AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2006
Fed: Downer hopes for free and unencumbered Solomons vote
CANBERRA, April 26 AAP - Foreign Minister Alexander Downer hopes the vote for a new
prime minister in the Solomons Islands will be free and unencumbered.
Mr Downer would not comment directly on today's decision by Snyder Rini to resign as
Solomon Islands prime minister after a troubled eight days in the top job.
He said Australia wanted the decision-making process in the Solomons to be free of
what he termed inappropriate incentives, a reference to allegations that Taiwanese money
was used to influence the appointment of Mr Rini.
"I'm going to avoid the `Downer weeps at Snyder Rini's departure' or `Downer applauds
Snyder Rini's departure' (headlines)," Mr Downer told reporters at the National Press
Club.
"It's a matter for the Solomon Islands parliament to determine.
"I'd like to feel that the members of the Solomon Islands parliament are able to vote
unencumbered and without inappropriate incentives, if you know what I mean, and I'm sure
you do, that they are able to vote freely to determine who the next prime minister is
to be."
Mr Downer said he was casting no aspersions over the previous parliamentary vote.
"I just talk about the future," he said.
"If there was any corruption involved in the past vote, well that will be exposed through
police investigations and charges would be brought and prosecutions take place."
He said he was not closely involved in those prosecutions and so did not know about
any alleged corruption.
"In relation to the future, it is very important that there is a free and unencumbered
vote by members of the parliament, that they vote on the basis of their conscience and,
of course, their political leanings and judgement, and that they choose a government that
will serve the people of the Solomon Islands well.
"We will have to wait and see."
AAP dep/so/jm/nf
KEYWORD: SOLOMONS DOWNER
2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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