![]() Solomon Islands opposition member of parliament, Charles Dausabea (2/L) is led into court under heavy security, in Honiara. Dausabea has been refused bail on charges of inciting last week's riots as his allies protested by boycotting a sitting of the parliament
(AFP) |
A leading opposition lawmaker in the troubled Solomon Islands has been refused bail on charges of inciting last week's riots as his allies boycotted a sitting of parliament a day ahead of a crucial confidence vote.
Charles Dausabea, a senior member of the opposition alliance, was remanded in custody for two weeks after appearing in Honiara Magistrates' Court on charges of inciting a riot, threatening violence and intimidation.
The court was told Dausabea, 46, incited an angry crowd outside parliament on Tuesday last week when Snyder Rini was elected prime minister, telling a waiting crowd of 200 people: "We lost, you people go do what you like now."
The crowd started throwing rocks and five vehicles belonging to government and security forces were smashed and burned.
After the demonstration outside parliament, crowds set on the capital's Chinatown district, leaving more than 50 buildings in ruins after a burning and looting rampage.
Other Chinese-owned businesses were also destroyed in Honiara, because of the alleged backing of Rini by prominent Chinese businessmen.
"It is clear from the actions of the crowd that the comments of the defendant had incited them," said director of public prosecutions John Cauchi.
Later that same day, Dausabea allegedly made threats to a security guard at the Honiara Hotel, which is owned by Sir Thomas Chan, a prominent Chinese businessman and president of Rini's political party.
"You wait for me, I'm coming back to burn the Honiara Hotel," Dausabea allegedly told the guard.
Defence lawyer Billy Titiulu said Dausabea denied all the allegations and any involvement in the rioting.
He said refusing bail to Dausabea could ignite further trouble.
"If he is not released, there would probably be rioting, resentment and further unrest," Titiulu said. "Who can control the minds of these idiots?"
Dausabea's court appearance was held under heavy security with riot police and military ringing the court and a helicopter flying overhead as a large crowd of onlookers milled around the court.
Dausabea was a key figure in setting up the opposition alliance which united behind Job Dudley Tausinga in the vote for prime minister. In the final round of voting, Tausinga was defeated 27-23 by Rini.
Dausabea was also seen in a kingmaker role in 2000 when Manasseh Sogavare came to power as prime minister after the overthrow of Bartholomew Ulafa'alu by an armed gang. An Australian-led intervention force arrived in the Solomons in 2003 to end five years of civil strife.
In parliament, opposition MPs boycotted a vote for deputy speaker in protest at the detention of Dausabea and opposition MP Nelson Ne'e.
The vote, which resulted in the election of former prime minister Sir Allan Kemakeza to the post, was seen as a test ahead of a planned no-confidence vote on Wednesday.
The government won Tuesday's vote 25-0, indicating it still had the support of exactly half the MPs.
Opposition numbers have been reduced to 23, due to the absence of Dausabea and Ne'e, who has been charged with intimidation and managing an illegal organisation.
Rini told reporters he was confident of winning Wednesday's vote and added the government had no role in the arrests of Dausaea and Ne'e by the police force, which is currently dominated by Australian and New Zealand officers.
Meanwhile, a total of 310 Chinese evacuees arrived in southern China after leaving Honiara in the wake of the riots, state media said early Tuesday.
The Chinese nationals, including 21 from Hong Kong, were flown in a chartered plane from Papua New Guinea, where they had fled over the weekend.
In New York, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan expressed concern Monday about the unrest in the Solomons, calling on residents of the impoverished South Pacific archipelago to renounce violence.