The European Centre on Pacific Issues, ECSIEP

ecsiep@antenna.nl

Solomons PM forced into hiding

The Solomon Islands Prime Minister has been whisked out of the country's capital for security reasons, until the arrival of the Australian-led intervention force tomorrow. Sir Alan Kemakeza left Honiara on a patrol boat last night and his exact location is being kept a secret. Shortly after he appeared on a nationally broadcast radio program called Talking Truth last night, Sir Alan left the capital in a hurry. A convoy of security vehicles sped Sir Alan to the patrol boat base in Honiara and he hopped aboard one of the patrol boats Australia donated to the Solomons under a South Pacific program. The patrol boat then set out to sea. A spokesman for the Prime Minister said it was done for security reasons. The aim of the Australian-led intervention is to restore law and order. There appears to have been some concern that ex-militants might try to kidnap Sir Alan. The intervention force arrives tomorrow and the ABC understands the Prime Minister is looking forward to its arrival and he will be returning to Honiara for the official welcome. (ABC News online, 23-7-03)

Policing key objective of Solomons operation

The commander of the Australian Federal Police force deploying from Townsville to the Solomon Islands tomorrow says the Australian military will not be on the frontline of the rebuilding effort. Assistant Commissioner Ben McDevitt says policing, not military intervention, is the key objective of Operation Helpem Fren. Prime Minister John Howard has warned of possible Australian casualities, but Assistant Commissioner McDevitt says defence personnel will be called on as a last resort. "I don't think that the situation is such that we need to have military walking around the markets of Honiara, and I say that from the experience that I've had in the last few weeks, I don't think the situation is such that that is actually required," he said. (ABC News online, 23-7-03)

KEKE TACTICAL PROBLEM FOR SOLOMONS POLICE CHIEF

The Solomon Islands Police Commissioner said he'll be seeking advice from the Australian led intervention force soon after it arrives tomorrow on how he can best deal with the renegade militia leader, Harold Keke. Keke and his rebels, who control part of the rugged Weather Coast of Guadalcanal, have been blamed for at least 50 deaths in the past 12 months. The Police Commissioner said he's been trying to establish dialogue with Keke who's holding hostages and is alleged to have killed scores of people. Keke refused to go to Townsville for the peace talks in October 2000 and has stayed outside the Townsville Peace Agreement. Some in the opposing militia, the Maliata Eagle Force, have refused to give up their guns while Keke remains armed. The Solomon Islands Police Commissioner, William Morell, said he's hopeful a full-scale battle in the bush can be avoided. The first troops and police are expected to arrive in Honiara tomorrow. (Radio Australia, 23-7-03)

Keke welcomes force deployment

A Solomon Islands rebel leader blamed for a string of murders and kidnappings in the Pacific nation says he welcomes the arrival of an Australian-led intervention force. Harold Keke, who describes himself as 'General' of the Guadalcanal Liberation Front (GLF), says he is "happy" troops are on their way to the troubled archipelago and promised to release a number of hostages soon. Mr Keke says he has been unfairly blamed for lawlessness which has gripped Guadalcanal, and said the
Solomons' biggest problem was corrupt politicians. "The government blames me for everything but I am only defending my people's land," he said. "We are not rascals, we are fighting for independence. I am not the main problem for the Solomon Islands, it is corrupt politicians and a police force that is beyond the law." The Australian-led intervention force, which is due to arrive on Thursday, is welcome "as long as its first priority is to disarm the militants in Honiara and get rid of corrupt
politicians," he said. Mr Keke says he trusts the Solomons' police commissioner William Morrell, and has invited the English officer to talks following a GLF ceasefire announced last week. "Ever since the ethnic tension began I have been waiting for an honest and neutral police commissioner that I can deal with to straighten out all these matters. I believe William Morrell is honest." Commissioner Morrell says Mr Keke needs to be prosecuted, even if he is gaining support amongst the people of Guadalcanal. "He has been responsible for a number of violent crimes and should be brought to justice," he said. The GLF holds hostage nine members of the Melanesian Brotherhood, an Anglican Christian order whose
men have tried to use their neutrality and spirituality to restrain rival militants during years of ethnic unrest. However Mr Keke has claimed that at least one of the brotherhood was killed recently because he was on a spying mission for the prime minister. Mr Keke has promised to release at least three of the hostages within the next week. Commissioner Morrell has acknowledged human rights abuses had occurred on both sides, citing inadequate or non-existent training of police officers as a cause. "I accept that some of the abuses have been done by special constables involved in the Joint Operations," he said. "It was part of the payoff for peace that after the Townsville Agreement a number of militants on both
sides were drafted in as special constables with little or no training." (ABC News Online, 22-7-03)

Solomons militants warned to accept Australian force

The head of the Solomon Islands police force has warned armed ex-militants not to fight it out with the Australian-led intervention force which starts arriving on Thursday. Solomon Islands police commissioner William Morell says the 300 police involved will not all arrive at once. He says there are still a lot of details that he and senior Australian Federal
Police (AFP) involved in the operation have to sort out. AFP officer Ben McDevitt will become one of Mr Morell's deputy commissioners. Commissioner Morell was asked if he expected armed resistance to the arrival of the force. "I think anybody considering armed resistance would be very unwise," he said. He says he is trying to establish dialogue with the
Guadalcanal militant, Harold Keke, who controls part of the island's Weather Coast, and is trying to persuade Mr Keke that a peaceful solution would be in the best interests of the Guadalcanal people. (ABC online news, 22-7-03)

Australia commits nearly 1700 police and soldiers to Solomons Australia is to provide about three quarters of the intervention force being sent to Solomon Islands. The Cabinet today ratified Australia's arrangements to assist the restoration of law and order there, through what is now known as Operation Helping Friend. Mr Howard said their
contribution will comprise approximately 1,500 Australian Defence Force personnel, 155 Australian Federal Police and 90 personnel from the Australian Protective Services. Mr Howard said he could not put a timeframe on the length of the commitment, and also warned there was a risk of casualties. (Radio New Zealand International, 22-7-03) 

Vanuatu says it is yet to be invited to contribute to Solomons force The spokesman for the Vanuatu Government, Daniel Bangtor, says it is yet to receive any official invitation to provide police or soldiers for the Solomon Islands intervention force. Mr Bangor made the clarification after Vanuatu was named as one of the countries ready to contribute to the force. He says the Government is willing to help but no formal request has been made. Vanuatu has previoulsy been praised for its role in Bougainville where its soldiers acted as interpreters who helped facilitate meetings between warring factions and villagers. (Radio New Zealand International, 22-7-03)

Melanesian Brothers in Solomon Islands may soon be free 

Solomon Islands MP, Yukio Sato, has reiterated his call for dialogue to be opened with the Guadalcanal Weather Coast rebel leader Harold Keke. This comes after Keke revealed he will release more members of the Anglican church's Melanesian Brotherhood who he has been holding hostage. Mr Sato says he received a letter from Keke, saying he will set free three more church workers. It follows the release two weeks ago of four Melanesian Brothers after Mr Sato had met with Keke. At that time Keke also agreed to a ceasefire. Mr Sato says he remains hopefull that the arrival of the intervention force will lead to negotiations with Keke. He says the rebel leader has shown he is ready join the peace process. "his movements since I met him a week ago...he showed firstly he is ready for reconciliation secondly he made a ceasefire agreement plus he released four Melanesian brothers. That is all willingness for the processing of peace I believe." Meanwhile Mr Sato says it is not clear whether Keke will also release six other Brothers he has been holding since the beginning of May. (Radio New Zealand International, 22-7-03)

GUADALCANAL READIES FOR WEATHER COAST REFUGEES

Solomon Islands authorities are preparing for an influx of refugees from the troubled Weathercoast of Guadalcanal island once the Australian-led intervention force arrives this week. More than 1,500 refugees have already set up temporary homes in hills behind the capital, Honiara. The refugees - or internally displaced people (IDPs) - began arriving in Honiara in late May, after fleeing from parts of the Weathercoast where the militant leader, Harold Keke, is in control. The people of Titinge village, which is inland from Honiara, have allowed the refugees to set up camp on their land for three months. However, the deputy director of the Solomon Islands National Disaster Management office, Martin Karani, said more refugees could arrive once the intervention force begins operations. "Right now we've received reports that more than 1,000 people are living behind the no-go zone. And once the force comes in and gets rid of the strongholds of Harold Keke then we would expect an influx of IDPs," Karani said. (Radio Australia, 21-7-03)

AUSTRALIAN WARSHIP BOUND FOR SOLOMONS

Prime Minister John Howard is expecting strong public support for his decision to send an Australian-led intervention force to Solomon Islands. HMAS Manoora leaves for the Solomons capital, Honiara, today while the airlift of police and troops is expected to begin on Thursday. The Manoora will command the multi-national operation. Howard told Chanel Nine that
the Australian people understand why there is a need to help resolve instability in the region. "The Solomons is our patch," he said. "I'm sure the Australian public understands that if the Solomons becomes a failed state, it's a haven potentially for terrorists, drug runners and money launderers ... we don't want that on our door step. "So it's in Australia's interests to forget about any other country for the moment ... it's in Australia's interests that the Solomons not fail." The Australian
warship leaves Townsville this morning with more than 300 personnel on board. Townsville's local federal member of parliament, Peter Lindsay, praised the men and women who will represent Australia in the Solomons. "It is extraordinarily important for Australia and the other South Pacific nations and for the Solomons itself that the failed nation status of the
Solomons be reversed," he said. "It's not in Australia's regional interest from a security point of view to have a nation that is in deep trouble." Lindsay said many of the troops traveling to the Solomons also served as peacekeepers in East Timor. "Australia is determined to help our neighbors, using many of the troops from the Second Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Townsville A Group who first went into Timor and are now going into the Solomons," he said. "They have a long and proud tradition of being there when Australia wants them." The ship will have extensive hospital capabilities as well transporting vehicles and providing air transport assistance for helicopters that will be land-based in the Solomons. The Federal Government is expected to give the official go-ahead for the operation at a cabinet meeting tomorrow. The  intervention force will include Australian soldiers and Australian Federal Police alongside New Zealand and Fijian military personnel. The multi-national force has been training in Townsville ahead of their likely deployment on Thursday. The Australian-led intervention force going to the Solomon Islands this week will be allowed to use lethal force if they face life
threatening situations. About 300 police will be backed by a military contingent of 2,000 from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. The force is gathering in Townsville ith the Australia navy ship Manoora due to sail tomorrow while other elements are expected to be airlifted to the Solomons on Thursday. Defence Minister Senator Robert Hill has told Channel 10 he has now settled their rules of engagement, describing them as "robust". "If there is an issue of a threat against life and if there is a response with heavy weapons, the military would be able to act according and that could include lethal force," Senator Hill said. Cabinet's National Security Committee will meet on Tuesday to formally approve the deployment. Third Brigade Commander David Morrison says the training of nearly 1,000 personnel in Townsville is expected to take three to five days, but the troops will be ready if they are needed sooner. "The training that we're delivering up here is very flexible," Commander Morrison said. "We can extend it if it needs be, or we can shorten it and train at night if we need to. "So really, there's no specific time they'll be ready, but when they deploy they will have been well prepared." Meanwhile, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Allan Kemakeza has invited three of the nation's former leaders to assess the country's progress towards recovery after the deployment of the Australian-led cooperative intervention force. Bartholomew Ulufa'alu, Manassah Sogavare and Francis Billy Hilly, have been invited to lead task forces on economic recovery; development; and education and health. (ABC News Online, 21-7-03)

DOWNER DEFENDS SOLOMONS INTERVENTION COORDINATOR

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer defended the decision to use Australia's new ambassador for counter-terrorism, Nick Warner, to coordinate the intervention forces heading for the Solomon Islands this week. Warner has been at his current job for three months. Downer told Channel Nine he is needed for the effort to restore law and order in the Solomons. "It's a 
question of finding the right person for the right job; the thing about Nick Warner is that he was our high commissioner in Papua New Guinea, he was the head of the south-east Asia division of the department during the bulk of the East Timor crisis in 1999," he said. "He understands the region, he knows the people and of course he's a very able officer; that's
not to say we can't find somebody else to do the other job." Australia's former ambassador to United Nations, Les Luck, will fill the counter-terrorism post until Warner returns. SYDNEY, Australia (ABC News Online, 20-7-03)

WARLORD "SATAAN" SPREADS FEAR IN SOLOMONS

Solomon Islands refugees from the Gold Ridge area in the mountains to the south-east of the capital Honiara say their people are looking forward to next week's deployment of the Australian-led intervention force. A dozen families from the area have fled to Honiara after they were threatened and intimidated by a local militant leader known as Sataan. The people from Gold Ridge claim the militant, Stanley Kaoni, an albino known as Sataan or Satan who leads a group of about 30 armed men, has been extorting money and goods from them. One of the men who fled to Honiara from Gold Ridge,
Michael Kelly, claims Sataan and his 'boys' are worried now that the intervention force is on its way. "In fact, they are really afraid of the coming of this group, this force from Australia and New Zealand and we really want the intervention to come and we hope that the situation we have experienced will come to normalcy," Kelly said. The troops and police including personnel drawn from Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga will begin arriving in the Solomons next Thursday. (ABC News Online, 20-7-03)

ARMED FACTIONS SKIRMISH IN SOLOMONS

Days before an Australian-led intervention force is due to fly into Solomon Islands, an amnesty being offered to militants to surrender their weapons has hit its first stumbling block. There has been trouble following a falling out between two militant factions. Last weekend, the UNDP-supported demobilization program held a ceremony in the Gold Ridge area at which several militant factions that had been part of the Guadalcanal militia, the Isatabu Freedom Movement, agreed to surrender
their weapons. One of the leaders, Stanley Kaoni, an albino, known as Sataan or Satan, handed over explosives to police commissioner William Morell. But since then, there has apparently been a dispute between Sataan and another faction leader. Reports reaching the local media in Honiara say Sataan's group has beaten up one man, set fire to some houses and declared he is now not going to hand in his weapons and is prepared to take on the intervention force. The demobilization program has deferred a training course in the Gold Ridge area it had planned to run next week. 
(ABC News Online, 18-7-03)

South Guadalcanal people plea for parliamentary representation

The people of South Guadalcanal in Solomon Islands are urging the national government to ensure that the constituency has a voice in Parliament. They have been without a representative in Parliament since the assassination of Cabinet Minister Fr Augustine Geve nearly a year ago.. The rebel leader Harold Keke had claimed responsibility for that killing. There are also reports that the region's provincial assembly MP, Alas Tibamate, is being held as a hostage by Keke. A church leader has told the local broadcaster, the SIBC, that the people of Sth Guadalcanal have no representative in
either assembly to raise their concerns. (Radio New Zealand International, 18-7-03) 

Solomon Islands parliament votes unanimously for intervention force

An Australia-led force of police and military personnel is set to go into Solomon Islands next week after getting formal approval from the nation's parliament last night. The parliament unanimously passed legislation defining the role and powers of the 2,000-strong mainly Australian and New Zealand force. The new law also obliges the Solomons government to cooperate with efforts to balance its books. Around 100 specialists, mostly Australian and New Zealand civil servants, will move into senior roles in the government, including the central bank, the prison system and the judiciary. The intervention force also includes personnel from other Forum countries including Papua New Guinea and Fiji. The Fiji contingent of 123 soldiers flies to Townsville today on its way to the Solomons. (Radio New Zealand International, 18-7-03)

NZ Council for International Development expresses concerns about intervention force New Zealand's Council for International Development, the umbrella group for NGOs, has reiterated its unease over the planned intervention force for Solomon Islands. Executive Director Rae Julian says they back the campaign to restore law and order, but more needs to be revealed about how fundamental problems such as poverty, will be solved. "I want them to say "Yes" . At the same time as we are putting in this security force, we are going to be sitting down with all members of Solomon Islands society - government and civil society - and planning what's needed." To start happening at the same time and to go on happening
after there's no more need for security." (Radio New Zealand International, 18-7-03)

Solomons parliament gives final OK, troops poised

The Solomon Islands Parliament has passed a law giving legal authority to the Australian-led cooperative intervention force to enter the troubled country. The forces are expected to start arriving in the Solomons in a week. Earlier, Solomons Tourism Minister Alex Bartlett indicated his full support for the bill. "It is time for unity, it is time for justice, for peace, love and forgiveness," he said. "The call for upholding the future of this country is now, not tomorrow." The Solomons has suffered a four-year civil war that has resulted in the breakdown of government and other institutions. The country is effectively bankrupt. In a statement yesterday, Prime Minister Allan Kemakeza told the nation the force was there to help, not harm. "It will be strange at first to see so many foreigners wearing uniforms, driving army or police vehicles around town
or flying overhead in their helicopters," he said. "But the majority of Solomon Islanders, who live peaceful and law-abiding lives, have no need to be afraid." (ABC News Online, 17-7-03)

KEMAKEZA CALLS INTERVENTION BILL "HISTORIC"

Prime Minister Allan Kemakeza describes as "historic" the piece of legislation introduced yesterday to the Solomon Islands Parliament that would legitimize the Australian-led international intervention. When introducing the "Facilitation of International Assistance Bill 2003," Kemakeza said the majority of people in Solomon Islands have been waiting under the shadow of uncertainty for the past four years for the bill. He said the bill is the country's compass for its journey to grow as a nation in the international community. Kemakeza explained that Solomon Islands friends in the Pacific have recognized its problems and have decided to help return law and order and assist the economy. He described the piece of legislation as a vehicle to get international help in order to develop Solomon Islands resources for the maximum benefit of its people. Kemakeza appealed to all members of Parliament to support the Bill. Kemakeza also revealed that the Government was investigating how copies of the bill and the government's policy statement passed by parliament last week were leaked to the public, including the media, before the documents actually got to parliament. The general debate on the bill has been adjourned until tomorrow morning. (SIBC, 17-7-03)

SOLOMONS LAWMAKER WANTS CAUTION, REVIEW

Parliamentary Leader of Opposition John Garo appealed to the Solomon Islands government and to countries participating in the planned intervention force to exercise care. Speaking yesterday in parliamentary debate on the "Facilitation of the International Assistance Bill" Garo, said he raised the concern because Opposition and non-government members  of parliament have given their support to the plan, knowing that they are not part of the process to formulate and draw up the details. He added that although they are not going to be involved in formulating the details, if something goes wrong, all Solomons lawmakers are equally guilty in the eyes of the people. Garo said because of these concerns, he welcomes the provision in the Bill, for the parliament to review the operation after every 12 months. The Opposition Leader also urged the
government to ensure that there is a secured provision of termination by notice in the multi-lateral agreement it will enter with the participating countries. Garo stressed that it is important that once the details of the economic and financial assistance are finalized, they should be taken before Parliament to scrutinize and approve. He said these are critical 
mechanisms to make sure there is transparency in what the members of parliament are doing and that Solomon Islanders still retain their supreme authority through their national parliament. (SIBC, 17-7-03)

SOLOMONS SEEN AS LONG-TERM TASK

The Australian Defense Association (ADA) said it could take more than a decade to reorganize financial and administrative infrastructure in the Solomon Islands. Australian Federal Police and troops will gather in Townsville next week for pre-deployment briefings and are expected to leave for the South Pacific nation on Thursday. ADA spokesman Neil James
said troops are simply going to back up federal police but the Government may need to provide aid for years to come. "The actual aid to the Solomons will involve a lot more than law and order," he said. "It 'll involve reorganizing it's administrative and arrangements in a big way and that's probably a long-term task, five to 10 years if not longer. "The actual police assistance in strength will probably be relatively short-term, we'll probably knock most of that off I'd think within a year or two or maybe three." (ABC News Online, 17-7-03)

Solomon's villagers to receive financial aid

More than 1,000 displaced villagers on Solomon Islands will receive $100,000 in Australian aid. The Federal Government has announced the money will help provide shelter, food, clothing and cooking items for Solomon Islanders affected by the activities of renegade Harold Keke. The displaced villagers come from the Weather Coast region of Guadalcanal and
most are now living in a village on the outskirts of the Solomon's capital, Honiara. The Australian assistance will be distributed via the Solomon Islands Red Cross and the National Disaster Management Office. (ABC News Online, 17-7-03)

Australia says troops will be out of Solomons within weeks, months Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says Australian troops will be in the Solomon Islands for only a few weeks. This comes as cabinet is expected next week to authorise the deployment of 1,500 troops to lead an international force that will try to restore law and order in the troubled
nation. As many as 300 police will follow. Mr Downer said there is an exit strategy to the intervention plan and that most of the Australian troops should be home in a few weeks or months. But he says Australian police would stay until the Solomons' police force was in a position to maintain law and order on its own. Mr Downer says that could last for a year or
more, until the Royal Solomons Islands Police Force is really up and running. (Radio New Zealand International, 16-7-03) 

Restoration of education seen as a key in Solomons rebuilding

The New Zealand Minister in charge of Aid, Marian Hobbs, says one of the basic steps in getting out of any poverty cycle is having an educated population. She says this is why New Zealand has agreed with other aid donors to fund Solomon Islands primary school teachers and re-resource the classrooms. Ms Hobbs says education is vital if communities throughout the country are to be rebuilt. She says the next stage for aid donors would be to provide employment opportunities in what is a resource rich country. "It's almost a weeny bit like Timor you know, with Timor with oil out
there. This is a resource rich society, it needs to have a sense though, that everyone has a place in sharing those resources, it therefore needs to have a good injection of community level power and democracy, which requires an educated community, and therefore you get people up, and give them the assistance to start the small businesses which run off the large resources". (Radio New Zealand International, 16-7-03)

NZ foreign minister says intervention force must help Solomon Islanders govern themselves The New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff says it is important that the intervention force heading into Solomon Islands is geared towards building the capacity of Solomon Islanders to govern themselves. New Zealand announced yesterday that it would send a 140
strong force of police and soldiers as part of the Australia led force to restore law and order. New Zealand will also contribute to a long term capacity building exercise aimed at restoring the Government's ability to function. Phil Goff says rather than taking over, the focus has to be preparing Solomon Islanders to take on the governance responsibilities
themselves. "That means quite some degree of capacity building and that will be the focus of the exercise, not only in the law and order area, but also in terms of economic management and other aspects of governance." (Radio New Zealand International, 16-7-03)

New Zealand announces contribution to Solomons force

New Zealand is to send a contingent of 140 police and soldiers to Solomon Islands, as part of the Australian led intervention force. The Foreign Minister Phil Goff says, subject to the passage of the enabling legislation by the Solomons Parliament, the New Zealanders will begin arriving in late July through to the end of August. The New Zealand contribution will be 35 police, including the 10 there already. They will be involved in community policing, investigations and intelligence as part of a foreign force likely to number around 250. The military contribution will be 105 soldiers, consisting of four helicopters with crews, a number of engineers and support and logistics staff. An additional company of 120 will be on standby in New Zealand. New Zealand will also provide an additional three and half million US dollars in aid, with the first
priority to support basic education. New Zealand will pay the wages of primary teachers and providing the schools with materials and facilities they may need. And New Zealand aid money will also be used to build a new 300 person prison. (Radio New Zealand International, 15-7-03) 

Australia wants ex-pat public servants to run parts of Solomons civil service A report from Honiara says the Australian offer of assistance to the government includes a request for the Solomons government to allow the appointment of up to one hundred public servants in the finance, prisons and justice departments. It also asks for unrestricted access to financial
and payroll records. Meanwhile, our correspondent in Honiara reports that the Australian government has also asked that the term of the Governor of the Central Bank, Rick Hou, be extended. If it is not possible to extend his contract, which expires shortly, then the Australian government would supply an ex-patriate governor to replace him. Our correspondent quotes government sources as saying the raising of the bank issue suggests that Australian authorities are aware of perceived political interference in the bank's operations. For its part, Australia has offered to build a new prison to replace Honiara's Rove prison and take over the debt accrued when alterations were made to the prison. It would also provide some
twenty expatriate prison officials to help run the prison. (Radio New Zealand International, 15-7-03)

Aust offers Solomons legal help

Australia has offered to provide a senior magistrate to help process unresolved legal cases in Solomon Islands. The proposed regional intervention force will have a major focus on justice and prisons. The offer to provide the senior magistrate has been made to help the Solomons process unresolved legal cases, as part of a project aimed at 
strengthening the justice system. Prisons are also targeted for improvement, with a proposal to build a new temporary remand compound, and for Australia to take over debts and responsibility for the stalled construction of a new prison in Honiara. A new contractor would be brought in to build a bigger jail, with up to 50 expatriate officers to fill in line and management positions in the sector. (ABC News Online, 15-7-03)

Power given to use lethal force in Solomon Islands 

Police and troops serving in the regional intervention force in the Solomon Islands will be empowered to use lethal force if necessary, backed by helicopter, patrol boats and armoured vehicles. Details of the far-reaching intervention plan are contained in confidential briefing papers obtained by the Herald. Prepared for the Solomon Islands cabinet by Australia and New Zealand officials, they set out ambitious plans for the deployment of more than 2000 defence personnel, 400 police and the insertion of at least 100 foreign civilians into all key areas of the Solomons Administration in the next 12 months. Entitled COMPSASI (Comprehensive Package of Strengthened Assistance to Solomon Islands), the proposal sets out three main areas for the intervention: police, military and economic development. The comprehensive package of strengthened assistance is intended to help the Solomon Islands break the cycle of lawlessness and economic decline, it says. The provision of armed peacekeepers is an integral part of the intervention and designed to protect all those participating in it from intimidation and threats. These peacekeepers will be mostly tasked with supporting the work of 400 police officers drawn from round the region who will be at the cutting edge of the early days of the intervention, which is expected to focus on disarming hundreds of ex-combatants still in possession of stolen weapons. The rule of law has never been re-established in the nation of 500,000, which has been suffering a prolonged form of Melanesian mutiny since a
coup ousted the democratically elected Government three years ago. A Solomon Islands proposal that there be a short amnesty to encourage the voluntary return of firearms has been agreed to by the Australian and New Zealand Governments. The combat element will be deployed in the Solomon Islands for as long as it is needed, the papers say. The package will be civilian and police-led assistance backed up by a military component (armed peacekeepers) that will be deployed to protect the operation from intimidation and threats. However, no definitive plan has been made for dealing with the rebel leader Harold Keke, accused of scores of deaths on Guadalcanals Weathercoast. Displaced people from the Weathercoast have in recent weeks urged the rapid deployment of the intervention force to the remote southern coastline of Guadalcanal, where there have been a series of attacks on villages in recent months. Australia will also build the Solomon Islands a temporary remand facility and a new prison, and provide up to 50 personnel to run them as well as providing a senior magistrate to deal with high-profile cases that remain unresolved. Key enabling legislation will authorise the use of such force as is reasonably necessary. 

Solomons force

Initial deployment: At least 2500 personnel drawn mainly from Australia Military deployment: 2000, including 100 troops from NZ 200 soldiers to act as armed peacekeepers, the remainder logistical and other support Police: 300 to 400 including 40 from NZ New heads for Central Bank and National Provident Fund; possibly other departments and statutory
authorities. (NZ Herald, 15-7-03)

Australia's military intervention is unjustified

The Suva based Pacific Concerns Resource Centre says Australia's plan to deploy military personnel to the Solomon Islands is an arrogant move, and it says the UN should intervene. The PCRC says moves by Australia to restore stability contradict the outcome of the National Peace Conference held in Honiara in August 2000. The PCRC's Tupou Vere says that conference backed demilitarisation under international control, which delegates saw as fundamental to the peace process and regaining stability. Ms Vere says the Australian action is unjustified. "We think that it's quite arrogant
of Australia to behave as if they have a prescribed plan for situations in the Pacific Islands and we are worried about the implications for the future" Instead, Tupou Vere says international back up intervention through the UN and involving Solomon Islanders is what is needed to sort out the problems. She says that while there is support for the intervention from the Solomon Islands government and the Pacific Islands Forum, it doesn't necessarily reflect the people's voice. The PCRC
believes if the Australian led intervention is left unchallenged, it'll trade off people's sovereignty, indigenous rights, cultural heritage and dignity. (Radio New Zealand International, 14-7-03)

SOLOMONS POLICE COLLECT GUNS FROM 42 SPECIAL CONSTABLES

A total of 42 Special Constables from the Gold ridge area Central Guadalcanal were Saturday demobilised under the United Nations Development Project's Demobilization Program. The demobilization ceremony took place at Obo-obo village near the Gold Ridge mine site and was attended by the Police Commissioner William Morrell, officials from the UNDP and villagers from Obo obo. The demobilization of the forty-two S-Cs yesterday brought the total number of Special Constables demobilized under UNDP's program to 861, since February this year. Speaking during the ceremony Guadalcanal Provincial Police Commander Peter Aorau thanked the Special Constables for their services and efforts in maintaining law and order in the area. Police Commander Aorau encouraged the demobilized constables to go back and help out in their communities with the skills and knowledge acquired during their time in the force. Meanwhile, an SIBC reporter who witnessed the ceremony at Gold ridge confirms that about three bags of mine explosives were handed over to the police force by the demobilized SCs. A representative of the constables, Silas Salan told Commissioner Morrell that they would later be handing over weapons. (SIBC, 14-7-03)

MILITANTS DEMAND "GOODWILL" MONEY IN SOLOMONS

Heavily armed police have dispersed a crowd of about 200 militants who surrounded the Prime Minister's office in the lawless and near-bankrupt Solomon Islands and demanded "goodwill" money. The tense stand-off outside Prime Minister Allan Kemakeza's office came a day after the tiny South Pacific nation approved a 2,000-strong, Australian-led intervention force to restore order after five years of violence and intimidation by ethnic militias. Police armed with M-16 rifles moved in after the unarmed militants, all former members of a militia from the island of Malaita, converged on Kemakeza's office. They surrounded a finance ministry official demanding he sign payments of SI$2,000 (A$653) for each of them. "Police are now in control of the situation," Police Commissioner William Morrell told reporters. The Solomons, a former British protectorate once known as "the Happy Isles", is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and public servants have not been paid since September. Government offices and hospitals are often closed because workers have not been paid. Witnesses
said the militants were former members of the Malaita Eagles Force, which fought bloody battles with a rival militia from the main island of Guadalcanal from 1998, leading to a coup in June 2000. Some of the militants said they wanted money so they could leave the capital Honiara, on Guadalcanal, and return to Malaita. "We just want the SI$2,000. It's a goodwill payment," one unidentified militant told Reuters. "We want the money today so that we can go home." Demands for "goodwill" or "compensation" payments are commonplace in the South Pacific nation of about 450,000 people. They are often made to compensate victims of crimes or simply to redress perceived wrongs. Corruption is endemic in the
Solomons and armed gangs roam Honiara at will, extorting money from the government and have taken pot shots at Kemakeza's residence. The Australian-led intervention force is expected to be in place by the end of the month. It will be the biggest military deployment in the region since World War II. To be made up mainly of Australian and New Zealand
personnel, the force will have about 200 police, 200 troops and about 1,500 support personnel. (ABC News Online, 11-7-03)

SOLOMONS PARLIAMENT OKS INTERVENTION

The Solomon Islands Parliament has approved a plan for Australia to lead a regional intervention force into the country. After two days of debate, the Parliament gave preliminary endorsement to inviting the regional force to quell lawlessness and bring order to the failed state. Parliament will also need to pass legislation to provide legal backing for foreign police
and soldiers heading to the Solomons. That bill is to be put before the house next week. Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea has formally announced its participation in the international peace keeping force to Solomon Islands. Foreign Affairs Minister Rabbie Namaliu told parliament that PNG has agreed to send a total of 88 police and defense personnel to the Solomons. Namaliu said Solomon Islands is PNG's closest neighbor and PNG is keen to help. He said both countries share a common sea border and similar political, social and economic problems. (Radio Australia, 10-7-03)

KEKE CONTINUES TERROR IN SOLOMONS AS VILLAGERS FLEE

Refugees escaping the Solomon Islands rebel Harold Keke continue to trickle into the country's capital of Honiara from the Weather Coast of Guadalcanal. Nearly 1,500 people, about 338 families, are now registered with the Red Cross as internally displaced people. They are being housed in and around Honiara in makeshift villages, or being cared for by 
relatives already in the capital. The local Red Cross coordinator Rex Tara says that around four hundred people are also known to be homeless and trying to fend for themselves on the Weather Coast. Keke announced at the weekend that he would agree to a ceasefire but Tara said that the displaced people don't accept that promise. He said there has been a
number of new arrivals in recent days, and more people are expected. (Radio New Zealand International, 10-7-03)

SOLOMONS PARLIAMENT INDICATES SUPPORT FOR INTERVENTION

Solomon Islands lawmakers say they reluctantly acknowledge the need for an Australian-led intervention force. But they warned they would not become the puppets of South Pacific neighbors. Debate in an emergency session of Parliament over plans for a 2,000-strong force of police and troops was adjourned until tomorrow, when the 49-member house is likely to vote on the plan. Most speakers backed the intervention force, the biggest military deployment in the region since World War II. Hundreds have died since fighting broke out in 1998 between rival ethnic militias from the main islands of Guadalcanal and Malaita. "Sad as it may be, we have to accept that this has resulted from the fact that over the past 25 years, successive leaderships of this country have failed at all levels to lead and to serve our people," Opposition leader John Garo told Parliament. The plan has widespread support across the Solomons, a former British protectorate of 450,000 people formerly known as "The Happy Isles". The Solomons marked the 25th anniversary of its independence with muted
celebrations on Monday. Manasseh Sogavare, who replaced former prime minister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu after a police-backed coup in June 2000, complained that previous pleas for help had been ignored by major aid donors Australia and New Zealand. "We have a reason to be extra careful ... so that we strike a proper balance between achieving the objectives of such an intervention without subjecting ourselves to becoming long-term puppets of foreign parliaments," Sogavare said. Prime Minister Allan Kemakeza assured members of parliament that the plan to impose order and
rebuild the shattered economy and major institutions would not compromise the Solomons' sovereignty. "We can rest assured that this offer of assistance is not one for taking over of the running of our national affairs," said Kemakeza, who has described the plan as the Solomons' last hope. Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said plans are
proceeding for the force, made up of 200 police, 200 troops and 1,500 support crew, to be in place by the end of July. An advance party of about 15 planners arrived in Honiara yesterday. "We are still moving quite successfully towards the end of this month," Downer said. Australia and New Zealand helped broker a fragile peace deal in October 2000, which was 
signed by most of the combatants. One of those who ignored the 2000 peace deal was notorious warlord Harold Keke, who Australia and New Zealand say will have to be dealt with. Keke, whose followers are accused of killing, torturing and raping dozens of people in his Weather Coast stronghold on Guadalcanal, agreed to a ceasefire at the weekend. (ABC News Online, 9-7-03)

SOLOMONS VILLAGERS FEAR INTERVENTION REPRISALS

A Solomon Islands government envoy said people on the Weather Coast are afraid they will suffer if a military force attempts to flush out rebel, Harold Keke. Member of Parliament Y Sato negotiated a ceasefire with Keke, who said he wants reconciliation in the face of government plans to bring an armed intervention force into the country to restore law and order. It's known that Keke, who refused to sign the Townsville Peace Accord and is responsible for the deaths of many on the Weather Coast, is considered a target. Y Sato said about 1,000 villagers met his party when it arrived on the weekend and they expressed real concern. "Village people, church leaders or women's associations, they all have quite big fears, if
interruptions come again, by overseas people. They big worry about it because they have many children, many innocent people. They might be involved if this interruptions start." Y Sato said he's meeting with the police commissioner and the prime minister and will recommend that they continue to negotiate with Keke rather than send an armed force in. (Radio
New Zealand International, 8-7-03)

SOLOMONS OUTLAW RELEASES HOSTAGES, SIGNS CEASE FIRE

Solomon Islands outlaw Harold Keke has released four hostages after reportedly agreeing to a cease-fire. The four were Anglican Church workers captured several months ago. According to news agency Reuters, Solomons Prime Minister Allan Kemakeza received a faxed copy of a cease fire agreement but wants a full report on the matter by his cabinet. On Friday, the Solomons cabinet approved a letter of request to Australian Prime Minister John Howard, formally seeking the intervention of a foreign peacekeeping force. The letter accepts the two conditions stipulated by Australia for intervention - a clear and formal request from the Solomons and the passage of legislation by the Solomons Parliament, which is scheduled to convene on Tuesday. The letter seeks assistance from Australia and from the Pacific Islands Forum. Similar requests are being sent to New Zealand and other forum countries. The letter endorses the Australian package involving intervention by police and armed peacekeepers. The plan also calls for an Australian police officer to act as deputy to the police commissioner in Honiara. The letter of request approved by the Solomons Cabinet is to be signed by the acting
Governor-General and speaker of Parliament, Sir Peter Kenilorea. Parliament is expected to ratify that decision when it meets on Tuesday. The developments come as an Australia-led peacekeeping force prepares to go to the Solomons later this month to help restore order. According to Reuters, a document signed by Keke said the Guadalcanal Liberation Front
unilaterally proclaims and declares a cease-fire on Guadalcanal Island. Keke has been accused of killing scores of people and ordering his followers to rape and torture. (ABC News Online, 6-7-03)

NEW ATROCITIES IN SOLOMONS BLAMED ON KEKE

A report of a fresh atrocity has emerged from the Weathercoast area of Guadalcanal in Solomon Islands. Villagers from Marasa have fled to the capital, Honiara, after their settlement of about 500 people was burned to the ground by followers of the warlord Harold Keke. The militant leader is said to be the prime target of an international intervention force due to arrive in the country this month. One of the villagers and a former government official, Augustine Manakako, said Harold Keke's followers terrorized the local people before burning their houses. According to Radio Australia, one of the villagers, former government official Augustine Manakako, said Keke's followers terrorised the local people before burning their houses. "The drama really started with everybody taken to the beach. On the way down they got hold of two boys. They were taken down, tied, stripped and were beaten to death in front of everbody else," Manakako said. "They were beaten with sticks and stones, and eventually one of them was beheaded," he said. "And then the next thing that happened was they came up and tied the parish priest, Father Lionel Longarata, and told him that he would be next." Manakoko said the priest was released after spending the night tied up. Australia has called on Keke to understand the dramatic transformation about to take place in the Solomons. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australia has noted the latest reports of Keke ordering murders and the torching of a village. Downer said the Australian-led intervention in the Solomons will make
judgments about dealing with Keke if he refuses to lay down his weapons. "It would make a big contribution to peace in the Solomons," Downer said. It is perhaps not absolutely vital but it is a very important issue. There are people in the Solomon Islands who have been the victims of Harold Keke and there's a lot of ill-feeling about him understandably. So it's a big
issue." (ABC News Online, 3-7-03)


ENDS Solomon Islands Update 23 July 2003

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