Manchester University Press
6 Devil’s Night
Abstract
Five months before Suidani’s appointment as premier, there had been a similarly complicated series of negotiations in Honiara for the position of prime minister. The national election was held in April 2019, but it would be several weeks before Manasseh Sogavare emerged victorious and once again assumed control of his nation. Meanwhile, Matthew Wale’s Solomon Islands Democratic Party, with eight MPs, forged a new grouping of its own, called the Grand Coalition. In making a case for the Switch, Fugui’s committee was not recommending anything out of step with much of the international community. Irrespective of whether the ultimate decision to switch from Taiwan to China was the right one, the murky process that led to such a major policy shift created discomfort in Solomon Islands. In May 2021, as Honiara’s presence in Beijing became formalised, Fugui was appointed Solomon Islands’ first ambassador to China.
Abstract
Five months before Suidani’s appointment as premier, there had been a similarly complicated series of negotiations in Honiara for the position of prime minister. The national election was held in April 2019, but it would be several weeks before Manasseh Sogavare emerged victorious and once again assumed control of his nation. Meanwhile, Matthew Wale’s Solomon Islands Democratic Party, with eight MPs, forged a new grouping of its own, called the Grand Coalition. In making a case for the Switch, Fugui’s committee was not recommending anything out of step with much of the international community. Irrespective of whether the ultimate decision to switch from Taiwan to China was the right one, the murky process that led to such a major policy shift created discomfort in Solomon Islands. In May 2021, as Honiara’s presence in Beijing became formalised, Fugui was appointed Solomon Islands’ first ambassador to China.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Map of Solomon Islands ix
- Milestones in the History of Solomon Islands xi
- Introduction 1
- I Island Universe 11
- 1 ‘Afuera! ’ 15
- 2 Jungle Road 25
- II Restive state 33
- 3 Running Aground 35
- 4 Manasseh of East Choiseul 49
- 5 Maasina Men 71
- III The switch 83
- 6 Devil’s Night 85
- 7 Escape from Adeliua 100
- 8 The Games 112
- 9 Rivers of Gold 120
- IV Rebellion 131
- 10 ‘No Need China!’ 133
- 11 Wuhan Window 148
- 12 Honiara Burning 165
- V Twisted iron 175
- 13 Seeking Protection 177
- 14 Red Line 188
- 15 Arc of Anxiety 201
- VI Where the North Road ends 211
- 16 Henderson Concession 213
- 17 East to Fataleka 225
- 18 Mustafa Rising 244
- 19 Making a Martyr 260
- Epilogue 271
- Notes 285
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Map of Solomon Islands ix
- Milestones in the History of Solomon Islands xi
- Introduction 1
- I Island Universe 11
- 1 ‘Afuera! ’ 15
- 2 Jungle Road 25
- II Restive state 33
- 3 Running Aground 35
- 4 Manasseh of East Choiseul 49
- 5 Maasina Men 71
- III The switch 83
- 6 Devil’s Night 85
- 7 Escape from Adeliua 100
- 8 The Games 112
- 9 Rivers of Gold 120
- IV Rebellion 131
- 10 ‘No Need China!’ 133
- 11 Wuhan Window 148
- 12 Honiara Burning 165
- V Twisted iron 175
- 13 Seeking Protection 177
- 14 Red Line 188
- 15 Arc of Anxiety 201
- VI Where the North Road ends 211
- 16 Henderson Concession 213
- 17 East to Fataleka 225
- 18 Mustafa Rising 244
- 19 Making a Martyr 260
- Epilogue 271
- Notes 285
