Sasako's dossier of lies, corruption and hypocrisy

Recently, a discussion topic in the "Forum Solomon Islands International (FSII)" on the issue of whether or not it is acceptable to have candidates of the same ethnic group holding the three top positions of the Prime Minister, Governor General and Commissioner of Police - at any one time or term in the Solomon Islands government .

Former failed politician, Alfred Sasako.

The question was raised following the election of the Governor General (GG) in 6 May 2014. The post is five-year-term and the then two candidates, Frank Kabui, a former Attorney General and High Court Judge from Malaita Province, was seeking a second term in office. The challenger, Andrew Mua, was an ethnic Polynesian from the outer island of Tikopia, Temotu Province.

Mua is a veteran politician, who had served in the Honiara City Council as a counselor and Mayor for about 20 years.The topic draws diverse responses from FSII members on the basis that since the country gained political independence in 7 July, 1978, there was an unwritten rule in the political processes in the country that obligated successive governments and the dominating ethnic groups and bigger provinces to spread the three top influential positions among people of the diverse cultural and ethic groups of the country's nine provinces and Honiara city.

However, in the over 30-year history of the country, there were two instances, when the Prime Minister and Governor General were both from Guadalcanal Island (1989) and later Western Province (1993-1994). The two cases were due to ruling political parties replacing seating Prime Ministers after moving two motions of no-confidence.

My being honest and brutal with the truth was not widely appreciated by Alfred Sasako, an ethnic Malaitan former journalist turned politician, who took the debate into a personal crusade of attacking anyone who disagrees with him. He even threatened a young lawyer with a defamation lawsuit.

As always, I decided not to allow Sasako to intimidate anyone and get away with his threats and boastfulness about his so-called professional and academic achievements, a tactic he has been consistently employing in recent past to frighten his critics from scrutinizing his role and history of corruption. As such, I have decided to highlight below the many reasons, I've consistently called Sasako a corrupt former journalist turned politician.

Firstly, in 1998 as the then first Minister of State Assisting the Prime Minister, Sasako told the local media that the militants’ criminal activities in the rural areas of Guadalcanal was a “storm in a tea-cup”. Obviously, it blew up in his face and destroyed the Solomons. The country went through five years of ethnic conflict between armed ethnic Malaitan Eagle Force (MEF) and Guadalcanal Militants. It led to a MEF coup in 5 June 2000 and the removal of the democratically elected government by armed MEF militia. Over 60,000 ethnic Malaitan settlers and about 40,000 Guadalcanal villagers were displaced and over 100 people from both groups were killed. The conflict ended when an Australian-led military intervention in June 2003 brought peace and stability to the country. The mission disarmed criminal armed thugs and remained in the country until March 2013.

Secondly, during the early stages of the ethnic conflict in the Solomon Islands, Michael Field, a New Zealand-based journalist flew into the country and later wrote an article and quoted a Guadalcanal militant, George Gray, describing ethnic Malaitans in a derogatory term (the dog sperm issue). Sasako’s reaction was to ban the journalist, the foreign and local media from reporting about the ethnic conflict. Sadly the media ban failed to yield any positive result, instead it puts the government in the dark about the criminal activities and the planning of the Malaitan Eagle Force (MEF) coup.

The media ban also highlighted Sasako’s hypocrisy. As a former journalist based in PNG during the height of the Bougainville crisis in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Sasako flew into Honiara and secretly took a banana boat crossed the Papua New Guinea (PNG) blockade of the border between Solomon Islands and Bougainville. He went to Bougainville and during his time on the island, he reported about atrocities, rape cases, killings of innocent people and many other inhuman activities by the PNG's Defense Force on the trouble island. Sadly, when an opportunity presented itself for him to protect media freedom and the role of the media to hold leaders accountable in Solomon Islands during the early stages of the conflict in the country in 1998, he disowned the very principles and professional ethics of journalism that defined his career. I was the only journalist in the country and the Pacific Islands region, who had written articles criticizing the media ban. I also wrote to the Fiji media and criticize the publisher of the Solomon Star, the late John Lamani and former manager of the Solomon Islands Broadcasting (SIBC), Johnson Honimae (both ethnic Malaitans), and executive members of the Suva-based Pacific Islands News Association (PINA). Their level of hypocrisy was so blatant when they were attending the annual meeting of the news media body in Fiji and giving out “Press Freedom Awards” without a mention of the media ban, which was then current in the Solomon Islands. I also attended that same conference.

Instead, Sasako, Honimae and Nina Ratulele of PINA secretariat in Suva, Fiji, personally attacked me in the Solomon Islands and Fiji media. Unknown to my regional colleagues was the three senior media executives from Solomon Islands, mentioned above, were ethnic Malaitans and allegedly pro-ethnic Malaitan militia. The media ban ended after the coup in June 2000, and since then no one really knows - what could have happened if journalists and the news media were allowed to report freely about the pre-ethnic conflict ground situation and politics in the country.

Thirdly, in 2000 to 2004, Sasako consistently criticized the then government over giving tax exceptions to Asian loggers, foreigners and local companies in both parliament and the local media. At that time, the government was almost begging aid donors to pay for education, health and the delivery of other major services in the country. But when a list of companies and individuals who were given tax exceptions by the government was released by the Custom Department, Sasako’s name was top of the list. Sasako got tax exceptions for liquor, tobacco (cigarette) and almost every thing.

He was also instrumental in using his ministerial position to give tax exceptions to QQQ Wholesale and Retail Company. This case also demonstrated the hypocrisy and self interests of Sasako, who was receiving financial assistance from QQQ and its Brisbane-based executive director, Lawrence Quan, for his past election campaigns and also to wage a media smearing campaign against Lawrence Quan’s ex-wife, Carol Edward. Ms Edward was acquitted by the Magistrate Courts in the Solomons over a traffic accident case.

Sasako took on the case in the court of public opinions with a hidden agenda and personal gain. He waged a media campaign against the Director of Public Prosecution (DDP) Ronald Bei Talasasa and demanded the reinstatement of the case. Sasako cooked up a storm and conspiracy theory, alleging that the DPP was covering up for a miscarriage of justice by deliberately omitting vital evidences by police witnesses against Ms Edward.

The names and reputations of the magistrate, police, DDP and Ms Edward were dragged under the mud for a long time by Sasako. Unknown to the public in the Solomon Islands and especially the Solomon Star, which Sasako had used as a mouthpiece to wage his media campaign, was Quan, the owner of QQQ Wholesale and Sasako’s financier in several past elections, was fighting a multi-million dollar law suit against his ex-wife in Brisbane over child custody, ownership of their properties and million dollar investments in Australia and Asia.

Sasako’s role was vital to the case in Brisbane because if the DDP was to re-open the case and Ms Edward was jailed over the allegations, Quan could have used the guilty verdict in the Solomon Islands to discredit his ex-wife’s reputation as a trustworthy claimant over the custody of their children, properties and the QQQ multi-million dollar investments in Australia and Asia (detail withheld). In the end, Sasako failed to convince the Magistrate and DDP to reopen the case. Interestingly, when Sasako was given a post as a political appointee to the government of former Prime Minister Danny Philip, Quan, who has no academic or otherwise credential was subsequently appointed as the Solomon Islands Consul in Brisbane.

Fourthly, in 2001-2004 as a former member of the Solomon Islands parliament opposition, Sasako waged a media campaign to discredit former Prime Minister, Allan Kemakeza. He accused him left, right and center of corruption and involvement in criminal activities. But this is not new, except for Sasako’s hypocrisy. In 2001, I wrote an email while in Canberra after receiving information about the killing of 11 Kwaio armed men in South Guadalcanal. I sent the email to some of my colleagues both in Australia and the Solomon Islands. I also mentioned that Sasako and Kemakeza were aware of the trip, which was intended to capture the Guadalcanal armed militia leader, Harold Keke.

The trip was motivated by an undisclosed bounty on the militia’s head if the group captures him and hands him alive over to the government. Not only that journalists in the Solomon Islands ridiculed the news update, but Sasako dismissed the story as speculative and fabrication of information. He stated in an email to me via a third party that even if it was true, there was no way that "God and Satan" could have slept together in one bed – a reference Sasako made to describe him as "God" (a righteous man)  and Kemakeza as "Satan" (evil man). Interestingly, in 2004, Sasako joined Kemakeza’s government as the Minister of Agriculture. Sasako became the wife of Satan. Additionally, the story was proven to be true – there was no lies and Sasako ate his own words.

Fifth, following the confirmation of the killing of the 11 armed Kwaio men by now jailed Guale warlord, Harold Keke, a Commission of Inquiries was established by the government to investigate the case. Individuals and politicians were called and interrogated about their knowledge and involvement in the botched trip. There were 12 armed militia men and 11 of them were from Kwaio who had went on the canoe trip to Weathercoast. And only one person of Bougainvillean origin was released by Keke. The Bougainvillean was told to return to Honiara and inform those people who had sent the group that the 11 armed Kwaio men had been killed.

When Sasako was called to the Commission of Inquiries and interrogated on whether or not he was aware of the group, the planning and executing of the trip? Sasako answered by admitting that he went to the house that night, but he did not know that the group was holding a meeting in the other room. Well Sasako – you cannot fool anybody (detail withheld).

Sixth, in May 2001 and December 2002, Sasako attended two “one-hour-each” conferences at John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. In his CV Sasako claimed to have obtained two diplomas. I have confirmation from both the institution and the Solomon Islands government that this is a big fat lie. Those workshops were simply non-academic accredited conferences. They were funded by the Institution, but like any other conference, they did not amount to awarding of Diplomas. So Sasako, you cannot tell lies in 21st century and thinking that no one could find out. I have a copy of your CV with manufactured qualifications. Your only qualification (the highest) is Diploma in Journalism at UPNG in 1977.

Seventh, following the post-coup national election in November 2001, Sasako won his parliamentary seat of East Kwaio Constituency, Malaita Province. After few years in the Opposition, he joined the government of Kemakeza as Minister of Agriculture. In May 2005, he resigned as a Minister and took up a job with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States Secretariat in Brussels. In the process of moving from Honiara to Brussels, he deliberately refused to resign as a Member of Parliament for East Kwaio because if he did, he would not be illegible for Life-pension of parliamentarians in the Solomon Islands.

The issue came to light when the late Joses Sanga and one of his colleagues were attending an ACP meeting in Brussels. The General Secretary of the ACP, John Kaputin, who is Sasako’s personal friend of PNG’s origin, knew about it and in line with the principle of good governance, he requested Sasako to resign from his post as press secretary of ACP immediately. Sasako resigned in disgrace and on his arrival in Solomon Islands, he went berserk in the local media accusing the late Sanga of jealousy.  Sasako did not bother to see his fat corruption and instead he had the tenacity to criticize others.

Eighth, as Minister of Agriculture, Sasako bombarded the news media as always to talk about the need for Solomon Islands government politicians to uphold the principles of good governance, leadership accountability and anti-corruption. In the midst of his ongoing media blitz, he was physically assaulted by an ethnic Malaitan man, Batolo, whom Sasako was having a sexual affair with his wife. Sasako was forced to pay SID$10,000 compensation for his cultural indiscretion. But weeks later, Sasako was caught again by the same person with his wife and he stubbed Sasako. Sasako was rushed to hospital and later recover. But upon his release from hospital, he came out in the local media and thanked the Christian community in Solomon Islands for their prayers (detail withheld). What a hypocrite?

Ninth, in 2007, Sasako came out in the local and regional media and ridiculing the then Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare, alleging that he (Sogavare) was allowing fortune-tellers or black magicians to guide his political decisions. Sasako wrote an article and published by the Fiji-based Island Business Monthly and simply ridiculed Sogavare state of mind and fitness to govern the country. Few months later, Sasako accepted an offer by the same person whom he had earlier ridiculed as insane to be his Media Adviser. Talking about flip-flops and using media blitz to threaten people and forcing them to give Sasako a job opportunity is not a problem to this shameless and headless creature.

Tenth, between 2010-2012, Sasako teamed up with a New Zealander, who had claimed to have a magic solution to mining problems of the people and local communities near the Gold Ridge area, Central Guadalcanal. Sasako unashamedly wrote daily articles about the many promises of the so called investor. The person was later found by the investment corporation of the Solomon Islands to be a conman, who has no expertise in gold mining anywhere in the world. Instead Sasako became his media manager for misinformation and bogus claims.

Eleventh, but not the least. Sasako has a long history of manipulating government institutions for his own political benefits. Among other cases is this one. During his first term in parliament, the then Clerk to Parliament, advised Sasako that his travelling entitlement as an MP would be ceased because it wasn’t intended for MPs, who were living overseas. In this case, Sasako was living in Brisbane, but attending parliament meetings in the Solomon Islands. The Clerk to Parliament explained to Sasako that the travelling entitlement was intended for local and not overseas traveling. Sasako responded by asking the then Prime Minister of the government, which he was a senior minister, to remove and replace the Clerk to Parliament. The government obligated to Sasako's political request and he continued to abuse his traveling entitlement as MP for East Kwaio and North Brisbane until the end of his tenure.

There is an obvious difference between Sasako and myself. I can say with a degree of satisfaction and certainty that I have spent the past twenty years of my life fighting corruption, especially people like Sasako, in the Solomon Islands. My work has been well documented in an Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Foreign Correspondent documentary film, which based on my investigative reporting about “Logging and Corruption” in the Solomon Islands (1996).

One interesting fact about Sasako is this: he is very brave to tell lies and selling his writing skills to anyone and everyone for a few dollars. He is known in the Solomon Islands as a bully-boy of the local news media. But when I highlighted his past history of corruption, his answer was: “if there is any one single sinner that Jesus Christ came and died for him, it has to be Sasako”. Wow, what a hypocrite? While no one denies God's faithfulness, who forgives and forgets, Sasako should also extends this forgiveness to most of his former victims.

For public information, I will deal with Sasako's accusation that I was sacked by the Solomon Star for fabricating stories. The allegations and accusations weren't only false, but exposes Sasako's ignorance about the true facts of my case. And for Sasako and critics, here are the facts. My sacking was a badge of honor for me. Being an ethnic Polynesian from a minority group in the predominantly Melanesian country, I've always tried my hardest to report fairly and objectively because I've no ethnic loyalty to any Melanesian politician. I've often considered myself to be an honest, hardworking and non-compromising journalist. I'm among the first local journalist to take on a sitting Prime Minister and his powerful networks of crooks, without fear or favor. Interestingly back then the Prime Minister was a share-holder of the Solomon Star newspaper (this issue was highlighted in a speech/presentation by a former local journalist, Johnson Honimae, in an academic meet at Newcastle University, Australia, in 1992). I did not know about it until I left the Solomon Star newspaper.  Interestingly, few weeks earlier and days prior to my sacking, the then Prime Minister personally appointed the publisher of the Solomon Star newspaper as the new Chairman of the country's Constituency Boundary Commission. Blatant corruption is not only restricted to politicians.

Interestingly, the stories, which were the basis of my sacking were sanctioned by the news editor and editor for publication after facts-checking them with document and interviewing notes. If the Solomon Star publisher was an honest person, he would have sacked both the editor and myself. Despite the fact that the stories were based on hard evidence, the Publisher - under duress from the then Prime Minister - terminated my employment. My termination was typical of tongahiti (Melanesian black magic mentality) politics. I was used as a scapegoat. After three years of fending for myself, following the refusal by the Solomon Star publisher to provide legal assistance to me against multiple defamatory lawsuits by a former prime minister, a commissioner of police, a senior police officer, directors of the Honiara Casino, politicians and senior bureaucrats, I won the first case in the High Courts of the Solomon Islands in September 1997. It led to the withdrawal of five other defamatory cases against me. My lawyer at that time was Andrew Nori, (now deceased) who later turned rogue and became the leader of the Malaita Eagle Force (MEF) in 2000 - 2003. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) paid for my legal defense.

The above article and the views expressed are my own and they are "Not" representative of the ethnic minority group of Rennell and Bellona Province, members of my immediate and extended family and anyone for that matter. I own the views and anyone wishes to challenge them, you are welcome to do so by writing to my blog: Pasifik Wantoks International.