SOLOMONS: Church leaders angered over Moti appointment
Updated
In Solomon Islands a former MP has warned the appointment of Australian fugitive lawyer Julian Moti as the country's new prime minister could lead to outbreaks of fresh violence in the Pacific nation. Charles Brown Beu was a minister in the Mamaloni government in the 1990's. He says Prime Minister Manasseh Sogovare risks fomenting civil unrest if he continues to ignore public opinion about Mr Moti. There are signs that churches, too, are angered by Mr Moti's appointment.
Presenter: Alexandra Kirk
Speakers: Pacific analyst Dr Sinclair Dinnen, from the Australian National University; Solomon Islander Anglican priest and former MP, Reverend Charles Brown Beu
KIRK: The church plays a pivotal role in Melanesian life. In Solomon Islands about 90 per cent of the population is Christian. And Charles Brown Beu is a good example of that. He's an Anglican priest and says it's because of that the local people wanted him to become their parliamentarian, and later installed him as paramount chief, looking after three villages.
In the 1990's he was a member of the Solomon Islands parliament and a cabinet minister in Solomon Mamaloni's government.
Australia wants Julian Moti extradited to face child sex charges.
The Reverend Charles Brown Beu does not support Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare installing the Australian fugitive lawyer as Attorney-General.
BEU: Basically I have no personal grudges against Moti as a person, but speaking perhaps and hearing the views of many people in Solomon Islands there are people who are qualified who can learn that job, who can be appointed to becoming attorney general for Solomon Islands. The government are not listening to the people and I believe the people are important, they should be listened to.
KIRK: He thinks the only reason the Prime Minister would insist on the appointment is because of his personal friendship with Mr Moti.
BEU: If the Prime Minister is taking Julian Moti because he cannot trust any other Solomon Islander, not because of qualification, but because of controversy, then maybe well I have nothing to say on that, but I think maybe that's one of the reasons.
KIRK: So what role does he think the church can play on this controversial appointment?
BEU: Basically to pray that things come out well.
KIRK: But fellow Anglican priest Dr Keith Joseph thinks the church can perform a more interventionist role. He says the church tries to present a set of moral values and represent that to government.
Does that extend to the issue of Julian Moti's appointment?
JOSEPH: I believe it's a matter of interest yes.
KIRK: The reverend Dr Joseph lives and works in the Solomons. He also served in the Australian-led multi-national Regional Assistance Mission RAMSI that's helping restore the country to stability and peace. He says churches don't use their central role in the lives of Solomon Islanders to lead public opinion, but they do give people a voice and that will be expressed over the Moti appointment.
JOSEPH: I believe they'll view it negatively. The churches are taking an increasing role and interest in this type of issue and once again through the Solomon Islands Christian association SICA, have been involved in dialogue with the government on a number of issues where the dialogue's become a bit heated. I suspect that Julian Moti's appointment will be one of them.
KIRK: The Solomons' Government pays a tithe to the churches -- 10 per cent of its revenue goes to them. Some churches depend on that for their very survival, making it difficult to openly criticise the government. But the Anglican church's size and economic independence leaves it free to speak its mind.
Last year violent protests broke out in the capital Honiara, sparked by the election of the new prime minister Snyder Rini, when supporters of a rival candidate took to the streets complaining the election was rigged.
Charles Brown Beu, the former parliamentarian, is worried if the Government doesn't listen to its people there could be another bout of violence.
BEU: My experience is that this government has not listened in the past and I don't know how they can listen now unless something maybe, I hope they do not resort to another violence.
KIRK: Do you think that might happen?
BEU: It could happen, it could happen, and like last time RAMSI was not able to contain the election of the now prime minister.
KIRK: Do you think people are that angry?
BEU: People are really angry.
KIRK: Melanesian specialist, Dr Sinclair Dinnen, too, thinks the most likely source of any change of mind will come from within Solomon Islands. And now that Australia and New Zealand have made their opposition clear, Dr Dinnen says other Pacific countries that contribute to the Regional Assistance Mission may do the same via their umbrella body the Pacific Islands Forum.
DINNEN: One would anticipate that any statement coming from the Forum as the premier regional governance body would possibly hold more weight than from Australia and New Zealand operated bilaterally, particularly in light of the tensions in those relationships.
KIRK: Do you think there's any sign of that happening?
DINNEN: Not at the moment, but it's still fairly early days and we're also of course awaiting the report of the review from the Forum, that should be out fairly soon and there may well be some discussion there that might be relevant to the current situation.
