Solomons peaceful for now - but more trouble feared
Posted at 9:40am on 21 Apr 2006
Army reinforcements from Australian and New Zealand have restored peace in the Solomon Islands - but there are fears violence could again erupt when the first session of Parliament sits next week.
A deployment of 110 Australian troops and 70 Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers arrived in the Solomons on Wednesday night, following riots in the nation's capital Honiara. They joined 282 AFP officers already there as part of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).
While the violence subsided yesterday, AFP chief Mick Keelty said the first session of Parliament could trigger more unrest.
Deputy special coordinator of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands, New Zealander Paul Ash, says the situation has improved. But he said it's still fragile and must be watched closely now that Mr Rini has been sworn in.
The ABC reported New Zealand special forces arrived on Thursday to back up Australian troops patrolling the city last night. An RNZAF aircraft landed at the Henderson Airfield last evening with a contingent of New Zealand's elite Special Tactical Group members aboard. New Zealand has sent 25 soldiers and 30 police.
The capital is under curfew from 6pm to 6am.
Secret ballot seen as rigged
The riots erupted on Tuesday after the election of deputy Prime Minister Snyder Rini as Prime Minister in a secret ballot at Parliament; with much of the violence directed at the Chinese and Taiwanese community who were accused of rigging the election.
Mr Rini has denied claims he bribed MPs with money from Chinese business interests.
The riot was the worst unrest seen in the capital since Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific governments intervened in July 2003 to end years of ethnic fighting after a coup in 2000.
Mr Rini emerged for the first time 30 hours after the riots and was sworn in as Prime Minister on Thursday morning.
Leadership call by NZ PM
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday called on the leadership in Solomon Islands to find a political solution.
His opponents claim his election was fixed - Mr Rini has denied allegations he bribed MPs with money from Chinese business interests. Miss Clark said observers of the election say it was carried out fairly; but, nonetheless, the allegations remain.
When asked if New Zealand endorses Mr Rini in his new position; she said it was up to the people of the Solomons to accept him as their Prime Minister.
MPs should handle issue
The man who headed peace talks in Solomon Islands six years ago, says forcing Snyder Rini to resign as Prime Minister would set a dangerous precedent.
Tarcisius Kabutaulaka who was Chief Negotiator in the Townsville Peace talks in 2000, says many people want Mr Rini to resign, but he believes MPs should deal with the problem once Mr Rini has formed a government.
New Cabinet expected today
The new Prime Minister is expected to name his cabinet later today.
Radio New Zealand International reported that Mr Rini was sworn at Government House on Thursday morning in a ceremony that was low-key for security reasons.
A government spokesman, Johnson Honimae, said the Association of Independent Members, the Peoples' Alliance Party, the Lafari Party and Social Credit are now in the process of forming the government.
Fires re-start
Fresh winds early last evening restarted fires in some ruined buildings, but the ABC reported the curfew seems to have kept most people off the streets.
The ABC says the buildings - which were burnt-out by arsonists who looted them before setting them alight - are now cordoned off as criminal investigation sites.
Much of Honiara's Chinatown area was razed in the rioting. Dozens of Chinese families fled their homes and are now being cared for by the local Red Cross.
The BBC reported that China was flying in diplomats to arrange shelter for some 500 nationals, according to a spokesman in Beijing.
Unrest spreads
The ABC reports the unrest has spread to a second province.
Solomon Islands Police Commissioner Shane Castles said there has been trouble in the capital of the Malaita province, Auki. He said he had been advised of 14 arrests to date.
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