Armed police backup in Solomons force

By HELEN TUNNAH

Specialist armed police will be included in a 140-strong New Zealand police and military deployment heading for the Solomon Islands to help restore law and order.

The police, from the armed offenders squad, will provide security backup for officers trying to disband gangs of armed criminals who have been terrorising parts of the strife-torn Pacific nation.

Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said yesterday that 35 police and 105 military personnel would be sent to the Solomon Islands, with development aid to be increased from $8 million to $14 million.

They will be part of a regional force comprising up to 2000 soldiers and 250 police, staffed mainly from Australia, but also Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Samoa.

New Zealand's Defence Force will keep an infantry combat unit of 125 troops on standby, who could be sent to the Solomons if the situation worsens.

The Solomon Islands Government asked Australia for help last month, with the virtually bankrupt and lawless state on the verge of collapse.

Australian military and police officers are expected to be in overall charge.

The Government moved to head off opposition complaints that New Zealand should not be sending any police to Pacific countries when there are staffing shortages here, by announcing police will receive special funding to fill the 35 positions.

Superintendent Neville Matthews said volunteers would be asked to fill the positions. The deployment would include a "tactical response element".

Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said the law in NZ would also be changed so that any policeman involved in a criminal incident in the Solomon Islands could face trial in New Zealand.

Cabinet ministers have been anxious that the New Zealand deployment was at the request of the Solomon Islands, and with the blessing of other Pacific Island states, amid worries the Australian Government was more "gung-ho" in its approach to deployments and was trying to combat terrorism rather than resolve specific Solomon Islands problems.

Mr Goff said yesterday that there were risks in any deployment, but the situation in the Solomons at the moment was calm.

The intervention force will also be asked to disarm warlord Harold Keke, accused of up to 50 killings in the Solomons, although whether New Zealanders or others will be given that task is not yet known.

Defence Minister Mark Burton said yesterday that he had been given an assurance from Defence bosses that the deployment could be met without straining staffing levels, despite contributions also being made now to Afghanistan and Iraq.

He said the military staff would complete logistical and humanitarian work, but would also have a combat capability.

the military deployment would last about four months. The police deployment will last up to two years.

Associate Foreign Affairs Minister Marian Hobbs said the increased aid would come from existing, but not Pacific, aid budgets. The money was expected to be spent on paying primary schoolteachers and building a prison, but could also pay for New Zealanders rebuilding the failing Solomons civil service.

Australia has said up to 100 officials will be needed to help run prisons and re-establish departments such as Inland Revenue and the Treasury.

The force

* NZ will contribute to a Pacific force aimed at restoring law and order in the Solomon Islands:105 military personnel, costing between $7 million and $10 million.

* Force will include four helicopter units with 65 personnel, 12 engineers and 25 logistics and support staff.

* A 125-member infantry company will remain on standby in NZ.

* 35 police, including some armed offenders squad members.

* Development aid will be increased from $8 million to $14 million this year.

* Aid will pay for teacher salaries, building a prison and New Zealand civilian workers.

* Aid is expected to rise to $20 million a year in the next financial year.