{{Short description|Ni-Vanuatu politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} '''Harry Iaris Iauko''' (died 10 December 2012<ref name="death">[http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=72806 "State funeral in Vanuatu for Minister of Infrastructure and Public Utilities"], Radio New Zealand International, 11 December 2012</ref>) was a Ni-Vanuatu politician. He was a Member of Parliament for Tanna, representing the Vanua'aku Pati, from 2008 until his death.
==Political career== ===Secretary-General of the Vanua'aku Pati=== In 2005, he was appointed Secretary-General of the Vanua'aku Pati. He had been described as "the architect of the re-election of (Edward) Natapei" to the party's leadership. ''The Contemporary Pacific'' alleged that Iauko had "made a number of promises to various people in return for votes".<ref>[http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2006/August/tcp-van.htm "Political Reviews: Melanesia in Review: Issues and Events 2005: Vanuatu"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616061705/http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2006/August/tcp-van.htm |date=16 June 2011 }}, Anita Jowitt, ''The Contemporary Pacific'', vol.18, n°2, autumn 2006, pp.430-438</ref>
In 2008, Vanuatu's Ombudsman recommended that criminal charges be brought against him concerning the sale of public land at Fatumaru Bay. The Ombudsman stated that Iauko might have been bribed.<ref name="RNZI_41003">{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=41003 |title=Port Vila mayor referred to Vanuatu’s public prosecutor over land deal |date=21 July 2008 |work=Radio New Zealand International |accessdate=2 October 2011}}</ref>
===Member of Parliament=== Following the 2008 general election, he was a Member of Parliament for Tanna, representing the Vanua'aku Pati.<ref name="islandsbusiness.com">[http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=130/focusContentID=15575/tableName=mediaRelease/overideSkinName=newsArticle-full.tpl "Vanuatu government under political pressure to resign"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713065143/http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=130/focusContentID=15575/tableName=mediaRelease/overideSkinName=newsArticle-full.tpl |date=13 July 2011 }}, Radio Vanuatu, 10 June 2009</ref><ref name="news.vu">[http://www.news.vu/nouvelles/292-la-municipalite-de-port-vila-sous-le-controle-des-militants-vap "La municipalité de Port-Vila sous le contrôle des militants VAP"]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''Vanuatu Independent'', 24 February 2009</ref>
In November 2008, Prime Minister Edward Natapei suspended him from the Vanua'aku Pati for signing a failed motion of no confidence against him.<ref>[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-35942924_ITM "Vanuatu ruling party suspends its renegade MPs"], Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association, 25 November 2008</ref> In June 2009, however, Iauko was appointed Minister for Lands in Natapei's Cabinet.<ref name="islandsbusiness.com"/><ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/index.php?news=4748 "MP Iauko, new Lands Minister"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717084716/http://www.dailypost.vu/index.php?news=4748 |date=17 July 2011 }}, ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', 10 June 2009</ref>
A few days after his appointment, he unsuccessfully demanded the resignation of Opposition MP Ralph Regenvanu, who had accused him of being "corrupt".<ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/index.php?news=4821 "MP Regenvanu forced to apologise over email"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317081433/http://www.dailypost.vu/index.php?news=4821 |date=17 March 2011 }}, ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', 22 June 2009</ref>
In May 2010, claiming that he had been elected president of the Vanua'aku Pati -a claim which Natapei contested-, he joined the opposition to Natapei's government, and was appointed deputy Opposition leader.<ref name="RNZI_53674">{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=53674 |title=Renegade Vanua’aku Pati MP sides with Vanuatu opposition |date=20 May 2010 |work=Radio New Zealand International |accessdate=2 October 2011}}</ref>
===Minister for Infrastructure and Public Utilities=== In December, when Natapei was ousted in a vote of no confidence and replaced as prime minister by Sato Kilman, Iauko was appointed Minister for Infrastructure and Public Utilities.<ref>[http://216.18.218.194/~dailypos/content/new-govt "New govt"]{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', 7 December 2010</ref>
===Alleged assault of journalists, corruption=== On 4 March 2011, the ''Vanuatu Daily Post'' accused him of having led a group of "thugs" into the newspaper's offices, arriving in a government-registered vehicle. The ''Daily Post'' reported that Iauko threatened to "break [the] face" of editor Royson Willie, and stood by and watched while his "thugs" strangled and kicked publisher Marc Neil-Jones. This followed a series of articles which the newspaper had published criticising several of Iauko's actions as minister. Neil-Jones said he would press charges against Iauko "on several counts including aiding and abetting an assault". The ''Daily Post'' on 5 March headlined "Iauko brings disgrace to Kilman government", describing Iauko's actions, and also published again a list of several acts of "alleged corrupt land dealings" which the minister had been involved in.<ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/sites/default/files/Issue%203182.pdf "Iauko brings disgrace to Kilman government"]{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', 5 March 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/content/when-will-destruction-stop "When will the destruction stop?"], ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', 5 March 2011</ref>
Iauko later gave his side of the story to ''The Independent'', saying he had indeed confronted Neil-Jones on the premises of the ''Daily Post'', because he had "had enough" of that newspaper's "unfair and unbalanced" reporting. "I said: 'Marc, I know you are all about making money, selling news, and all I want is my side of the events told.' [...] Then, while I was talking, one of my boys just walked past me, grabbed his head and put it on the table, then the other grabbed his head and put it on the table and I said, 'Enough', and we walked out." Iauko denied that Neil-Jones had been strangled, kicked or pushed to the ground, and denied that he had brought more than three men with him into Neil-Jones' office - a claim which Neil-Jones said was contradicted by photographs taken by the ''Daily Post'' staff.<ref>[http://www.vanuatunews.com/independent-news/588-ive-had-enough-says-public-utilities-minister-harry-iauko "I’ve had enough says Public Utilities Minister Harry Iauko"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110330222008/http://www.vanuatunews.com/independent-news/588-ive-had-enough-says-public-utilities-minister-harry-iauko |date=30 March 2011 }}, ''The Independent'', 15 March 2011</ref>
Three weeks after the events, police arrested four suspects, whose names were not immediately revealed. Neil-Jones said the police had told him Iauko, who was "currently undergoing medical treatment in Australia", was "likely to be charged on his return".<ref name="RNZI_59636">{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=59636 |title=Arrests over assault of Vanuatu newspaper publisher |date=28 March 2011 |work=Radio New Zealand International |accessdate=2 October 2011}}</ref> In early April, it was reported he would appear in court, on charges of "inciting and abetting assault and unlawful assembly", and that "the government of Sato Kilman continue[d] to face criticism for not taking any action to discipline its Minister over the alleged assault which ha[d] prompted outrage among regional media organisations and strong statements from various foreign diplomats". The government stated it would wait for the court's ruling before deciding on whether to expel Iauko from government.<ref name="RNZI_59820">{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=59820 |title=Vanuatu Minister Iauko to appear in court in relation to assault of publisher |date=5 April 2011 |work=Radio New Zealand International |accessdate=2 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="RNZI_59837">{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=59837 |title=Vanuatu PM stresses rule of law amid Iauko case |date=6 April 2011 |work=Radio New Zealand International |accessdate=2 October 2011}}</ref>
On 6 April, Iauko failed to appear in court for a first hearing.<ref>[http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=59887 "Vanuatu cabinet minister misses court appearance"], Radio New Zealand International, 7 April 2011</ref>
The issue of his potential suspension from government, however, soon became moot, as the Kilman government was narrowly ousted in a parliamentary motion of no confidence on 24 April, and Iauko lost his government position along with every other minister.<ref name="RNZI_60202">{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=60202 |title=New look Vanuatu government sworn in |date=25 April 2011 |work=Radio New Zealand International |accessdate=2 October 2011}}</ref> The matter was revived three weeks later, on 13 May, when the Court of Appeal voided the election of Serge Vohor's new government on constitutional grounds, and the Kilman government was restored.<ref>[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201105/s3216539.htm "Vanuatu Court decision results in change of government"], ABC Radio Australia, 13 May 2011</ref> This lasted for only a month; on 16 June, the Kilman premiership was itself voided on constitutional grounds by the Supreme Court's Chief Justice Vincent Lunabek, and Iauko lost office once more.<ref name="RNZI_61230">{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=61230 |title=Vanuatu Court rules Kilman election void, reinstates Natapei as interim PM |date=16 June 2011 |work=Radio New Zealand International |accessdate=2 October 2011}}</ref> He regained it on 26 June when Kilman was restored as prime minister by Parliament, and reinstated his Cabinet.<ref name="RNZI_61430">{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=61430 |title=Vanuatu’s new PM reinstates cabinet |date=27 June 2011 |work=Radio New Zealand International |accessdate=2 October 2011}}</ref>
===Conviction=== After an adjournment of the case at the request of the defence, it was reported that Iauko would appear in court on 10 June, on charges of unlawful assembly, trespass, intentional assault and threatening.<ref name="RNZI_60855">{{cite web |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=60855 |title=Vanuatu cabinet minister to stand trial on violence charges next month |date=27 May 2011 |work=Radio New Zealand International |accessdate=2 October 2011}}</ref> On 30 June, having pled guilty to aiding and abetting damage to property and aiding and abetting intentional assault, he was fined Vt15,000. The other charges were withdrawn by the prosecution.<ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/content/iauko-pleads-guilty-fined-vt15000-court "Iauko pleads guilty, fined Vt15,000 by court"]{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', 1 July 2011</ref> Reporters Without Borders denounced the fine as "risible", saying it was "not commensurate with the gravity of the crime", and that such a small fine for an assault on a journalist risked pushing other journalists to censor themselves rather than criticise politicians.<ref>[http://en.rsf.org/asie-risible-fine-for-minister-who-12-07-2011,39692.html "Risible fine for minister who assaulted newspaper publisher"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812014401/http://en.rsf.org/asie-risible-fine-for-minister-who-12-07-2011,39692.html |date=12 August 2011 }}, Reporters Without Borders, 12 July 2011</ref>
In late 2011, Transparency International Vanuatu published an article "detailing corrupt practices in which Mr Iauko was allegedly involved". TIV president Marie-Noelle Ferrieux-Patterson told the press that Iauko had responded by coming to Transparency International's office "threatening to throw staff out the window and burn their building down".<ref>[http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=65207 "Vanuatu minister Iauko threatens TI staff over alleged corruption"], Radio New Zealand International, 22 December 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201112/s3396772.htm "Another assault complaint against Vanuatu minister"], Radio Australia, 22 December 2011</ref>
===2012 general election=== As dissidents from the Vanua'aku Pati, he and his supporters stood as candidates of the Iauko Group in the October 2012 general election.<ref>[http://www.pacificpolicy.org/blog/2012/10/29/party-names-and-abbreviations/ "Party names and abbreviations"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030214659/http://pacificpolicy.org/blog/2012/10/29/party-names-and-abbreviations/ |date=30 October 2013 }}, Pacific Institute of Public Policy, 29 October 2012</ref> He retained his seat in Parliament; the Iauko Group obtained three seats in all,<ref>[http://vanuatudaily.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/extraordinary-gazette-no-17-2012-6-november.pdf Republic of Vanuatu Official Gazette] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220085250/http://vanuatudaily.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/extraordinary-gazette-no-17-2012-6-november.pdf |date=20 December 2014 }}, 6 November 2012</ref> and renewed its support for the Kilman coalition government. Iauko retained his position in government, as Minister for Infrastructure, Public Utilities and Public Service.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-v/vanuatu.html Cabinet of Vanuatu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309185518/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-v/vanuatu.html |date=9 March 2013 }}, CIA, 30 November 2012</ref>
===Other activities=== Iauko was a former chairman of the board of management of Air Vanuatu.<ref name="news.vu"/><ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/index.php?news=4748 "Ombudsman report blasts Avock, Iauko"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717084716/http://www.dailypost.vu/index.php?news=4748 |date=17 July 2011 }}, ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', 16 July 2008</ref><ref>[http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2006/August/tcp-van.htm "Political Reviews: Melanesia in Review: Issues and Events 2005: Vanuatu"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616061705/http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2006/August/tcp-van.htm |date=16 June 2011 }}, Anita Jowitt, ''The Contemporary Pacific'', vol.18, n°2, autumn 2006, pp.430-438</ref> He was removed from the position by Minister of Public Utilities Serge Vohor in 2009.<ref>[http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2008/September/tcp_van.htm "Melanesia in Review: Issues and Events, 2007: Vanuatu"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415202252/http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2008/September/tcp_van.htm |date=15 April 2009 }}, Anita Jowitt, ''The Contemporary Pacific'', vol.20, n°2, autumn 2008, pp.475-480</ref> In April 2012, Prime Minister Sato Kilman gave Iauko ministerial responsibility for Air Vanuatu.<ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/content/pm-reallocates-air-van-portfolio-iauko "PM reallocates Air Van portfolio to Iauko"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501071556/http://www.dailypost.vu/content/pm-reallocates-air-van-portfolio-iauko |date=1 May 2012 }}, ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', 13 April 2012</ref>
==Death and legacy== On 10 December 2012, he was taken suddenly ill while in a hotel in Luganville, and was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short while later. The cause of death was not immediately made public.<ref name="death" />
His death led to a by-election for his Tanna seat in Parliament. The by-election was won comfortably by his son Pascal Sebastien Iauko, "a complete unknown in Vanuatu politics" at the age of 27, who stood as the candidate of the Iauko group and is thought to have benefited from his father's continued popularity in the constituency.<ref>[http://pacificpolitics.com/2013/06/voting-behaviour-and-by-elections-in-vanuatu/ "By-elections and voting behaviour in Vanuatu"], Pacific Institute of Public Policy, June 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/content/iauko’s-son-wins-tanna-seat "IAUKO’S SON WINS TANNA SEAT"], ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', 30 May 2013</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iauko, Harry}} Category:2012 deaths Category:Members of the Parliament of Vanuatu Category:Government ministers of Vanuatu Category:Vanua'aku Pati politicians Category:Year of birth missing Category:21st-century Vanuatuan politicians