providing law enforcement agencies to prevent “further lawless destruction”. However, protestors continued to carry out demonstrations for a second consecutive day on Friday, defying the curfew in the Pacific island, setting fire to buildings in the Chinatown, in the suburbs of Honiara.
Most of the protestors participating in the riots are reportedly residents of the island of Malaita, who have been in opposition of a 2019 decision to end diplomatic ties with Taiwan and establish formal relations with mainland China. Although this led to an independence referendum last year, it was dismissed by the government as illegitimate. As chaos and unrest continued to unravel, the government of Australia on Thursday, announced plans to deploy over 100 police and military personnel to aid the government of the Solomon Islands, in response to a request made by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.
This week, the government of Fiji followed suit, revealing the deployment of 50 troops, who will be joining the Australian-led peacekeeping force in the crisis-hit islands. The decision is expected to increase the number of peacekeepers to about 200 police officers and troops, with the biggest contribution being made by Australia, while at least 34 personnel are reportedly from Papua New Guinea.
“Out of concern for the safety and well-being of our Pacific sisters and brothers in the Solomon Islands, 50 Fijian troops will dispatch to Honiara tomorrow as part of reinforced platoon embedded with Australian force elements to help maintain peace and security,” Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama tweeted on Monday.
Demonstrators attempted to torch the parliament and the prime minister’s private residence during the riots before they were dispersed by law enforcement personnel who fired warning shots and tear gas. Meanwhile, bodies of three people were discovered in a burnt-out building in Honiara, police said on Saturday.
