Solomon Islands: Legal gun owners will be compensated; rearmament of police force controversial

The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) entered the Solomon Islands as a peace keeping force in 2003 in response to deadly ethnic conflict between Guadalcanal and Malatian militants.  During this time, RAMSI asked that all guns be turned in to further the effort to restore order.  The confiscated weapons were then damaged and buried to prevent them from being used again.  However, almost 1000 legal gun owners turned in their guns alongside those of the militiants.  They threatened to sue the government a few months after this occurrance.  The Solomon Star reported today that the government has agreed to compensate these legal gun owners, though the issue is still "hotly debated."

On Tuesday, RAMSI marked its fourth year in the Solomon Islands. Special Coordinator Tim George believes that in the past year, dialogue has improved between RAMSI, the Solomons, and the Pacific Islands Forum.  [The Pacific Islands Forum heads a review process in which the Forum, the Solomons, and RAMSI review the mission's progress and problems.]  He also believes that there is a better awareness of Solomons custom and culture among RAMSI advisors, who are now offered language training and courses on cultural orientation.  A public opinion poll in the Solomon Star showed strong support for RAMSI among civilians.

To celebrate this anniversary, RAMSI arranged an evening of Pacific Islands food and entertainment, at which Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare was to be the chief guest.  However, Sogavare never arrived.  The Prime Minister does have a history of tension with RAMSI, having engaged in what the Solomon Star describes as "a bitter media attack" on RAMSI earlier this year, but had recently seemed to have shifted his position.

Police were also disarmed by RAMSI in 2003, and recently Sogavare's government has stated that it plans to re-arm sections of the local police force.  This may be related to police Superintendent Gwen Ratu's statements given to the Commission of Inquiry regarding police inefficency during the April election riot.  She said, "The police are just human beings, one can't expect us to withstand our groups whilst rain of stones come pouring down on us by the people. ...  Even though we were verbally abused by our own people and unarmed, we stood firm in trying to settle the situation and also confronting the crowd in a way that would be appreciated by them."  Ratu asked at one point, "How can you expect the police to contain a crowd frustrated at what had happened using only his [sic] bare hands, especially when they are outnumbered?  It is just impossible for such to happen."

However, this decision has four Guadalcanal MPs threatening to leave the government.  Walter Naezon, a Guadalcanal chief, stated that the government should pay attention to public concern over the issue.  He said, "If he [Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare] sees the pressure from the people over what his government's doing, he should voluntarily step down -- for the good of this country.  I give credit to the members of parliment from Guadalcanal if they resign, if the Prime Minister continues to do that."  The MPs have stated that they have no problems with the appointments of Police Commissioner Jahir Khan or Julian Moti, though the Guadalcanal leaders to have objections to both appointments and have requested that they be rescinded.

Please see also:
"Compensation talk for guns"  Solomon Star  (26 July 2007)
"RAMSI may compensate legal gun owners"  Pacific Magazine  (26 July 2007)
"Police without riot gear"  Solomon Star  (26 July 2007)
"4 years on ... working in partnership"  Solomon Star  (25 July 2007)
"PM stays away"  Solomon Star  (25 July 2007)
"Guale MPs may quit over rearmament"  Solomon Star  (25 July 2007)
"Solomon Islands provincial leaders say PM should take heed of public concern"  Radio New Zealand International  (25 July 2007)
"Four Solomons ministers threaten to resign"  Pacific Magazine  (25 July 2007)


* Impunity Watch articles on Moti's appointment and some of its messy diplomatic aftermath can be found here and here.