The Native Iowan

I really like Asia. There is a flavor here that is sensual, exotic and dangerous.

I like Asia.

In transit at Changi airport, Singapore. Was last through here in April 2010, Almost a year ago.

Singapore, of course is THE Asian power house. SOoo much going on here. Quite a model of what a modern “city-state” can be. Of course the old idiom of “location- location- location” does apply.

The airport is built on the site of the WW2 POW camp as depicted in the book/ movie “King Rat”.

It is quite a modern airport and in classic Asian fashion the powers that be have spent a fortune here. And it pays off…

Every race, creed and cast is represented by the folks walking the concourse here. It is truly interesting and impressive.

And, indeed, life is guuud…

945 au-time, 745 Singapore time.

The last flight was exceedingly guud.

Changi Airport is as comfortable as it gets.

Sit here for a couple hours and board for another 14+ hours of flying before we get to London. Once in London I get a day and a half off to look around London. I have been in and through London a couple times now but have never stopped-off there to have a look around.

Looking forward to it…

1044, Palmwoods, Au

waiting for 11am pickup for hour ride to airport

if you are into ink… check this out…

http://www.facebook.com/artselemental

ITS been a long time waiting and finally top leaders have finally agreed to set a date for a Parliament meeting which will be officially announced today.

Prime Minister Danny Philip, Speaker of Parliament, Sir Allen Kemakeza and Opposition Leader, Steve Abana met in Parliament at 2pm yesterday and came up with the decision.

The meeting was deferred at 11am after PM Philip failed to turn up due to some unforeseen circumstances.

However after some consultation with him, the PM turned up confidently at Parliament and greeted Sir Allan and Mr Abana before they went in to meet privately.

After they came out together to waiting media, PM Philip made a joke”naf nao” meaning it is enough.

Sir Allen initiated the dialogue following a ruling from the Governor General, Sir Frank Kabui that it was not his place to intervene in the current political stalemate.

The Opposition had filed a motion of no confidence last Tuesday and petitioned the Governor General to call Parliament after a number of government MPs crossed the floor.

Sir Allen told media after the meeting that he would tell the people of the nation of the date for the sitting this afternoon.

He said three of them agreed to settle on section 34 (1) of the Constitution.

The section 34(1) stated that in the exercise of his functions under this Constitution or any other law, the Governor-General shall act in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet or of a Minister acting under the general authority of the Cabinet except in cases where he is required by this Constitution to act in accordance with the advice of, or after consultation with, any person or authority other than the Cabinet or in his own deliberate judgment.

Sir Allan said he was happy that both leaders turned up for the meeting.

“I called the meeting for the sake of the country and its people,” he said.

“I took the approach I did in the Townsville agreement which included the Marau Peace and RAMSI.
“That is open dialogue,” Sir Allan said.

again…

Flying soon… Hon to Bris for 3 nights.

Another 24 hour flight to London for 9 night.

Back to Bris for a week or so then back to HIR the beginning of March…

oh, joy

THE government claimed their meeting with the Australian High Commissioner pointed out that both countries were victims of the deputy Opposition leader’s ‘unauthorised’ use of Australia’s name to gain support from politicians.

In an email from the Prime Minister press secretary Alfred Sasako to the Solomon Star yesterday, he said that both parties had agreed and demanded that the deputy opposition leader Matthew Wale must refrain from using Australia’s name in any shape or form when trying to lure politicians.

“Both parties have made their case clear and Australia has noted that the Solomon Islands government claims were legitimate,” he said.

Asked what else was discussed during the meeting, Mr Sasako said the full details of the discussions could not be revealed to the media.

The Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Peter Shanel met with the Australian government representative Frank Ingruber on Thursday.

The Australian High Commission office in Honiara described the meeting as ‘successful’ and ‘constructive’.

The Australian High Commission also declined to give full details of the meeting but said during the meeting with Prime Minister and Mr Shanel, High Commissioner Igruber reiterated that the allegations in the media had no basis.

In a statement they said Mr Ingruber reaffirmed the Australian government’s vision in the country and that was to continue to work with the Solomon Islands Government to promote stability, economic progress and the welfare of all Solomon Islanders.

“The meeting was successful and constructive,” the statement said.

However, deputy opposition leader Matthew Wale was furious with claims that alleged he was using Australia’s name in politics.

“This people are stupid. I have never used the name of Australia, I don’t need to use the name of Australia and I don’t want to use the name of Australia. I want to make it clear that the government is not ruptured by the opposition but by the government itself. MPs come to us freely without any favour because they have no trust in the Prime Minister. Why do I need Australia’s help? These allegations are childish,” he said.

Mr Wale said the government must prepare to provide evidence when the case goes before the courts.

The deputy opposition leader is filing a defamation lawsuit against the Prime Minister and his press secretary.

Earlier this week the Government in what they described as a ‘top intelligence report’ in a six page document pointed fingers at RAMSI and Australia as the major players behind the Opposition’s conspiracy in trying to topple the Danny Philip regime.

The report also claimed Australia also offered money to MPs if they agreed to defect to the Opposition and said certain court cases were rigged.

After days of wrangling, denial and accusations the matter has been resolved diplomatically by the two governments.

Member of Parliament (MP) for South Guadalcanal David Day Pacha will face court again this Friday for the confirmation of number of witnesses.

The prosecution and the defence counsel will have a discussion over the number of witnesses to call for the trial.

Prosecution during the pre-trial-conference yesterday said they have 14 witnesses to call.

But the presiding magistrate asked the prosecution and defence to have a discussion over the number of witnesses.

The trial date would be fixed as soon as number of witnesses to be called is confirmed.

Pacha was charged with one count of conversion and one count of abuse of office.

He allegedly converted $300,000 that was supposed to be for a micro project at his constituency without the consent of the project owner for his own benefit.

Presiding Magistrate Stefan Metanomski adjourned the matter to this Friday and extended bail for the MP.

Private Lawyer Gabriel Suri is representing the MP.

Manslaughter case of10-year-old

The case of the 10-year-old boy accused of causing the death of another child has been further adjourned to February 21.

This is when the prosecutor from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution will decide whether the matter will proceed against the 10-year-old.

The boy’s appearance on Monday was excused.

He was accused of the death of another child of his age after a stone throwing incident.

The stone landed on the other child’s head and died two days later after he was taken to Tulagi Hospital.

The alleged incident occurred on November 27, last year at a village in Small Gela, Central Province.

Hubert Fugui of the Public Solicitor’s Office represents the boy.

Father to indicate how he will plead

An indication of pleas in to the charges against the father accused of indecently assaulting his daughter and attempting rape on his sister-in-law is to be made today.

A bail application will also be made for the 45-five-year-old father as well.

The father, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the two alleged victims, is facing seven counts of indecent assault and four counts of attempted rape.

He allegedly committed the offences on unknown dates in 2006 and 2007.

The alleged victim is 12 years of age.

Appearing on Monday, Principal Magistrate Stefan Metanomski mentioned his case and then further remanded him in custody.

The father is represented by Solomon Kalu of the Public Solicitor’s Office.

Gilbert camp ruling on Friday

The ruling into the outcome of a trial of a man accused of disturbing a religious assembly at Gilbert Camp will be delivered on Friday.

Jordan Van Caesar was charged with one count of criminal trespass and one count of disturbing religious assembly.

It was alleged that on November 1, 2009, he and some of his friends were drinking under a house next to the church.

The house was in the church property where Sunday school classes usually hold their activities under the high house.

The accused was married to a member of the family of the man who owns the property.

Caesar denied the charge and a trial was held into the case.

The trial was completed and the presiding magistrate will deliver her ruling into the case on Friday.

Allan Hou of DNS lawyers is representing the accused.

PM yet to talk about claims

DESPITE the sensitivity of the claims the Government has made about Australia the Prime Minister has been so silent in recent days.

Following an intelligence report from within the Government being released to the Solomon Star that claimed Australia had launched a conspiracy to overthrow the Danny Philip regime, the Opposition has raised questions.

“Where is the Prime Minister and why hasn’t he explained and proved to the nation the claims against RAMSI and Australia,” an Opposition spokesperson said.

It was understood that the PMs press secretary Alfred Sasako was speaking on Mr Philip’s behalf defending his boss releasing a statement recently stating that the Government does not need to provide evidence to support their claims because the matter was confidential.

The Government in what they described as a ‘top intelligence report’ in a six page word document pointed fingers at RAMSI and Australia as the major players behind the Opposition’s conspiracy in trying to topple the Danny Philip regime.

The Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Frank Ingruber said in a statement yesterday that all the allegations were completely untrue.

It is understood Mr Ingruber wants a meeting with Prime Minister Philip but at this stage the Prime Minister has not responded to Mr Ingruber.

However, the Solomon Star understands that arrangements for Mr Ingruber to meet the Prime Minister had been arranged by the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

The Foreign Affairs office confirmed to the Solomon Star yesterday that Foreign Affairs Minister Peter Shanel had already been briefed on the matter by Government officials yesterday.

It is understood that by way of protocol, the Foreign Affairs Minister would be making an appointment to meet Mr Ingruber before another appointment would be arranged for Prime Minister Philip to meet the Australian High Commissioner.

The Australian Government are reportedly concerned about the report and they are taking the matter seriously.

The Australian Government was quick to respond summoning Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Australia Beraki Jino on Tuesday night by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Pacific, Richard Marles for a “please explain.”

Meanwhile, the Opposition office has reiterated their call for the Prime Minister and his press secretary to provide evidence to support their claims.

“What is disturbing about this is that someone smart enough to fabricate the `intel report’ would be stupid enough to think something so laughable would work,” a spokesman from the Opposition said.

Mr Philip’s government is struggling to maintain majority, with the opposition claiming a number of government MPs’ defections this year had given them a mandate to rule.

Although, the Prime Minister is ruling with a minority government they are confident of passing the budget when Parliament meets next month.

I really like this line…

Some MPs are reportedly under high surveillance to avoid attempts to lure them.

… sorta sums up polotics in these islands.

WITH the two latest resignations from the Government, Prime Minister Danny Philip has been challenged to prove to the nation he has the numbers to rule.

And with less than a month before Parliament sits to pass the 2011 Budget, the Prime Minister has been called onto prove his numbers to avoid a constitutional crisis.

The Solomon Star understands that in order for the Government to avoid a constitutional crisis Parliament must convene before Parliament sits to pass the budget because either way the Opposition say they were prepared to defeat the budget.

Speaking to the Solomon Star yesterday at the Heritage Park Hotel deputy Opposition leader Matthew Wale and Member for North/West Guadalcanal Bodo Dettke said Prime Minister Philip has two options and that was to resign or call Parliament to prove his numbers.

“It is simple, call Parliament or resign because it clearly showed that MPs are defecting from the Government because they have no trust in the Prime Minister,” both Opposition members said.

The Opposition is leading the political number game with 26-22.

This was after Mr Kemakeza and Mr Sophage earlier resigned from the Government and joined the Opposition.

They recently took their oath and moved back to the Government and now they are back with the Opposition after they resigned last Friday.

Mr Wale and Mr Dettke said they were prepared to take on the Government when they debate in Parliament.

“Enough of debating in the media and lets take it to the floor of Parliament,” Mr Wale said.

Meanwhile, security in both camps has been beefed up as lobbying intensifies ahead of the Parliament sitting next month.

Some MPs are reportedly under high surveillance to avoid attempts to lure them.

THE GOVERNOR General Sir Frank Kabui is reportedly being pressured by the Opposition to call Parliament immediately after deputy Opposition leader Matthew Wale filed yet another letter to the Government House over the weekend.

Private Secretary to Governor General Nigel Maezama confirmed a letter signed by Mr Wale was lodged to the Governor General on Saturday.
The Solomon Star understands this was the second notice the Opposition had filed to the Governor General after they filed a petition January 25, which was signed by 25 members.

Mr Wale yesterday confirmed lodging a letter to the Government House but he declined to reveal the details of the letter stating that it would be unethical because the Governor General had not responded to his letter yet.

But the Solomon Star understands that the letter was to advise the Governor General to call Parliament immediately after former Minister of Mines and Energy Mark Kemakeza and Housing Minister Martin Sophage resigned from the Government again.

Mr Kemakeza and Mr Sophage earlier resigned from the Government and joined the Opposition.

They recently took their oath and moved back to the Government and now they are back with the Opposition after they resigned last Friday.

Mr Maezama confirmed receiving their resignation letters on Friday last week.

This brings the political number game to 26-22 in favour of the Opposition.

The Solomon Star asked to interview the Governor General but Mr Maezama said the Governor General would not be speaking to the media on the matter.

“This is a political issue the politicians have to resolve themselves and they cannot drag the Governor General into the matter. Like we mentioned earlier, only the Prime Minister has the power to call parliament end of story,” he said.

However, an Opposition spokesman told the Solomon Star that the best option now was for Governor General Sir Frank Kabui to call on the Prime Minister to prove his numbers before Parliament sits to pass the budget.

“Like it or not if the Government don’t have the majority then the Opposition are likely to defeat the budget so the Prime Minister has to prove his numbers now to avoid a constitutional crisis,” he said.

Last week Tuesday, the Opposition also filed a motion of no confidence to Speaker of Parliament Sir Allan Kemakeza.

The Oppositions notice was based on the Danny Philip case which outlined that a no confidence vote under section 34 of the constitution is a right of an MP and cannot be suppressed by the standing orders.

Sir Allan recently told the Solomon Star that there were only two options in dealing with the notice and they were (1) for the speaker to call Parliament based on section 34 (2) of the Constitution and (2) to take the matter to court to clarify section 34 (2) whether the speaker has the power to call Parliament.

The matter had been referred to the Attorney General in which he advised that the speaker had no power to convene Parliament.

Sir Allan also re-confirmed this to the Solomon Star yesterday.

Donald Rumsfeld demonised it and George Bush allegedly said he wanted to bomb it. No one was quite sure whether the then White House incumbent was joking or not, but its offices have been hit by US forces. Twice.

Now something rather strange has begun to happen to the Arabic language news broadcaster al-Jazeera and the English language channel it launched nearly five years ago; American viewers have begun to demand it. It is clear some kind of watershed has been reached when the Kansas City Star publishes a cut-out-and-keep guide to the “easiest way to get al-Jazeera English”.

The Qatar-based channel’s acclaimed coverage of the Egyptian crisis has been referred to as the broadcaster’s “CNN moment”, doing for al-Jazeera English what the first Gulf war did for CNN, pushing it to the forefront of the public’s consciousness. Put simply, must-see TV. Now the challenge is to translate the plaudits into the major cable or satellite distribution deal the channel has long sought without success in the US.

The New York Times, which praised the channel’s “total immersion coverage of news events the whole world is talking about”, bemoaned the fact that US cable viewers were able to watch MTV’s controversial adaptation of E4’s teen drama Skins but not al-Jazeera English. “It seems like a perverse application of free speech,” said the paper. “But sex is sexier than foreign affairs and it certainly sells better.”

With China investing $7bn in foreign language media, we may also be witnessing the beginning of a shift, albeit slight, in the nature of global TV news and debate. Stephen Claypole, the former senior BBC News and TV news agency executive who is now chairman of the London and Abu Dhabi-based consultancy, DMA Media, says: “Al-Jazeera has the game by the throat, both in Arabic and English, and it has certainly lived up to its reputation as the most watched broadcaster in the Arab world in spite of intimidation and violence against its staff in Egypt.

“I have heard that [US secretary of state] Hillary Clinton watches it constantly and that Barack Obama has been viewing from the situation room. Although al-Jazeera English has been competent since its launch, it has been waiting for a huge story to call its own. Egypt is certainly that,” Claypole adds.

Al-Jazeera English is separate from the main al-Jazeera Arabic channel, which began broadcasting in 1996. Staffed largely by western TV journalists, the English-language service leveraged the advantages of its Arabic network and contacts in covering the emerging crisis. For a story of this scale in the Arab world, it absolutely had to be good.

Al Anstey, the former ITN executive who is the managing director of al-Jazeera English, describes it as an “extraordinary week” for the channel and a “truly historical” one for Egypt.

“We are being seen worldwide as a channel of reference on this story,” says Anstey. “There has been an exponential increase in the recognition of exactly what it is we do and the quality of our journalism and content. I always say the best way of addressing any misconceptions about al-Jazeera English is to switch on and watch.”

Al-Jazeera English is available in around 220m homes in more than 100 countries worldwide, including viewers with Freeview, Sky or Freesat in the UK. But fewer than 3m of those homes are in the US including – helpfully for the White House – Washington DC.

The failure to strike a major US distribution deal is partly a result of the political sensitivity that surrounded the perceived negative slant of al-Jazeera Arabic’s coverage of the Iraq war. It is also a reflection of the fact that cable operators do not think they can make money from a foreign news network on systems that are already full. BBC World News is distributed to around 6m homes in the US, against more than 10 times that for the entertainment channel BBC America (on which some World News bulletins air).

“For a long time al-Jazeera was seen as the Fox [News] for the bad guys — that’s a really unfortunate way of looking at it,” says Jon Williams, the BBC’s World News editor. “With the change of [US government] administration there’s been a slight change of attitude, and if this means that it does now get carriage in the US, then we welcome that. Al-Jazeera has done some great stuff … It wouldn’t be fair to single out its Egyptian coverage – it has been doing this for a while.”

Now we’re fighting over “dolphin money”…

JOSEPH Wane has denied playing any part in the distribution of the $25,000 given by Earth Island Institute (EII) to Walande community last Christmas.

This came after Walande community member Willie Fa’asu accussed Wane’s committee yesterday for not distributing the money fairly to the community.

Mr Wane said he did not go to village on Christmas but remained at Honiara.

“The committee shared the money,” he said.

“If it’s short then it’ll have to be like that because the money was not meant for sharing but to host a Christmas party.

“Fa’asu doesn’t need to complain but do a project for people in Walande,” Mr Wane said.

EII gave a total of $50,000 to be shared among the Walande and Fanalei community.

The Fanalei community received the remaining $25,000.

The money was part of the Christmas gift given by EII to the two communities for cooperating well in their dolphin project.

EII wanted the two communities to stop dolphin hunting in their waters.

This is too good to pass up… basically the incumbent government is kid napping opposition members and putting all sorts of pressure on them. So sad. Sore lo solomoni…

OPPOSITION Leader, Steve Abana was said to have intercepted a group of Government’s supporters at Honiara domestic airport on Thursday.

This came after they took resigned Minister for Police, James Tora and wanted to send him to the Western Province.

According to our source from Opposition, the Government’s supporters used Mr Tora’s relatives to lure him inside a dark tinted taxi.

“When Tora got inside the taxi, there were government’s supporters sitting inside,” our source said.

“They drove with Mr Tora to the airport and wanted to send him on a flight to Western Province.

“Luckily Steve Abana followed behind the vehicle and got Tora from the Government’s supporters,” our source said.

“The Government is really desperate to increase its number and resort to some kind of conning measures.”

Tora did not want to comment on this issue.

It was also reported that the Government sent some of its friend to lure Opposition members, Dickson Mua, Clay Forau and three South region MPs in Malaita, Rick Hou, John Mane and Andrew Hanaria.

Currently the number game between the Government and Opposition is locked at 24/24.
The Opposition filed a motion of no confidence to Parliament on Tuesday.