Solomon Islands militia push to 'force talks'

One of two warring ethnic militias in the Solomon Islands says it is stepping up attacks on its rivals after the collapse of a ceasefire on Monday.

Malaita Eagles Force (MEF) spokesman Andrew Nori said yesterday that his men planned to move out of Honiara into surrounding jungle areas controlled by the rival Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM), which has rejected a newly elected Prime Minister.

Nori said the Eagles, who seized control of Honiara on June 5 and declared war on the Isatabu force, would use an armoured bulldozer fitted with heavy machine guns to spearhead its offensive.

"The first phase was to use defensive methods to protect Honiara.

"We have now ended that phase and have moved into an offensive operation, which is code-named Eagle Storm," Nori said.

"The offensive operation of the MEF may result in a counter-offensive by the IFM, so certainly there may be an escalation in the conflict today.

"If [the IFM] are seen behaving in a hostile manner, they may be shot."

The ethnic dispute in the former British colony has been simmering for decades as people on the main Guadalcanal Island have grown increasingly resentful of people from neighbouring Malaita Island moving in and taking top jobs in Honiara.

The Isatabu militia is made up of people from Guadalcanal.

Sporadic fighting between the rival forces began last year but exploded four weeks ago when the MEF stormed Honiara, forcing Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu to resign in a coup attempt mirroring the overthrow of the Government of Mahendra Chaudhry in neighbouring Fiji.

In the ensuing fighting between MEF and IFM rebels, more than 1000 foreigners living in the South Pacific island nation were evacuated and the country's main revenue source, the Gold Ridge mine owned by Australia's Delta Gold, was closed.

A tentative ceasefire to allow for peace talks held for more than two weeks, but violence erupted again this week after the election of a new Prime Minister, Mannasseh Sogavare, on Friday.

The IFM rejected the election, which it said was held under duress, with the MEF still patrolling the streets of Honiara.

Nori said force was the only way to bring the IFM back to the negotiating table.

"We are anxious to sit with them and discuss peace and a ceasefire, but in view of their non-recognition of the present Government we feel the only way to force them to talk is to increase military activities," Nori said.

About 60 people have been killed in fighting in the past 18 months.

At least two fighters were killed in fresh clashes on Monday when MEF members attacked IFM bunkers at Alligator Creek, a strategic point near Honiara airport.

- REUTERS