Posted by KE on 8/7/2003, 9:41 pm, in reply to "Solomons intervention 'on track' -news update" The Solomon Islands' prime minister urged parliamentarians to approvelegislation clearing the way for Australian-led troops and police to helpstop the country from plunging into anarchy. Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza recommended that parliament endorse a request from the head of state, Governor General Sir John Inilapli, for On Monday Inilapli formally requested that Australia send a force to combat rising crime and violence in his Pacific Island nation of 480,000 people, 3,800 km north-east of New Zealand. Kemakeza also asked parliament to pass a bill allowing the force to operate in the country. Diplomatic observers and parliamentary sources said they expect quick and overwhelming approval. Last Friday, rebel warlord Harold Keke, blamed for up to 50 killings that have been part of the violence, offered the government a unilateral Kemakeza said his Cabinet would consider the ceasefire proposal this week. There have been growing demands for amnesty from militants, armed with powerful modern weapons taken from police armouries. Business and diplomatic sources in Honiara said the government was unlikely to show any leniency toward the militants and rogue police for crimes - New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff said the Solomons were fast becoming ungovernable as armed thugs, warlords and corrupt police disrupted normal life. "The overwhelming majority of Solomon Islanders want something done to restore the rule of law ... so that the economy can get going again," Goff The Solomons could collapse as a state, with "bloodletting (and) ...enormous violence," he said. Goff said about 300 armed thugs were operating around Honiara, while Keke's band of up to 60 armed supporters were on the rugged Weather Coast of the main island, Guadalcanal. source theage newspaper
Solomons debate intervention bill
Tuesday 8 July 2003, 2:05 PM
Australia to head the 2,000-strong armed intervention force.
ceasefire after three years of brutal defiance of its rule by his armed
militants.
including murder, extortion, robbery and kidnapping - committed over the past few years.
said on New Zealand's National Radio.
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