|
Media Conference
Solomon Islands
Media Conference: Solomon Islands
Media Centre Conference Room
Speakers: Sir Kemakeza
Tuesday, 5 March 2002
SIR KEMAKEZA: I will allow the media to ask any questions
that they may wish to ask. If I have the answers, I will give the
answers. If I have to find some answers, I will find some answers
later. Now it is open for you to ask any questions that you would
like to ask.
QUESTION: We understand that greenhouse emission issues
and global warming issues were raised today at some length on behalf
of the low-lying atoll island states. Who spoke, and what were the
points that were raised? Was there criticism of Australia's agreement
with the United States in relation to greenhouse issues?
SIR KEMAKEZA: Thank you. It is a very good question. In
fact, this has not come into the agenda originally. During the course
of the deliberations of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting,
the issue was brought up by the small states. It has been included
in the Coolum Communique. That is an amendment given to the small
states in respect of it. I will quote what has been put in. It is
'Heads of government express concern about the consequences of global
warming and climate change, especially for the vulnerable small
island states and other low-lying islands in the small states.'
That has been taken care of in the Coolum Communique. Thank you.
QUESTION: What did the small states say? What points did
they make about that? They were the other parts of the question.
SIR KEMAKEZA: I cannot relay what Australia's position is.
I can only say that that has been brought up during the deliberations
of the small states. It has been taken on board, as I said earlier.
QUESTION: What did the small states say?
SIR KEMAKEZA: Because the heads of the Commonwealth government
who have been represented have seen the importance of this very
sensitive issue, for some - especially industrial countries, those
of us who come from the small states thought it should be included
in the communique.
QUESTION: I understand that you had a bilateral talk with
the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. Have you had an opportunity
to talk about the issue of Bougainvillea and criminal activities
in the Solomon Islands territory?
SIR KEMAKEZA: Yes. I had a bilateral discussion with the
Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Sir Morauta. We have also discussed
within our agenda the border issue between Papua New Guinea and
the Solomon Islands. That has been discussed at length. We agreed
that the officers will take it on from here to look at the pros
and cons of this border issue after the discussion with me or my
discussion with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.
QUESTION: Is it possible that the Bougainvilleans will be
sent back to Bougainville? Do you see that as a possible option?
SIR KEMAKEZA: The border between Papua New Guinea and the
Solomon Islands is a traditional border, if I go back to history.
Therefore, any discussions of any steps that both governments will
take must take into consideration the traditions between the people
of Bougainville and the people of the Solomon Islands with regard
to the criminal activities that are currently going on in this border.
QUESTION: I have another question about the conflict. Your
foreign minister told Radio Australia that was he was not concerned
about the number of semiautomatic weapons stolen from the police
and which are currently in the hands of young Solomon Islanders
because they were just young people and at some point they would
get over it. Do you agree with his position on the handing in of
weapons?
SIR KEMAKEZA: This issue is a more delicate issue. Let me
assure the media that, before I left my country, I had these issues
clear in my mind to discuss within the Commonwealth service bilaterally
with my counterparts in the Commonwealth as well as the forum secretariat.
That is restoring peace, balancing our budget, reviving the productive
sector, managing our debts and re-engaging with the donor community.
As far as the weapons are concerned in the Solomon Islands, they
are probably in prohibition of the Townsville peace agreement that
the disarmament program has to be carried out. It has been an ongoing
program, though very little activities have been realised. But that
does not stop my government from pursuing this program, taking into
account a lot of costs pre-empting the review of the Townsville
agreement.
QUESTION: I return to the issue of climate change and the
communique. The communique says that there is an expression of concern.
Does that go far enough? Have you been in touch with other Pacific
Island states? Would they have liked a stronger expression or something
more concrete about climate change in the communique?
SIR KEMAKEZA: This issue, as I said earlier on, has been
delegated to what they call a group of small states action group
so that they can take this issue further in the future discussions,
especially in other forums or next year's Commonwealth meeting.
QUESTION: In an interview with the Prime Minister of Vanuatu,
Mr Natapei, he suggested that the Solomon Islands use its duty system
to try to get the militants to get the young people to surrender
their weapons. He said that one of the observers from Vanuatu who
came to observe the elections saw the need for the Solomon Islands
to involve your chiefs in trying to get the militants to return
their weapons and also for reconciliation. Do you think that suggestion
is valid?
SIR KEMAKEZA: The issue of the election has been part of
the Coolum Communique. I am very happy for the endorsement of the
heads of the Commonwealth. That is the greatest achievement of my
delegation, that this issue has become part of the communique. Clause
15 of the communique says, in relation to your question, 'The heads
of the government welcome the recent national parliament election
in the Solomon Islands and acknowledges the role of regional governments
for in assisting with the conduct of this election.' They express
the plight of the government of the Solomon, noting that much remains
to be done to consolidate peace and stability. Heads of the government
recommended the role of the international peace monitors, led by
Australia and New Zealand, in overseeing the peace process and agreed
that the recognition of the difficulties in the country of the Solomon
Islands should continue to be among the agendas for purposes of
promoting good governance, peace and stability and economic developments
for countries. In this context, I am happy that this is the process
of reconstructing my country in both economics as well as the peace
process.
QUESTION: A suggestion was made by the Prime Minister of
Vanuatu that the Solomon Islands could use our system that we have
in Fiji. We have a Council of Chiefs in Fiji. They could resolve
the problems you have at home in terms of the military returning
their weapons or getting the young people to be part of the whole
reconciliation process.
SIR KEMAKEZA: I thank the Prime Minister of Vanuatu for
this suggestion. There is a program within my government to use
traditional leaders - and not only traditional leaders but also
the churches. It is also the members of the churches and tribes
who are involved to assist the government to bring back the arms
that are with them and their communities. Yes, this is a very worthwhile
suggestion by the Prime Minister of Vanuatu. We are looking very
seriously at that approach.
QUESTION: When you were referring before to Bougainvilleans
involved in criminal activities, what criminal activities were you
referring to? Did they include the deaths of two people recently
in western province? My second question relates to compensation
payments. Will there be future compensation payments related to
ethnic strife? What efforts are being taken to avoid the abuses
and corruption that took place in the past in relation to those
payments?
SIR KEMAKEZA: The peace process has gone through a lot of
stages. That is from the cease-fire to the arguments that the government
of the past administration as well as this administration is concerned
with. That is the Townsville Peace Agreement as well as the Marou
Peace Agreement. That binds all parties together. The isolated cases
that are happening - we treat them as criminal activities. Young
people are using the situation for that purpose. They are demanding
money as well as attacking lives. That is what has happened to the
Western province where two lives were taken.
In terms of compensation from the international communities or
foreign governments, this is not an issue. But in the Melanesian
context, that is the way they settle their differences. It may not
go down well in other parts of the world, but it has a great significance
to those in Melanesia. Therefore, the Western governments have focused
on the issue because of the sensitivity of the killing. There is
consideration by the provincial government of the Western province,
which is part of the Solomon Islands. They considered it along those
lines.
QUESTION: I have one further question about the payments.
The last question referred to the donation given by the Republic
of Taiwan. It appears to have been spent rather quickly and with
no accountability. Do you agree with that criticism of the way in
which the compensation payments were made? Will that occur again
if further international aid goes into the Solomons?
MR KEMAZEZA: I cannot speak for the past administration.
My administration takes into account that issue. It is putting in
mechanisms to ensure accountability and transparency.
QUESTION: How useful do you think the Commonwealth meetings
like CHOGM are for the Solomon Islands and its people in light of
some critiques saying that the organisation has outlived its purpose?
MR KEMAZEZA: This has been a learning experience for me.
This is the first time I have attended such a big forum. As you
know, I was elected to become Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands
just two months ago. Meeting leaders from 45 countries in the Commonwealth
and explaining to them our problems and aspirations is a good thing
for the Solomon Islands. It is only then that we can express our
needs. It is only when you are aware of someone's problems that
you become sympathetic. It is about how I should attend this very
important forum to inform the Commonwealth and to inform members
of the situation my country is going through at the moment.
QUESTION: Are the leaders aware of what you experience in
the Solomon Islands?
MR KEMAZEZA: I think I have given that answer earlier on.
Including Solomon Islands into the communique is a big step forward
for my country.
QUESTION: Would you agree that there have been some gross
abuses and corruptions that have taken place in the past in relation
to the distribution of compensation funds, including that large
amount of money that came from Taiwan and went to prominent people
in the Solomon Islands public life? Would you agree that those gross
abuses and corruptions have damaged the Solomon Islands' international
standing with the donor community to such an extent that it will
be hard to repair?
MR KEMAZEZA: That is an over-exaggeration of the media,
this idea of the abuse and misuse of funds. It singles out the issue
that makes overseas people have preferences. It is an area which
needs further checking - whether or not these actions were dishonest,
or whatever definition you may call it.
QUESTION: Will there be a formal inquiry into those abuses
to find out where the money went and whether it was properly received,
who received what, what evidence was produced in terms of the substantial
damages requiring compensation, who received the money, what paperwork
was carried out et cetera? Will you commit your government to a
formal inquiry to get to the bottom of that?
MR KEMAZEZA: Of course, yes, a commission of inquiry will
be looking to the police. The commissioner is there; the Director
of Public Prosecutions is there. We are using all these available
avenues to ensure that nobody is getting away without checking.
QUESTION: Could you clarify what you have said: you will
set up the commission of inquiry, or there is an inquiry going on
at the moment into those payments?
MR KEMAZEZA: It is in the province of the parties. It is
also in our program of action for this new government to ensure
transparency. There was a call in the parliament for this. Therefore,
my government is going to do whatever it can in these inquiries
QUESTION: That is about future action. Will you carry out
a thorough investigation of past payments that have been made, including
under the terms of the previous government? Will you investigate
the previous payments that were made from Taiwan thoroughly?
MR KEMAZEZA: It will be the whole thing - the whole thing
that have been carried out before, present and in the future.
QUESTION: Who would you like to see run that inquiry? Who
would you like to see heading up that inquiry?
MR KEMAZEZA: It has to be led by a legal person, who has
the legal background to carry out these investigations. There would
perhaps be people from other countries to do it so that it can be
fair and so that there is no suspicion over this very sensitive
and delicate issue.
QUESTION: I want to ask another question about the guns.
When you became Prime Minister you set a deadline of 100 days for
the handing in of all the weapons. It is proving to be extremely
difficult to get those weapons handed in. To put it bluntly, when
do you expect to have the weapons handed in by?
MR KEMAZEZA: That is a very good question. It is challenging.
We put in mechanisms to carry out the disarmament program. The incidents
that happened during the process of this disarmament has pulled
back the program. For example, there were two killings that happened
which slowed down the program. We anticipated it in the first place.
However, this does not stop the government from going ahead. I personally
went to the coast to meet the Harcor about the continuation of the
process of disarmament. If there are no further questions, thank
you very much indeed for attending this media conference. I thank
you all for your questions and interest. If there are any other
questions, do not hesitate to contact us in the Solomon Islands
to get more information for anything that may be of interest to
you.
ENDS
|
