Mainland China promises to give Constituency Development Fund, but only for short time

By Mike Puia

THE People’s Republic of China says it is willing to provide flexible money like that provided by the Republic of China (ROC) Taiwan through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

But, there’s a catch – they will give somewhat freely for only a certain period of time before switching to their usual loan scheme.

The revelation was made by the chairman of the bipartisan taskforce, Mr John Moffat Fugui, when he appeared before the parliamentary Foreign Relations Committee (FRC) yesterday.

The FRC commenced its hearing yesterday. It will end today.

FRC is examining and will make recommendations on the issue of severing ties with ROC Taiwan.

The committee will also examine, make observations and recommendations on the government’s general conduct of its foreign policy.

The bipartisan taskforce, which was set up by the government in April this year to look into the pros and cons of a switch in relations to China, is the first group to appear before the FRC.

The taskforce provided information about countries visited like Fiji, Tonga, PNG and Samoa which have diplomatic relations with China to see the impact of Chinese aid into the Pacific. The taskforce also visited China’s Beijing and ROC Taiwan.

According to Fugui, his taskforce’s report will be finalised in the coming days.

The report is yet to reach cabinet and caucus. The government will have a final say whether or not to switch.

Fugui told the FRC hearing that the government’s move to sever the country’s ties with ROC Taiwan will leave a “gap” to support the government delivers to its people through the CDF.

He noted that during his taskforce’s meeting with PRC officials in Beijing, they indicated that China is willing to deliver flexible money like what ROC Taiwan provided but for a period of time.

He said China’s commitment will go on during the transition of a possible switch

Fugui said after the transition period, China would go back to its loan arrangement.

He said funding support China promises would come through projects using the framework ROC Taiwan used to deliver its CDF contribution.

According to Fugui, a change would mean China will use this system and then move to another as time goes.

Severing of ties with Taiwan is believed to be a major policy of Our Party, one of the four political parties that make up the government. The Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, is the leader of Our Party.

In his comments, FRC chairman, Mr Peter Kenilorea Junior, said it is important that this country goes back and assess why the founding fathers of this country chose to forge a relationship with ROC Taiwan rather than China in 1983.

Kenilorea Junior said severing ties with ROC Taiwan is a serious matter and if it happens, it’s a major foreign policy shift.

Prime Minister ‘denies’ request for an audience with visiting Taiwanese youths

By Alfred Sasako

THE Office of the Prime Minister has reportedly denied a request by visiting Taiwanese youths for an audience with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, throwing a new spin on the ongoing debate over switching diplomatic ties to China.

This comes amidst reports that four Members of Parliament on the five-member bipartisan Taskforce which inquired into the matter have voluntarily moved to join the government side in support of the proposed switch to China.

“The move by the four MPs, which represent 90 per cent of Members of the Taskforce, indicates their conviction that a diplomatic switch to China is in the best interest of Solomon Islands.

“These MPs have been to Taipei as well as to Beijing as part of their investigations and it would appear they are convinced about what is best for this nation,” an insider told Island Sun last night.

The insider denied the MPs were plucked from the Opposition group.

“No, no, no. There is no truth in that. All four MPs made the choice of their own accord because of what they had witnessed during their tour of Taipei and Beijing.”

“Their move to join the Government indicates their report to be handed to the Government shortly is pretty conclusive,” the insider said, counselling caution.

“We are not quite there yet, but we will be there.”

Meanwhile officials have confirmed that a request by a visiting Taiwanese youth group to meet with Prime Minister Sogavare was denied. The group which arrived on Sunday was to meet Mr Sogavare either on Monday or Tuesday.

But it appeared no meetings took place.

Officials have downplayed the incident, adding the request was denied because there is a Youth Ministry and it is only proper that the Youth Group see the Minister for Youth.

It would appear this is the first time Prime Minister Sogavare has ever denied a request for a meeting with a visiting Taiwanese group.

Some officials have linked this to events in the past two weeks, particularly the involvement of Taiwanese diplomat, Oliver Weng, in preparing or facilitating a statement for 16 senior Government MPs including 14 Ministers declaring their support for Taiwan.

Mr Weng is the Counsellor at the Taiwanese Embassy in Honiara. He emailed the two-page statement expressing support for Taiwan to both the Island Sun and Solomon Star newspapers on August 20, 2019.

Both papers published the statement on their front pages on Wednesday, August 21, 2019. Island Sun has obtained a copy of the email.

Officials said Prime Minister Sogavare had every right to feel his authority as Prime Minister of a sovereign nation has been undermined by a diplomat from a close ally.

They pointed out that the diplomat’s involvement in the scandal was tantamount to planning the overthrow of a democratically elected government.

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

NATIONAL Generation Election (NGE) candidates of 2019 failing to submit campaign Statements of Account are now under review of the National Criminal Investigation Department (NCID).

This is confirmed by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Media Unit saying that RSIPF has received the referrals from the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) understood to be around 14.

Currently according to RSIPF’s Media Unit, NCID thinks it appropriate to discuss with SIEC, the Attorney General (AG) and Director Public Prosecution (DPP) to get legal advice on this referrals on which RSIPF will not progress this matter until further advice is provided.

“The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) has received the referrals from the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) recently and the National Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) is currently reviewing those referrals.

“NCID thinks appropriate to discuss with SIEC, Attorney General (AG) and Director Public Prosecution (DPP) to get legal advice on this referrals. RSIPF will not progress this matter until further advice is provided,” said RSIPF’s Media Unit in response to inquiry.

SIEC’s Chief Electoral Officer Mr Mose Saitala when querying over this issue late last week said it is up to the police now to put together cases for the Court.

Before July 20 this year on the due date of submissions for campaign Statements of Account, SIEC has been calling for NGE remaining candidates who have not submitted campaign statements to file them in order for the daily $100-fine under Section 69 of the Electoral Act 2018 to cease.

If not then SIEC said the fine will continue to accumulate till the candidates are prosecuted and penalised.

It is understood that from the SIEC List of 2019 NGE candidates who had submitted their Statements of Account to SIEC, 14 candidates out of the 331 contesting the 2019 NGE have not yet submitted their statements.

Under the electoral law, it is a requirement that all candidates, successful and unsuccessful, must file their campaign Statement of Account 90 days after the publication of NGE election results.

2019 NGE results were published on April 19 seeing July 20 was when the 90 days period given for submission of statements of account lapsed.

Under Section 69 on campaign expenses in the Electoral Act 2018, it states;

1. Within 90 days after the publication of an election result under section 107, a candidate in the election must submit to the CEO a statement of account specifying:

(a) All expenses incurred by the candidate in relation to the candidate’s campaign for election; and (b) the source of all funds (including the amount received from each source) used to meet those expenses.

2. The regulations may make provision for the preparation and content of the statement of account.

Under Section 125; Campaign expenses and donations:

(1) A candidate whose election campaign expenses exceed $500,000 commits and offence.

Maximum Penalty: 50,000 penalty units or 5 years imprisonment, or both.

(2) A candidate who fails to comply with the requirements of section 69 commits an offence.

Maximum Penalty:

(a) 20,000 penalty units or 2 years imprisonment, or both; and

(b) 100 penalty units for each day the offence continues.

(3) A candidate commits an offence if the candidate accepts a campaign donation from:

(a) A person who is not a citizen of Solomon Islands; or

(b) A company with at least one shareholder who is not a citizen of Solomon Islands.

Maximum Penalty: 50,000 penalty units or 5 years imprisonment, or both.

(4) In this section, “campaign donation” means any transfer of property made, otherwise than by will, without consideration or with inadequate consideration that is intended to be used, or is used, solely or substantially for a purpose related to an election.

On their website, SIEC commends the candidates mentioned in the submission of campaign statements List who have complied with section 69 of the Electoral Act 2018.

“Although some candidates have filed their statements of account later than the deadline, SIEC is still appreciative of the fact that they have complied with section 69 of the Act.

“Remember that the obligation of a candidate, who contested the 2019 NGE, to comply with section 69 of the Act, will not go away until he/she has filed his/her statement of account,” remind SIEC’s CEO.