Sir Michael Somare has a problem. He needs to get to Fiji for the annual Pacific Islands forum, which he is the chairperson of. But he can't take the normal route through Brisbane. He has been banned from entering Australia, even to transit.

SIR MICHAEL SOMARE: Yes I was surprised and I thought it very strange, that the government has made this decision and that I am barred from going anywhere near Australia.

The only solution is to charter an entire plane. An expensive operation, but he'll put it to good use, picking up other stranded Pacific leaders along the way. Sir Michael has become embroiled in a dispute between Australia and the Solomons over Australia's attempts to arrest the designated Attorney-General of the Solomons, Julian Moti, on an alleged sex offence 10 years ago.
At Australia's request, Moti had been arrested while transiting in PNG, but he was granted bail and then flown to the Solomons in a PNG Defence Force airplane, an act which Sir Michael claims was not authorised by him or his government, he’s launched his own inquiry but has been roundly reprimanded by Australia.
Michael Somare has had ongoing issues with Australia in recent years but his particular sensitivity in the Moti affair is not with Moti himself but the manner in which his arrest was conducted in PNG - police in Australia calling Australian police stationed as advisers in PNG to arrange the warrant without the involvement of the PNG Government, the Department of Prosecutions or the Police Commissioner.

SIR MICHAEL SOMARE: They went ahead and the issue the warrant? They should have got the state prosecutor.

REPORTER: Australia wanted him arrested and they contacted an Australian in PNG.

SIR MICHAEL SOMARE: What you think we're doing?

Apparently, Sir Michael's explanation to Parliament and the announcement of an internal inquiry into who authorised the flight of Julian Moti has not satisfied Australia.

SIR MICHAEL SOMARE: Why do I want to get interference from outside. Don't tell me how I should buy my commission of inquiry. Get out! Let me look after the Government.

They have asked you for a explanation before you are allowed back into Australia. Will you be giving that explanation?

SIR MICHAEL SOMARE: Me? I have no explanation to make to Australian. What sort of explanation are you asking me about? I have no explanation for the Australian people. I said, forty years in politics I have dealt with all Australian ministers of external territories, former prime ministers are Australia, of Labor, Liberal we have always had an excellent rapport. And 2006 I get this from Australian Foreign Minister. Come on? What’s going on, what is the agenda, give us your agenda?

What Australia's agenda is, is asked less rhetorically at Sir Michael's first port of call, Honiara in the Solomon Islands. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has also lost his transit rights through Australia but that is the least of his problems. He claims Australia is trying to bring down his government through RAMSI, the Regional Assistance Mission in the Solomon Islands, a predominantly Australian operation. In recent days, Sogavare has had his designated Attorney-General arrested by Australian police in the Solomons and just yesterday, Australian police arrested his Minister for Immigration for issuing Julian Moti an entry document.
Today his entire cabinet have arrived to greet Sir Michael and farewell Mr Sogavare. The Australian Police Commissioner in the Solomons, Shane Castles, seems a little on the outer today as does the acting head of the Australian mission, standing in for her boss who was evicted by Sogavare a few weeks before.
But the tension between Sogavare and Australia is about to take one more turn for the worse. As he leaves, Sogavare has finalised instructions to have Shane Castles sacked and Australian police in RAMSI have a surprise of their own for Sogavare soon after his plane takes off.

MANASSEH SOGAVARE: It is very sad actually. The way to sort out problems is to talk, not to shut doors. That is the Melanisian way of dealing with things. And Downer and John Howard have always been talking about the specific way of doing things and the Pacific way of doing things is to open doors and talk and if you shut doors and I don't understand how they fit into the Pacific way of doing things.

The Australian Government would probably challenge Sogavare's capacity for calm discussion, but today he is certainly willing to talk, something he has rarely done with the media. And he gives his first insights into why he believes Australia is out to destroy him.

REPORTER: We can see that there is no love lost. You have said that Canberra hates your guts, I think was the quote. Why do they hate your guts?

MANASSEH SOGAVARE: Well I am at a lose too, because the issue of the commission of inquiry but we cannot see eye-to-eye, and I have made it very clear to them that the commission of inquiry is about good governance it is about transparency is about accountability the very issues that RAMSI is there to advance.

The inquiry the Prime Minister refers to concerns riots that rocked the Solomons six months ago leading to a wave of lootings, arson and destruction that swept through the city. Sogavare called for an inquiry into the causes and conduct of the riots. Julian Moti helped draw up the terms of reference. And Sogavare appointed noted former Australian judge Marcus Einfeld as the commissioner. Within weeks, Enfield was facing intense media scrutiny over a number of speeding fines, forcing him to resign from the Solomons inquiry.

SIR MICHAEL SOMARE: It was a one-off thing, but when the Moti issue came it seemed to the a very interesting trend. Every time we find some body to work for you and on something that would help them, they will come and say something about that.

REPORTER: It seems very clear they are determined not to let Mote take up a position as Attorney-General with you. Why do you think that is?

MANASSEH SOGAVARE: Julian Moti was actively involved in the terms of reference of the commission of inquiry, a direct involvement in the establishment of the commission. I guess they are not happy with that.

Somare's convoy is now gathering steam. The last seat's reserved for a third prime minister - Vanuatu's Ham Lini. Between them, these three leaders represent the heartland of Melanesia, politically represented in an alliance known as the Melanesian Spearhead Group. PNG, the Solomons and Vanuatu - a chain of islands more commonly referred to by Australian politicians as the "Arc of Instability". And for Sogavare, at least an injury is about to be added to the insult.
Fiji, as delegates for the Pacific Islands Forum begin to gather. News comes through that Australian police officers in RAMSI have broken into Sogavare's office the day after he left for the forum.

MANASSEH SOGAVARE: This was considerate as a very provocative action, totally unnecessary.

Armed with a warrant, police have reportedly seized a fax machine and related evidence belonging to the PM and probably relating to Moti’s entry into the country. Sogavare has little to say in public but now gives his first extended interview since the crisis with Australia began.

REPORTER: Clearly they are not backing down. They have raided your officer. When did you hear about that and what have been your response?

MANASSEH SOGAVARE: Well I think that is totally unwarranted action, provocative and totally unnecessarily, specifically if they just wanted the fax we would have just handed over to them. They said the documents were faxed as I told the fax, yes, documents were faxed from that fax, what do they want to know?

REPORTER: From Australia's perspective they are trying to track down a man they believe is a sexual offender. They probably expect loyalty from an ally and loyalty from aid recipients in assisting them.

MANASSEH SOGAVARE: We are not breaking any laws doing that. And I am not answerable to Australian law mate. Australia law does not apply in Solomon Islands.

Sogavare stresses his belief that all actions against Moti and his government, stem from Australia's determination to prevent an inquiry into the April riots. A message he says was conveyed to him directly by John Howard.

MANASSEH SOGAVARE: It was very clear from John Howard when I had a conversation with him. He said would I like this commission of inquiry because it is targeting Australian personnel in the participating force.

REPORTER: Mr Howard said this?

MANASSEH SOGAVARE: If you think that so what? This is exposing your weaknesses in RAMSI in operation in Solomon Islands.

REPORTER: So in your phone call to Mr Howard he specifically said he doesn't want the inquiry to go ahead because it will reflect poorly on the Australian personnel?

SIR MICHAEL SOMARE: On Australian personnel yes.

On the eve of John Howards arrival in Fiji for the forum, the Melanesian nations meet to discuss their position on the raid, issuing a statement roundly condemning the raid and Australias role in it.

REPORTER: You have a leadership role in the region but the Solomons isn’t your country, how deeply do you want to become involved in this?

SIR MICHAEL SOMARE: I am talking about the principle of interference with the sovereign right of a nation and as a chair of the forum and a chair which I will be handing over, I am concerned that this is happening on our doorsteps. Australia happens to be our good neighbour we have been good partners, and so suddenly who gives the orders for these things to happen.

Now in Fiji Prime Minister Howard remains relaxed in the face of condemnation.

REPORTER: They have accused your government of violating their sovereignty. That is very serious.

JOHN HOWARD: I’m not quite sure they said that, not my government, anyway we haven't.

RAMSI is one of his proudest achievements but it would seem that his Solomons counterpart is not so generous in his assessment.

REPORTER: Things are clearly escalating, where do you go from here, do you want Australia to remain in the Solomons?

MANASSEH SOGAVARE: Well if they push us too far mate, we lose nothing by repealing the Act that governs the presence off RAMSI in the Solomons, I need to make that very clear.

REPORTER: You lose 600 million….

MANASSEH SOGAVARE: We losing nothing. We're losing nothing. If this money, the Australian to the Solomon Islands is less than 20 per cent of the so-called $800 million is spent in the Solomon Islands. More than 80% of Australian aid is spent in Australia.

REPORTER: It is spent on law and order. What you will lose is…

MANASSEH SOGAVARE: This is nonsense about the presence of the people to bring law and order, is nothing. You remove Australian police and soldiers tomorrow and nothing will happen in a Solomon Islands. This is all just make-up. I don't want this Solomon Islands to go down to another East Timor. I will not allow it. I am challenging them.

REPORTER: That is how it is presented.

MANASSEH SOGAVARE: That that is how it's presented.

REPORTER: The Australian government does present RAMSI with some credibility that it has been a great success it has brought peace and security it has made the Solomon Islanders feel safe, it has made the people in Guadalcanal feel safe.

MANASSEH SOGAVARE: I it is driving the country down the path of another if a crisis. It is not addressing the underlying issues that cause the party to collapse and corruption in year 2000. These are not the issues of good governance issues like that, the issues are cultural in nature.

REPORTER: The stakes are being raised on you but you're raising them back. You are seriously saying that you don’t care if Australia is there or not.

MANASSEH SOGAVARE: I don't care. I don't care.

Over two days the forum eases some of the chill between Australia and two of its nearest neighbours but speculation amongst the delegates continues that Mr Sogavare could be arrested tomorrow when he returns to the Solomon's on Sir Michael Samaras plane.

REPORTER: What happens? You turn up to the airport and there is Australian police there and Solomon Island police there, what is going to happen if they move to arrest you?

MANASSEH SOGAVARE: I don’t know what you know mate but if that happens that is going to be a turning point of the Solomon Islands, I'm telling you that.

REPORTER: What would be the turning point, what would happen?

MANASSEH SOGAVARE: That is going to be serious. Do you want chaos in the Solomon Islands, then you do that.

Reporter/Camera:
MARK DAVIS

Editor:
ROWAN TUCKER-EVANS

Executive Producer:
MIKE CAREY