Leaders urge calm as Solomons considers China deal

Leaders have urged calm as Solomon Islanders pause to consider their next leaders and the nation’s burgeoning relationship with China.

After street and village parades throughout Monday, national and provincial campaigns were forced into a pre-election lull on Tuesday.

Any breach of the 24-hour blackout period carries the threat of up to two years in prison.

Analysts say the national vote will be a pivotal moment for the nation’s 740,000 citizens, as well as for international allies.

Despite China’s assurances it wants to assist the developing country, Australian and US officials have viewed with scepticism Beijing’s interest in a nation occupying a strategic position northeast of Cairns.

Unrest has erupted after the past three national elections and more recently in 2021 over the direction of the ruling Sogavare coalition government and its growing relationship with Beijing.

The 2021 riots caused an estimated $811 million (A$149 million) in damage including to dozens of buildings in Honiara’s Chinatown, some of which remain charred and empty almost three years on.

A China-Solomons security pact struck in 2022, for which full details have not been released, allows Beijing to send in police to restore order and protect Chinese-owned businesses, nationals and diplomats in times of unrest.

Honiara locals expect polling day on Wednesday to pass without incident but warned frustrations could boil over once results become clearer over the weekend.

Workers were seen on Saturday erecting a temporary wall around the front of China’s three-year-old embassy building in Honiara.

China’s embassy in the capital Honiara in the Solomon Islands. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

But embassy staff told AAP on Tuesday it had been “doing some maintenance work recently” when asked if the fence signalled concern about potential post-election conflict being directed its way.

More than 170 local and Australian police and military personnel, including some dressed in riot gear, undertook a mock exercise in anticipation of any unrest in recent days.

AFP Commander Heath Davies said the priority of local and Australian police was to ensure Wednesday’s elections were carried out peacefully and community safety was maintained.

“There has been significant community engagement undertaken by the RSIPF (Royal Solomon Islands Police Force) aimed at preventing the need to use public order management tactics,” he said.

ADF personnel are in the Solomon Islands ahead of the nation’s election. (HANDOUT/AUSTRLIAN DEFENCE FORCE)

Local police have also warned they will tightly enforce a 10-day alcohol trading ban applying nationwide.

While in his fourth stint as prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare is trying to buck history by maintaining top office through an election.

Opposition leader Matthew Wale described the elections as the bedrock of the nation’s democracy and urged a commitment to a peaceful, free and fair election process.

“All Solomon Islanders must … respect the right of other Solomon Islanders and refrain from any actions that could disrupt the voting process,” he said.

Wednesday’s election includes races for 50 seats in the national parliament as well as for eight of the nation’s 10 local governments.

Australia has provided $25 million in election support including for logistics, voter registration, training for electoral officials and voter awareness initiatives.

Academics and six MPs including Bridget Archer will also perform official observer roles.

“Australia has a long history of supporting democracy in the Pacific and will continue to work with our regional partners to support prosperity and security based on our shared values,” Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said on Tuesday.

This article was made possible through the Melbourne Press Club’s Michael Gordon Journalism Fellowship Program.