PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT

Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center
With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai‘i

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, March 21) – Solomon Islands Prime Minister Allan Kemakeza was part of a scheme of corrupt aid payments being made to Solomon Islands politicians by the Republic of China Embassy, the President of the Solomon Islands Labor Party Joses Tuhanuku alleged late yesterday.

In a startling and detailed report, Tuhanuku outlined how the scheme, based on the funding of "Special Projects," is effectively run out of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Tuhanuku said he had uncovered the details of the scheme from information gathered from outgoing members of parliament and intending candidates in this year’s general election.

"Most of them are happy to boast about how easy it is to get money from Taiwan through the prime minister," he said.

He said when put side-by-side the arrangements and circumstances surrounding the funding of these special projects were strikingly similar in detail.

"Together they reveal a pattern of events that establishes a clear connection between the payment of monies by Taiwan and various political maneuverings by the Prime Minister," Tuhanuku said. "What it amounts to is that Taiwan is running a shadow aid program that is being used to corrupt our political processes and the prime minister is fully colluding with them."

Tuhanuku alleged that it was these so-called Special Project funds that the Republic of China and Kemakeza had used over the past few years to lure members of the Parliamentary Opposition to either join the Government or to become highly compromised members of the Opposition.

"Now in the past few months leading up to the election these Special Projects are being used as the chief source of campaign funding for the Prime Minister’s favorites who are expected, once elected, to back him and his Republic of China cronies," he said.

Tuhanuku said that in most cases no one actually applies for these funds until the prime minister indicates that they should and then he tells them that for sure funding for their ‘special project’ will be approved.

"The request is processed and bingo! Taiwan’s dirty money comes flooding forward for the politician or candidate of the prime minister’s choice," he said yesterday.

Tuhanuku said while he agreed that the administration of Republic of China assistance to both the Rural Constituency Development Funds and micro-project schemes were done in a transparent manner the same could not be said of these so-called ‘Special Projects’.

"This so-called Special Project funds are the main form of corruption used by Republic of China to manipulate and influence the political processes in Solomon Islands, with the sole aim of keeping Kemakeza in office."

He said the Labor Party’s concern over Taiwan’s shadow aid had nothing to do with the one or two-China policy.

"As the Solomon Islands Labor Party has already made clear its position during its recent convention, this is not a priority issue, as far as the current situation in Solomon Islands is concerned. The priority foreign policy issue for Solomon Islands right now is RAMSI.

The issue in question here is one of national significance. And that is the use of so-called ‘aid’ funds by Republic of China to manipulate and compromise the political processes in Solomon Islands. This is what Labor totally deplores and condemns as do many, many Solomon Islanders."

Solomon Star was unable to contact Sir Allan to comment as he is currently in Savo.

However, Taiwanese Ambassador to Solomon Islands Antonio Chen said Tuhanuku’s comments are ridiculous.

Mr Chen said there had been no special projects what so ever.

"We have projects such as the RCDF, the micro-scheme project, projects for education, health, rural development, law and order and security. These projects are for the benefit of all Solomon Islanders and not for candidates. Our policy is on government to government bases and never to candidates and we don’t have any special projects for candidates. Our funding is transparent and accountable which was outlined in the Budget approved by the Parliament so I’m really sorry and disappointed about what Mr Tuhanuku has come up with now."

He said the most surprising thing was how Mr Tuhanuku waited until the last two weeks of the April 5 election to make these accusations.

"I have never heard Mr Tuhanuku made any accusations on donors in the last four years during parliament sessions or while in office and I am quite surprised that he has to wait until now to make these ridiculous accusations."

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