The Solomon Islands

My baby brother and his wife were Peace Corps workers in the Solomon Islands about ten years ago. They live in San Francisco now and coincidentally will be in town for a visit next week.

From time to time when I read in the papers about the deteriorating situation there (S.I. not S.F.!) I mention it to them.
They are depressed about what has been happening.

It's sad. I hope the powers that get involved will do something other than kill off the 'militants'.

Actually, the focus of the Oz forces are federal police - it is seen as a peace-keeping/return to law mission - there are troops, but their role is supposed to be protecting the police.

One assumes they are entitled to shoot to do so, though, I suppose.

The aims would be similar to those in Cambodia and East Timor, I assume, to keep order while some sort of government is sorted out.

It seems South Pacific nations are reasonably happy with it all - though they would be disturbed if Oz looked to be becoming militaristic (yes, we look BIG to the region!) but unhappy about the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer's, comments about waiting for a UN multi-national force being a waste of time. He seems to like the idea of "coalitions of the willing".

Doh, I wonder where he got THAT phrase from?

We don't have an Australian New Zealand Army Corps any more, (and, as I said, it is seen as a POLICE action) - but I, for one, am very happy to see NZ and Papua Nuiguini becoming involved - I have a great deal more faith in the New Zealand Government than in my own at present, their PM seems a very sensible woman - she did not get involved in the Iraq thing for instance, and I suspect New Zealand is more trusted in the region.

Order maintained until WHAT government is established....? That's what I'm worried about.

Anyway, it does sound leagues better than the whole Iraq thing.

Dunno, I would hope they would be working towards elections, as in Cambodia and East Timor. There really is not a lot of really good background material - that I can find, anyway.

If I listen to Radio National's PM program on Monday I may get good info.

I did some searching for background info on the SIs when I posted this thread, it's just hard to tell what angles who's working and why - so far away!

Yes - that is why I wanna hear what me darlin' old Auntie ABC has to say on Radio National.

The Australian newspaper may have something reasonable today.

Wonder if the NYT will publish anything?

oooooh, good thought. I don't get NYT, but I can look online. BBC didn't even have anything much about it.

Aha! I did some searching on the BBC and found a Q&A on the crisis in the SIs.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3023106.stm

Voice of America online

The PM of the Solomon Islands leaves capitol before the peace-keeping units arrive. The press says that his aids feared that there might be a rebel-led attempt to abduct him in protest to the arrival of the foreign help.

From Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia's BBC)

Last Update: Monday, July 28, 2003. 7:17am (AEST)


The Solomons intervention force has held a ceremony to destroy illegal guns. (ABC TV)

Solomons militia requests amnesty

The leaders of one of the main Solomon Islands ethnic militias say they are prepared to give up their guns providing they are granted a 30-day amnesty to do it.

The Malaitan Eagle Force (MEF) does not want its boys to fight the Australian-led intervention force.

ABC correspondent Sean Dorney flew to Malaita yesterday and met the three founders of the MEF - Jimmy Rasta, Simon Mani and Moses Su'u - on an old coconut plantation.

Mr Rasta says his boys have not given up their weapons because Solomons Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza, told them at a party at his house last year not to hand in their guns until Guadalcanal militant Harold Keke gave up his.

The MEF commander appealed to the special coordinator of the intervention force, Nick Warner, not to deploy it to Malaita for one month.

"Before those intervention force arrive in Malaita, I want those 30 days to be granted," Mr Rasta said.

"Because we want to live peacefully in Solomon Islands. We don't want to fight.

"Give us 30 days to 40 days amnesty period, my boys are willing wholeheartedly to give up their guns."

Mr Rasta says he would like Mr Warner and other intervention force leaders to go to Malaita for talks.

Jimmy Rasta says the MEF has been used by politicians.

"We've still got a reasonable excuse that the [Solomons] Prime Minister told us," he said.

"You Australian people, you come here but do not know that the Prime Minister told us to hold onto those guns."

Meanwhile, coastal mine hunter HMAS Hawkesbury will leave Sydney for the Solomons today to take part in maritime patrol duties.

Family and friends are expected to farewell the 40 crew members.

HMAS Hawkesbury will conduct an operational port visit to Gladstone in Queensland before leaving Australian waters this week

More Solomons news - http://www.abc.net.au/news/indepth/solomons/

oy, not exactly breakfast reading. I'll look more into it later. Thanks Dlowan!