Solomon Islands critic of China, Daniel Suidani, dies on eve of protest court ruling

Sign up now: Get STs newsletters delivered to your inbox

SYDNEY - Daniel Suidani, a former school teacher turned Solomon Islands provincial leader who won international recognition for his defiance of China, has died in Honiara, his friends said on Tuesday.

As premier of Malaita, Solomon Islands largest province, Suidani banned Chinese companies after the Pacific Island nations newly-elected Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare cut diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favour of Beijing in 2019.

Suidani, who also invited the U.S. to contribute aid, said he opposed the change in diplomatic ties because Sogavare had not canvassed his intentions during the election campaign.

Solomon Islands later struck a security pact with China, becoming Beijings closest ally in the strategically-located Pacific Islands, raising concern in Washington and Canberra.

Suidani, 55, died in a Honiara hospital on Tuesday, his political adviser and friend Celsus Talifilu said in a social media post. The cause of death was not disclosed. In 2021, Suidani travelled to Taipei for medical treatment for a suspected brain tumour.

A Honiara court is due to rule on Wednesday on whether unlawful assembly charges against Suidani and Talifilu, related to 2021 anti-China protests in Malaita, should be thrown out.

Suidani was a powerful speaker, and an important figure for democracy in Solomon Islands, Talifilu told Reuters.

The Solomon Islands National Universitys student council wrote on Facebook that the nation had lost a son who advocated for strong democratic values.

Solomon Islands Broadcasting reported the Malaita provincial government had released a statement mourning its member and former leader, saying we learn from him in positive ways that help us together.

Suidani was toppled as premier in 2023 in a no-confidence motion that his supporters boycotted, and