Propagation: Seeds & scions (3)

Fruits and Votes » Blog Archive » New Solomons PM grafted [...] Jonathan Edelstein: Some interesting reform proposals (via) from a Solomons attorney. [...]

3 ideas sprouting »

1. The Melbourne Age ran an alternative explanation of what’s happening before Rini resigned.

   What we see in the Solomon Islands are not anti-corruption protests but something quite different. The rioters expressed discontent not with corruption as such, but with their increasing marginalisation from economic and political processes, a development to which RAMSI has contributed.

   In the past, personalised networks of patronage and loyalty were precisely the way political leaders managed to maintain a modicum of cohesion in this geographically and ethnically fragmented country. It is the unravelling of this social order that has exacerbated violent conflict, both before and after RAMSI’s arrival in July 2003.

   Conflict emerged when political leaders sought to accumulate wealth rather than distribute it.

   The development model RAMSI and other donors promote relies on the supposed “trickle-down” effect of private sector-led economic growth through export-oriented, market-driven reform. However, the measures pursued to attract investors actually increase poverty, at least in the short to medium term, because they stipulate severe cuts in government spending and public sector redundancies, as well as apply pressure on the customary land ownership system.

   Consequently we have seen wealth disparities increase in the Solomon Islands in tandem with the rise of a small mostly Chinese business class that has benefited from RAMSI contracts and the presence of aid workers and other personnel.

   Before RAMSI’s arrival, the Solomons was ruled by a small group of corrupt politicians and ex-militants who milked the country dry for personal benefit. RAMSI was particularly successful in the area of law and order because most Solomon Islanders, and eventually political elites, had had enough of this exploitative and unsustainable political order but were unable to remove the thugs by force. However, most Solomon Islanders did not want RAMSI to eliminate personalised rule completely because it was the glue that connected Honiara to the provinces.

   The collapse of the Rini government is remarkable, given that RAMSI (the police commissioner is an Australian nominee on secondment from the Australian Federal Police) arrested 2 opposition MPs before today’s meeting for allegedly starting the riots. Rini lost control of the house when his commerce minister and 4 other MPs bolted to the opposition. That gives the opposition 28 votes out of 48, or 30 out of 50 if the imprisoned MPs are released. If parliament demands their release then the relationship between the SI government and RAMSI will get very complicated very quickly.

   Perhaps all politics are global.

   Seed planted by Alan — 26 April 2006 @ 08:03

2. Some interesting reform proposals (via) from a Solomons attorney.

   Seed planted by Jonathan Edelstein — 27 April 2006 @ 14:43

3. [...] Jonathan Edelstein: Some interesting reform proposals (via) from a Solomons attorney. [...]

   Scion grafted by Fruits and Votes » Blog Archive » New Solomons PM — 04 May 2006 @ 08:44

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