne'e are still innocent until proven guilty in court.