Ham Lini

Infobox_Prime Minister

---

name = Ham Lini
order = Prime Minister of Vanuatu
president = Kalkot Mataskelekele
deputy =
term_start = 11 December 2004
term_end = 22 September 2008
predecessor = Serge Vohor
successor = Edward Natapei
constituency = Pentecost, Penama
birth_date = 08 December 1951
birth_place = Pentecost, New Hebrides
death_date =
death_place =
spouse = Ruth Lini
party = VNUP

Ham Lini Vanuaroroa (born December 8, 1951) was the Prime Minister of Vanuatu from December 11, 2004 until 22 September 2008. Lini is the brother of Walter Lini, one of the founders of the modern Republic of Vanuatu. Ham Lini is the current leader of the National United Party (VNUP).

He is an MP from Pentecost Island in Penama Province, and he has been Minister for Public Works and Utilities since September 2008.

Prime Minister of Vanautu

The VNUP which became the largest party in parliament in the July 2004 parliamentary elections, with 10 of 52 seats. He became a candidate for Prime Minister, but was defeated by Serge Vohor, though Lini also had the support of the largest faction of the Vanua'aku Pati, led by outgoing Prime Minister Edward Natapei. He continued to dispute the results and lead the opposition to the Vohor government until August 20, 2004, when Vohor and Lini formed a National Unity Government, in which Vohor remained Prime Minister and Lini became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs.

In December 2004, Vohor was ousted after only a few months in office in a no confidence vote for unilaterally establishing relations with Taiwan (Republic of China), and Lini was elected Prime Minister by the Parliament. cite news |first=|last=|title=Vanuatu lawmakers elect Natapei as prime minister |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/22/asia/AS-Vanuatu-Politics.php|work=Associated Press|publisher=International Herald Tribune|date=2008-09-22 |accessdate=2008-09-22] One of Lini's first actions after taking office was the re-establishment of full diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.

On March 21, 2006, Lini survived a no confidence vote in Parliament by a vote of 30 to 20. cite news |first=|last=|title=Prime Minister Withstands No-Confidence Vote
url=http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2006/03/22/vanuatu-prime-minister-withstands-no-confidence-vote|work= Radio Australia |publisher=Pacific Magazine|date=2006-03-22 |accessdate=2008-08-01] The opposition, led by former Prime Minister Serge Vohor, had accused the Lini government of weaknesses from a controversial proposal to monopolize kava exports. The Opposition had believed that some parliament members who had supported the government would defect, but few did.

Lini and Vanuatu's council of ministers declared a state of emergency for the capital city of Port Vila in March 2007 following tribal classes between people from the islands of Tanna and Ambrym. cite news |first=|last=|title=State of emergency declared in Vanuatu’s capital after two deaths |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=30541|work= Radio New Zealand International |publisher=|date=2007-03-04 |accessdate=2008-09-22] The clashes, which took place in Blacksands squatter settlement area on the outskirts of Port Vila, killed two people. The fighting broke out when people from Tanna had alleged that a Ambrym man used black magic to harm a Tannese person.

2008 general election

Lini failed to gain a second term as Prime Minister after his National United Party suffered losses in Parliament during the general election held on September 2, 2008, although he was re-elected to his own parliamentary seat. [ [http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200809/s2359773.htm?tab=pacific "Uncertainty after Vanuatu's general election"] , ABC Radio Australia, September 9, 2008.] Edward Natapei of the Vanuaku Pati narrowly defeated his nearest opponent, Maxime Carlot Korman of Lini's VNUP party, with 27 votes to 25 votes in Parliament in a vote three weeks later on September 22, succeeding Lini as Prime Minister.

Natapei pledged to continue many of Lini's policies and incorporate them in his new government. These included anti-corruption measures, transparency, political stability and good governance. Natapei named Lini to his cabinet as Minister for Public Works and Utilities on September 22, 2008. [ cite news |first=|last=|title=New Vanuatu PM names his cabinet line-up|url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=42133 |work= Radio Australia |publisher=|date=2008-09-22 |accessdate=2008-09-22]

References