HONIARA (CU)_The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Manasseh Sogavare, declared a 36-hour lockdown in Honiara in order to tackle the state of unrest, as thousands of demonstrators carried out anti-government riots in the capital city of Honiara, setting fire to buildings in the city’s Chinatown. According to the Prime Minister, the lockdown, which will continue until 7a.m. Friday, will provide law enforcement agencies with the opportunity to fully investigate “the perpetrators” and to prevent “further lawless destruction”.
Nevertheless, on Thursday, protestors were seen defying the curfew and protesting for a second consecutive day, as the government of Australia revealed that it will deploy over 100 police and military personnel to aid the Pacific island. Announcing Canberra’s decision Prime Minister Scott Morrison noted that 23 police officers, will be sent to assist in riot control, while another 50 personnel will join them in enforcing security at critical infrastructure. 43 more military troops will be deployed to Solomon Islands to aid Australian police officers there, as Canberra’s national security committee’s responded to a request made by PM Sogavare for Australia’s assistance.
“Our purpose here is to provide stability and security to enable the normal constitutional processes, within the Solomon Islands, to be able to deal with the various issues that have arisen,” PM Morrison told reporters on Thursday. “It is not the Australian government’s intention in any way to intervene in the internal affairs of the Solomon Islands that is for them to resolve.”
Most of the protestors participating in the riots have reportedly travelled from the island of Malaita to the capital, expressing their dissatisfaction about being overlooked by the national government. The residents of the island have 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.
