Solomon Islands militants ready to lay down weapons

By MARY-LOUISE O'CALLAGHAN in Honiara

Militant leaders of the Solomon Islands' notorious Malaita Eagle Force say they will surrender their weapons and co-operate with the Australian-led intervention force to expose the alleged corruption of the Solomons Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza.

The surprise move, while likely to boost the early success of the intervention, also complicates its relationship with the Kemakeza Government.

The three militant leaders, Jimmy Rasta, Moses Suu and Simon Mani, who do not deny their role in the 2000 coup, said they would hand over their weapons on August 15.

They also want to provide inside information on the corruption within the Kemakeza regime to investigating officers.

"We want the intervention forces to come and observe this," Jimmy Rasta said.

"We want to make a lasting peace for the Solomon Islands."

Sir Allan, who was not available for comment last night, has said if there was any evidence found against him he was prepared to face the courts.

It was a personal request from Sir Allan in April this year that led Australian Prime Minister John Howard to offer an ambitious armed intervention into the Solomon Islands.

About 1100 of the expected 2300 police and Army personnel from around the region have now arrived.

The men set no condition for the surrender of arms yesterday, saying they had nothing to fear.

They denied that they had held on to their weapons because of the activities of a rival rebel leader from Guadalcanal's Weathercoast, Harold Keke, and instead blamed the Prime Minister for prolonging the country's crisis.

"When the [firearms] amnesty lapsed on 31 [May 2002], all my boys were ready to hand in their guns during that time.

"The Prime Minister told us: 'You boys, still hold on to your guns'," Mr Rasta said. "The Prime Minister is the head of the country, so we held onto our guns."



They said they wanted to meet the civilian head of the intervention, senior Australian diplomat Nick Warner, to confirm details of a proposed firearms amnesty.

"They should not try to hunt us down," Mr Rasta said.

"We need a 30 or 40-day amnesty to hand over our weapons."

But he said anyone, including former members of the Malaita Eagle Force who had committed offences since the signing of the Townsville Peace Agreement in October 2000 should face the law.

Mr Warner, who arrived in Honiara last Thursday, has said he is prepared to talk with all groups and individuals within the Solomon Islands' various militant and criminal factions and is prepared to hear what they have to say.