Australia's Solomons plan tipped at $2.3b

By MARY-LOUISE O'CALLAGHAN

HONIARA - Australian Prime Minister John Howard's ambitious plan to restore the Solomon Islands is expected to cost around A$2 billion ($2.3 billion) and last for up to a decade.

Costs being calculated by Federal Government agencies contacted by The Australian put the annual price tag of the intervention at close to A$150 million.

But the deployment of up to 2000 troops and police to the Solomons is likely to push costs in the first year to over A$200 million, according to senior Government sources.

Details of the strategy to restore the South Pacific nation are still being finalised but they include a commitment from Australia to provide financial, technical and personnel support to the Solomons Administration for up to 10 years.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has confirmed plans to deploy 2000 police and troops drawn primarily from Australia, but also New Zealand, with the hope that other countries such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea and even Samoa and Tonga will also participate.

He said Australia hoped to create a sense of co-operative intervention that was not something to recoil from.

"This is something about mates in the Pacific getting together and helping each other out when something really goes wrong," he said.

Downer indicated that while the Australian Defence Force deployment could exceed 1000, only about 200 would be combat troops.

The military component would be on the ground for as short a time as possible, one defence official said yesterday, confirming that the initial posting of up to 1200 defence personnel was likely to be for three months.

Added to costs will be the stationing of an Australian warship, most likely the HMAS Manoora, off the Solomons, which could cost close to A$1 million for a three-month deployment.

The cost of posting and supporting the 150 to 300 police alone is estimated to range from A$60 million to A$120 million depending on the number deployed.

Solomons authorities have asked that outside police are placed with Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP).

These police would protect key institutions such as the finance ministry, courts and their personnel from intimidation, confidential Government documents say.

A new effort to confiscate illegal weapons would also be launched and the RSIP provided with resources to investigate and prosecute criminal offences.

The intervention police were likely to be granted the right to use lethal force in the course of their duties.

Elements of the RSIP armed a civilian militia in June 2000 and joined them in a coup which deposed the elected Government of the then Prime Minister, Bart Ulufaalu.

The ultimate scope of the Solomon Plan will have to be approved by Solomon Island authorities but it is understood the Cabinet has already approved in principle the framework of assistance proposed by John Howard earlier this month.

Howard's Solomon Plan also envisages placing expatriate officers in treasury, the justice system, including prisons and courts, and other Government ministries for up to a decade.