19 Making a Martyr
-
Edward Acton Cavanough
Abstract
The author relates how it was becoming clear that Suidani’s strong anti-China stance - the mission that had made him internationally famous - was not universally accepted, with even some of its staunchest supporters starting to question whether their champion could deliver on his rhetoric. Many Malaitans appeared genuinely ambivalent about Chinese companies operating in their communities. The World Bank-funded Fiu Bridge project, which Suidani had scuttled after a Chinese company won a competitive tender to construct it, was just one of dozens of bridges that had fallen into disrepair. In early March 2023, the Malaitan provincial government was readying to reassemble after its Christmas break. Back home in Solomon Islands, Suidani’s tour and meeting with Chris Chappell and Cleo Paskal, had not gone unnoticed. In a post on the ‘Yumi TokTok Forum’ - one of the larger Facebook groups in Solomon Islands - praise for Suidani was common.
Abstract
The author relates how it was becoming clear that Suidani’s strong anti-China stance - the mission that had made him internationally famous - was not universally accepted, with even some of its staunchest supporters starting to question whether their champion could deliver on his rhetoric. Many Malaitans appeared genuinely ambivalent about Chinese companies operating in their communities. The World Bank-funded Fiu Bridge project, which Suidani had scuttled after a Chinese company won a competitive tender to construct it, was just one of dozens of bridges that had fallen into disrepair. In early March 2023, the Malaitan provincial government was readying to reassemble after its Christmas break. Back home in Solomon Islands, Suidani’s tour and meeting with Chris Chappell and Cleo Paskal, had not gone unnoticed. In a post on the ‘Yumi TokTok Forum’ - one of the larger Facebook groups in Solomon Islands - praise for Suidani was common.
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
