Solomon Islands

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of the Solomon Islands

Queen Elizabeth II Governor-General Nathaniel Waena Prime Minister Derek Sikua National Parliament Political parties Elections Provinces RAMSI Foreign relations

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Map of the Solomon Islands

The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), also known as Operation Helpem Fren, was created in 2003 in response to a request for international aid by the Governor-General of the Solomon Islands. The Solomon Islands is a country in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands Politics of the Solomon Islands takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic Monarchy within the Commonwealth, whereby TalkCommonewalth realm.--> The Head of For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II The Governor-General of the Solomon Islands is the De facto Head of State of the Solomon Islands, representing Queen Elizabeth II, who is styled Sir Nathaniel Rahumaea Waena GCMG, CSI, KStJ has been the Governor-General of the Solomon Islands since July 7 2004. The Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands is the Solomon Islands' Head of government, consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority David Derek Sikua (born October 10 1959) has been the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands since December 20 2007 The National Parliament of the Solomon Islands has 50 members elected for a four year term in single-seat constituencies. Political parties in Solomon Islands lists political parties in Solomon Islands. Elections in Solomon Islands gives information on Election and election results in Solomon Islands. ||}The Solomon Islands are currently divided into 9 Provinces The national capital Honiara, on the island of Guadalcanal is separately governed as Capital Territory The Solomon Islands ' Foreign policy As of 2008 was described by the Solomons' government as a "look north" policy aimed as strengthening diplomatic Information on politics by country is available for every Country, including both De jure and De facto independent The Solomon Islands is a country in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands The Governor-General of the Solomon Islands is the De facto Head of State of the Solomon Islands, representing Queen Elizabeth II, who is styled The Solomon Islands is a country in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands "Helpem Fren" is Pidgin English for "helping friend". A pidgin is a simplified language that develops as a means of communication between two or more groups that do not have a language in common in situations such as Trade

Causes for unrest

Deep seated problems of land alienation dating from colonialism, unresolved after independence have led to a number of compensation claims on land use. Alienated Land is that which has been acquired from customary landowners by Government either for its own use or private development requiring a mortgage or other forms of guarantees See Colony and Colonization for examples of colonialism which do not refer to Western colonialism Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising In Law, damages refers to the money paid or awarded to a Claimant (England Pursuer (Scotland or Plaintiff (US following a successful

According to "Peacemaking in Solomon Islands: The experience of the Guadalcanal Women for Peace movement" by Dalcy Tovosia Paina, School of Education, Solomon Islands College of Higher Education,

"The Honiara Peace Accord that was signed by the warring parties (Guadalcanal and Malaita), the government and the Commonwealth Special Envoy (Major Sitiveni Rabuka) recognised several root causes of the conflict:

• Land demands – Guadalcanal leaders wanted all alienated land titles, which had been leased to government and to individual developers, to be returned to landowners (including any other land acquired illegally).
• Political demands – Guadalcanal wanted the establishment of a state government in order to have control over: the sale or use of local land; the distribution of wealth derived from local natural resources; and the migration of people in and out of the province.
• Compensation demands – Guadalcanal wanted payment for the lives of its indigenous people, who have been brutally murdered for their lands or for other reasons. "

The warring parties mentioned were mainly the Solomon Islands Government, the Isatabu Freedom Movement and the Malaita Eagle Force, led by Jimmy Rasta. Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFB is a nationalist militant organisation of the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Malaita Eagles Force is a Militant organization originating in the island of Malaita, in the Solomon Islands. Jimmy Rasta Lusibaea was one of the rebel commanders of the Malaita Eagle Force.

International response

A sizable international security contingent of 2,200 police and troops, led by Australia (under the Australian Federal Police and Australian Defence Force name Operation Anode)^[1] and New Zealand, and with representatives from about 20 other Pacific nations began arriving from the 24 July 2003. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Australian Defence Force (ADF is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Events 1132 - Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.

Nick Warner assumed the role of Special Coordinator as leader of RAMSI, working with the Solomon Islands Government. Nick Warner (Nicholas Peter Warner is currently the Secretary of the Australian Department of Defence. The Solomon Islands is a country in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands Major contributing nations to RAMSI include Australia, which directed the operation through running Combined Task Force 635 (CTF 635), Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. For the computer game see Joint Task Force (computer game. A task force (TF is a temporary unit or formation established to work Fiji (Matanitu ko Viti फ़िजी officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य Papua New Guinea (or ˈpæpjuːə in Tok Pisin: Papua Niugini) officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania The Kingdom of Tonga is an Archipelago in the south Pacific Ocean comprising 169 islands 36 of them inhabited stretching over a distance of about 800 kilometres (500 miles Initially, the Task Force's commander was Lieutenant Colonel John Frewen, OC 2 RAR, and the deputy commander Major Vern Bennett, New Zealand Army, from Linton. The Land Component included HQ 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment from Townsville, 200 Australian infantry from 2 RAR, a Fijian rifle company, probably from 3 Fiji Infantry Regiment, Queen Elizabeth Bks, Suva, and a Pacific Islands Company, under an Australian Company commander, with Tongan, PNG, and Australian rifle platoons. 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (2 RAR is an Australian Light infantry battalion Supporting elements included a PNG engineer troop, New Zealand engineer & medical elements, an Australian Combat Service Support Team, with some personnel from Army level troops from Sydney plus logistics personnel from New Zealand, and four Australian Project Nervana Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for surveillance. ^[2]

In 2004, James Batley took over as Special Coordinator, followed by Tim George in late 2006.

Military personnel provide security, material and logistical assistance to police forces assisting the Solomon Islands Government in the restoration of law and order. The Solomon Islands is a country in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands From November 2003, the military component was reduced, as stability gradually returned to the country, and a sizeable civilian contingent, comprising of economists, development assistance specialists and budget advisors commenced the reconstruction of the government, economy and finances of the Solomon Islands. The civilian contingent is now made up of around 130 personnel from many pacific countries, the most sizeable being Australia and New Zealand. Early successes included the stabilisation of government finances and normalisation of debt, as well as a number of economic reforms. Civilians in RAMSI are now focussing on capacity building of Solomon Islanders to take over the roles. Difficulties include the lack of available skilled Solomon Islanders.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare was outspoken in his criticism of RAMSI, which he accused of being dominated by Australia and of undermining the Solomons' sovereignty ^{[3] [4] [5]}. Manasseh Damukana Sogavare (born January 17, 1955) was the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands from 2000 to 2001 and again from 2006 to Sovereignty is the exclusive Right to control a Government, a country, a people or oneself By contrast, his successor Prime Minister Derek Sikua has stated he supports RAMSI ^[6], and has criticised his predecessor, saying in January 2008: "I think for some time in the last 18 months, the Solomon Islands government was preoccupied with finding fault in RAMSI. David Derek Sikua (born October 10 1959) has been the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands since December 20 2007 " ^[7] Sikua has stated:

"[We will] provide leadership that will work closely with RAMSI to achieve clearly stated and agreed objectives for the long-term benefit of Solomon Islands. [. . . ] RAMSI is here on our invitation. [. . . ] [The mission] is important to Solomon Islands as it provides security, development of our police service, and the strengthening of the capacity of government institutions. "^[8]

Sikua has also asked RAMSI to assist the Solomons' rural areas "in the health sector and in the education sector as well as in infrastructure and other sectors to do with income generation and economic activities"^[9].

Adam Dunning killing

In the early hours of 22 December 2004, Australian Protective Service Officer Adam Dunning was ambushed and killed while on a routine vehicle patrol with another officer in Honiara. Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Within 24 hours, a rifle company group from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment was flown into the Solomon Islands. 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment is one of seven battalions that make up the Royal Australian Regiment, formed

Results of the gun amnesty in 2003

In early January 2005, a joint operation between the Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP) and Participating Police Force (PPF) resulted in the arrest of James Tatau. Tatau was charged with Dunning's murder, the attempted murder of his colleague, and an earlier shooting incident on a Participating Police Force (PPF) vehicle, in which a bullet narrowly missed two PPF officers.

After the arrest, the military presence within RAMSI was again reduced. As of 2005, the five troop-contributing nations (Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga) together provided approximately 40 personnel to support the PPF. There are currently around 200 troops stationed in Solomon Islands, who regularly conduct patrols in the capital, Honiara and throughout the provinces.

Solomon Islanders James Tatau and John Hen Ome stood trial for the killing of Adam Dunning in May 2007 and were found innocent. ^[10]

Riots following 2006 general election

AFP Tactical officers providing security in the Solomons after the riots

On 18 April 2006 Snyder Rini was elected Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands in a general election. The Australian Federal Police (AFP is the Federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Snyder Rini (born July 27, 1949) is a Solomon Islands politician who was briefly the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands from This article is about the government position For other uses see Prime Minister (disambiguation. This sparked rioting in Honiara amidst allegations that the election was fixed with the aid of money from Chinese businessmen. Honiara, population 49107 (1999 54600 (2003 est is the Capital of the Solomon Islands and of Guadalcanal Province, although it is a separately administered Parts of Honiara were razed and looted, with Chinese-owned property particularly targeted. ^[11] With up to 90% of their shops burnt down in Chinatown, most Chinese have evacuated the country in fear of their personal safety. Snyder Rini resigned on the floor of Parliament on 26th April after just eight days as Prime Minister and as MPs were due to vote on a motion of no confidence against him.

In response, from 20 April 2006, RAMSI forces were rapidly bolstered by a further 220 Australian troops. Events 1303 - The University of Rome La Sapienza is instituted by Pope Boniface VIII. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. New Zealand sent a further 78 troops and 30 police to increase its RAMSI contribution to 125 troops and 67 police. ^[12][13]

The PPF currently comprises police officers from 15 Pacific nations: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Republic of Marshall Islands, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Niue, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Kiribati and Tuvalu. Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa, is a country governing the western part of the Samoan Islands Archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean The Cook Islands ( Cook Islands Māori: Kūki 'Āirani) are a self-governing parliamentary democracy in free association with New Zealand. Vanuatu, officially the Republic of Vanuatu ( French: République de Vanuatu, Bislama: Ripablik blong Vanuatu) is an Island Nauru, officially the Republic of Nauru, is an Island nation in the Micronesian South Pacific. Kiribati or ( kirr-i-bas or KEE-ree-buhss ˈkiɾibas in Gilbertese) officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an Island nation located in Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian Island nation located in the Pacific Ocean midway between Hawaii and

References

External links

• Official RAMSI website
• Unofficial RAMSI website