Power given to use lethal force in Solomon Islands

By MARY-LOUISE O'CALLAGHAN Herald correspondent

HONIARA - Police and troops serving in the regional intervention force in the Solomon Islands will be empowered to use lethal force if necessary, backed by helicopter, patrol boats and armoured vehicles.

Details of the far-reaching intervention plan are contained in confidential briefing papers obtained by theHerald.

Prepared for the Solomon Islands cabinet by Australia and New Zealand officials, they set out ambitious plans for the deployment of more than 2000 defence personnel, 400 police and the insertion of at least 100 foreign civilians into all key areas of the Solomons Administration in the next 12 months.

Entitled COMPSASI (Comprehensive Package of Strengthened Assistance to Solomon Islands), the proposal sets out three main areas for the intervention: police, military and economic development.

The comprehensive package of strengthened assistance is intended to help the Solomon Islands break the cycle of lawlessness and economic decline, it says.

The provision of armed peacekeepers is an integral part of the intervention and designed to protect all those participating in it from intimidation and threats.

These peacekeepers will be mostly tasked with supporting the work of 400 police officers drawn from round the region who will be at the cutting edge of the early days of the intervention, which is expected to focus on disarming hundreds of ex-combatants still in possession of stolen weapons.

The rule of law has never been re-established in the nation of 500,000, which has been suffering a prolonged form of Melanesian mutiny since a coup ousted the democratically elected Government three years ago.

A Solomon Islands proposal that there be a short amnesty to encourage the voluntary return of firearms has been agreed to by the Australian and New Zealand Governments.

The combat element will be deployed in the Solomon Islands for as long as it is needed, the papers say.

The package will be civilian and police-led assistance backed up by a military component (armed peacekeepers) that will be deployed to protect the operation from intimidation and threats.

However, no definitive plan has been made for dealing with the rebel leader Harold Keke, accused of scores of deaths on Guadalcanals Weathercoast.

Displaced people from the Weathercoast have in recent weeks urged the rapid deployment of the intervention force to the remote southern coastline of Guadalcanal, where there have been a series of attacks on villages in recent months.

Australia will also build the Solomon Islands a temporary remand facility and a new prison, and provide up to 50 personnel to run them as well as providing a senior magistrate to deal with high-profile cases that remain unresolved.







Key enabling legislation will authorise the use of such force as is reasonably necessary.


Solomons force

Initial deployment: At least 2500 personnel drawn mainly from Australia

Military deployment: 2000, including 100 troops from NZ

200 soldiers to act as armed peacekeepers, the remainder logistical and other support

Police: 300 to 400 including 40 from NZ

New heads for Central Bank and National Provident Fund; possibly other departments and statutory authorities.