High Tide
Power Centers
Who Has Power, And Shouldn’t
The criteria on which we base our annual Power 10 list is influence in the wider Pacific Islands region: it is a reflection of the reality of the region’s political and economic state, not a “wish-list.” And the list is free of value judgments about the merits or otherwise of foreign policies or commercial practices, something that has drawn occasional criticism from our readers over the years.
But in collecting nominations and suggestions for our annual Power 10 list for this issue, an interesting, if disturbing alternative list emerged.
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Also on the list would be Peter Foster, the Australian conman wanted for a range of alleged offences. Currently in custody in Queensland, Australia, he was convicted of entering Vanuatu illegally last year after escaping from Fiji, flown to Australia and arrested on arrival. Foster is accused of forging documents to fraudulently obtain what is believed to be more than $200,000 from the Bank of the Federated States of Micronesia.
But his form sheet is long. He has been imprisoned on three continents, convicted for promoting a bogus slimming tea and insurance scams, and escaping from jail while on day release. After his dramatic escape October, Foster pleaded not guilty in Suva Magistrates Court on three charges: forgery, uttering forged documents and obtaining a work permit on forged documents. Foster became more deeply involved in Fiji politics at the same time—and here is where his influence was, if fleetingly felt—supporting the December 5 coup of Voreqe Bainimarma after reportedly being linked with deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase’s political party before the election.
The alternative list could also feature the Australian lawyer appointed as Solomon Islands’ Attorney General, Julian Moti, whose name appears several times in the Power 10 feature in connection with the leaders of Australia, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea. Moti was at the center of a row between those countries, after attempts by Australia to have him extradited from PNG to face sexual abuse allegations (in Vanuatu) failed. Moti was instead secretly flown out of PNG to Solomon Islands aboard a defense force plane.
Australia’s determination to pursue this matter has been politicized. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said, “The Solomon Islands government has behaved disgracefully over the Julian Moti affair.” Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in turn says Moti’s arrest constitutes a violation of Solomon Islands’ national sovereignty. Moti says it is a “witch hunt,” and that the Australian government is trying to silence the voices of suffering and remove obstacles to its ambitions in the Solomon Islands. Moti remains in Honiara, and his appointment has been suspended.
These are just three of the more recent examples of individuals that could be ranked on this list. It could be interpreted as a collection of unrelated individuals, united only by their experiences before the courts of our countries.
But there are some cautionary tales for us all. For example, we should be appointing and electing officials who meet certain ethical and legal standards. This is enshrined in the codes of conduct and electoral regulations of some, but not all jurisdictions. We need to find ways of cooperating more effectively in terms of transnational/cross border crime and movement—admittedly, many efforts are being made to improve these systems. And perhaps most importantly, our leaders could try a little more diplomacy and talking, and a little less fist shaking and shouting.
We understand that it is about the principle. But in some cases, it seems the big picture, the benefits of sound political and economic relationships has been forgotten in the rhetoric over a handful of individuals.
