PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT

Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center
With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai‘i

HONOLULU (Pacific Islands Report, April 19) – The Australian government reportedly plans to send police reinforcements to the smoldering capital of the Solomon Islands after riots in the streets of Honiara and the burning of a large section of its Chinatown district yesterday.

The violence, in which more than 20 Australian and local police and military personnel were reportedly injured - erupted after the announcement that outgoing Prime Minister Allan Kemakeza’s former deputy, Snyder Rini, will replace him as the government’s leader.

According to the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corp. (SIBC), Solomon Islands Police Commissioner Shane Castles said about 120 police and armed military personnel will be airlifted from Australia to assist local police restore law and order in Honiara.

This latest development follows the evacuation of more than 100 guests from the Pacific Casino Hotel where police were reportedly called in the early hours today to hold off a mob that had set the hotel on fire. The fire was put out but guests were sent to a safer location, according to Radio New Zealand International.

Meanwhile, few new faces are expected to appear in the 20-member cabinet of newly elected Solomon Islands Prime Minister Snyder Rini, who was to announce his lineup today despite rioting in the streets of Honiara after his closed-door selection.

Rini said at a press conference yesterday he plans no major changes in the cabinet to which he belonged as Deputy Prime Minister, SIBC reports.

Rini’s selection by newly elected members of parliament over rival candidates Job Dudley Tausinga and Manasseh Sogavare triggered a major riot in Honiara yesterday, with crowds estimated as high as 900 demanding the new prime minister’s immediate resignation.

Sources at the Solomon Star daily newspaper today said 90 percent of the Chinatown district of Honiara was destroyed by fires lit by angry mobs. The Star, which is located in the district, was unable to print today because of damage to utilities in the area. SIBC today reported that at least 10 Chinatown buildings were destroyed and that smoke continued to hang over the town.

According to the Australian Associated Press (AAP), eight Australian Federal Police officers were hurt in the riots, which saw rock throwing, looting, and the torching of nine police cars belonging to the Regional Assistance Mission Solomon Islands (RAMSI). One officer reportedly suffered a fractured skull and broken jaw while others reported less serious injuries.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard called the riots "deplorable" but said earlier that Australia had no immediate plans to send troops to the Solomons to reinforce the 259 police currently stationed there as multi-national peacekeepers. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC), some 172 of the total are Australians.

"I hope the situation stabilizes because we do want democracy to work effectively in the Solomons and it has bo be possible of course in a democratic society for a change of government, change of prime minister, to take place without a hostile response," Howard told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.yesterday.

According to Commissioner Castles, three mobs of up to 300 people each formed before riots broke out in the town. He said a "substantial number" of Honiara businesses suffered damage and flames could be seen over the town last night.

According to AAP, the parliament building was under siege and newly elected lawmakers were trapped inside for hours.

Rini, among those seeking refuge in the parliament building, appealed for calm.

The President of the Malaita Maasina Forum, Hudson Kwalea, also called for Malaitans in Honiara to be calm and not to take the law into their own hands.

Australia in the summer of 2003 led a military force of about 2,000 to quell lawlessness in the Solomons, which had been terrorized by murderous gangs and plagued by corruption. The peacekeepers, known as the Regional Assistance Mission Solomon Islands (RAMSI), succeeded in restoring order and gradually was scaled down in number.

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