The Solomon Islands is a �failed state�. We blame for this failure, their former colonial masters, Great Britain. The British essentially cobbled together a state forcing together various tribal groupings. The result has been ethnic conflict. When Australia invaded last time the purpose was to sort out such a conflict between the Maleta and Guadacanal tribes. Of course, the Solomons became totally under Australia�s control.
Australia thought its efforts were successful when an election was held. But then the riots occurred. The rioters demanded that the president resign. This time the riots were not an intertribal conflict. This time rioters targeted the Chinese community, especially Chinese business interests. .
Whilst Australia occupied, imposing imperialist interests, Taiwanese business interests saw their opportunity. to exploit the labour and recourses of the Solomon�s. They moved in and establish their community to do precisely that. They had Australia's full backing.
The rioters saw the Taiwanese as exploiters which indeed they were. For this they were targeted by the rioters. Now the Chinese quarter of Honiara is in tatters. Australia was proud of their achievement of getting their democratic elections off the ground. But it is clear that the result was tainted by bribery. The Taiwanese bourgeoisie bribed democratically elected MP's to get their man successfully elected as Prime Minister. It is only after the riots that their lackey resigned.
So Australia whilst succeeding in overcoming the tribal contradiction, effectively created another. This riot was well and truly, the fruit of Australia's occupation. Australia is not motivated by democracy. It is motivated with the desire to establish stable nations to facilitate imperialist control and exploitation. All Australian militasry intervention in the South Pacific must be unconditionally opposed. The nations of the South Pacific face many problems. But imperialism is the problem and not the solution.
A new prime minister has been appointed. So for now, Australia has decided to withdraw troops. But make no mistake! Australia reserves the right to invade, when she sees fit. That is, when capitalist interests are inconvenienced by an elected government or otherwise. It would certainly intervene if there was the possibility of revolution.
Australia is itself dominated by imperialism, especially US imperialism. But in exchange for this domination it has been given a sphere of influence in the South Pacific and South East Asia. George Bush is quite correct when he calls John Howard his deputy sheriff.
Another military intervention by Australia means the workers movement must take action. In no way must aw be party to Australia's war drive. We need resolutions. We need demonstrations. But we also need action to smash the war effort.