NZ to send more troops to islands

By HELEN TUNNAH deputy political editor

New Zealand is sending a further 125 soldiers to the Solomon Islands as Australia talks of reducing its military commitment soon.

Mr Goff said that although no shots had been fired at any of the 2250 Pacific troops and police already in the Solomons disarming criminal gangs, there was now a need for New Zealand to send more soldiers.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard said in Honiara yesterday that he hoped the military commitment to the intervention force could be reduced before too long, but Mr Goff said New Zealand would not be sending more soldiers if Australia was about to withdraw any of theirs.

"They won't be bringing them out in the immediate future. If they were bringing people out we wouldn't be putting people in."

He said New Zealand had also not come under pressure from Mr Howard to increase its commitment.

National Party leader Bill English said he had no quarrel with sending New Zealand soldiers to protect New Zealand police, but Cabinet's latest decision smacked of a deal to appease Australia.

"If the need was there, it was there at the start, rather than now. We shouldn't be expecting Australians to protect New Zealand police, we should be doing it ourselves."

Mr Goff said an infantry company, which has been on standby at Linton Army camp since July, would leave for the Solomons soon. The Government has already sent 105 soldiers, mainly engineers and helicopter crew, and 35 police there to help restore law and order.

The military deployment is expected to last only a few months, and Australia's Defence Force built in a 30-day review period for their commitment which began in late July.

The Pacific intervention force was dominated by Australia and went to the Solomons to help restore stability after the Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza, asked for help.

The virtually bankrupt nation has been battling growing unrest and endemic corruption since a 2000 coup. Ethnic rivalries have spilled over into conflict between criminal gangs, many armed with high-powered weapons stolen from a police armoury.

Sir Allan has also been linked to the corruption, with claims he benefited from hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation payments following the coup. Arrested rebel Harold Keke has linked him to attempted killings.

Mr Goff said the end of a weapons amnesty meant it was important there was sufficient protection for police as they tried to force people to give up guns.

It was "excellent" that there had not been a shot fired, but the next phase of the operation would be harder. It would involve police working on court-issued warrants to look for concealed weapons. The police would lead the operation, but the military would need to be in the background as a deterrent.

Mr Howard spent six hours in Honiara yesterday, and was greeted by cheering crowds in what was described as the biggest reception for an overseas dignitary since Queen Elizabeth visited in 1974.

But his talks with Sir Allan came amid Opposition unrest. MP Alfred Sasako said the Solomons Prime Minister should step aside while an independent inquiry investigated the claims against him.


Solomons force

A Pacific force of 2250 is in the country to restore law and order.

NZ will send 125 more soldiers in addition to 105 troops, mainly engineers and helicopter crew, and 35 police to help restore law and order.

Australia yesterday announced NZ$28 million in direct budget support to the Solomons Government.