The ball is in Solomons court
Solomon Islands Police Training
A controversial plan by the Solomon Islands prime minister to allow firearms training in Taipei for his personal police bodyguards has been quashed by the Taiwanese government.
Manasseh Sogavare's government wants to rearm its police force, a move opposed by the Australian-led RAMSI. The rearming plan has also been condemned by civil groups fearful of a return to violence and ethnic unrest in the country. Mr Sogavare has brushed aside an Australian-led training package for his police bodyguards in favour of a Taiwanese course. Solomon Islands police and other government officials believed the course included weapons training for 12 officers who have left for Taipei.
But the Australian Associated Press reports a statement from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canberra late Thursday said “firearms shooting training has been removed from the training programme”. The statement signed by Dr Gary Song-Huann Lin also said Taiwan would not provide firearms to re-arm the Solomon Islands police force.
Mission does not support plan
The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, RAMSI, says it does not support the plans by the government to re-arm the Solomon Islands Police Force at this time.
RAMSI Special Coordinator Tim George says this following a meeting with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare today. The meeting was to discuss RAMSI’s concern about the proposed re-arming of the Solomon Islands Police Force.
Mr George says that RAMSI was unable to support the re-arming plans at this time on three principal concerns. He says firstly, there does not seem to be a satisfactory plan for training, purchasing, maintenance and security of weapons. Mr George says secondly, and most important of all, RAMSI is not aware of evidence of broad support for re-arming the police among Solomon Islanders themselves. Finally, he says RAMSI was concerned about the short timeframe intended for re-arming the Solomon Islands Police.
Mr George says that there would be a limited need in the future for the use of firearms to manage dangerous wildlife; fisheries and border control; and security of internationally protected people and dignitaries. He says that RAMSI could support limited re-arming of the Solomon Islands Police but at least two key conditions would need to be met.
Mr George says the first being the development of a professional group of officers in relevant parts of the police force, with a thorough management plan for re-arming. He says there also needs to be broad community support for re-arming the police, noting the longstanding sensitivity about this issue in Solomon Islands.
Mr George reaffirms that through the work of the Participating Police Force, RAMSI was helping the Solomon Islands Police Force to become a confident and well-trained force that Solomon Islanders could support and trust. The Solomon Islands Police Force is working hard to become a truly professional, modern police force with high standards and integrity.
MyBlog comments
MyBlog Post 17 of Tuesday 14th November 2006 had warned that prolong political stand-off between Honiara and Canberra could have adverse effects on Solomon Islands.
Of course the Sogavare-led government had been pinning its hope on the Republic of China or Taiwan. ROC is being seen as Solomon Islands saviour. MyBlog believes that while Taiwan may offer help to Solomon Islands, when it come to security, it's a different ball game.
MyBlog suggests you refer to Post 17 for it view on the souring relations.
Malaita Elections
The Malaita provincial election results have been finalised.
By yesterday afternoon, Returning Officer Johnson Houma confirmed the results for wards 8, 9 and 10. They were the last three of the 25 remaining wards on Malaita, which went to the polls on Monday.
Other wards in the province have held their elections on December 5 and 18, 2006. The elections were postponed twice because of lack of funds and untimely distribution of ballot boxes to respective polling centres.
The results for Wards 8, 9 and 10 are:
08. Malu'u -- Edwin Miniti Suiba'ea
09. Matakwalao -- Senly Levi Filualea
10. Takwa -- Ben Foukona
Ward winners (18/12/06 elections)
31. Luaniua - Wilson Sanga
32. Pelau - Christopher Mouka
33. Sikaiana - Keusa
Ward winners (05/12/06 elections)
1. Auki - Ina Leong
2. Aimela - Richard Na'amo Irosae
3. Buma - Robert Madeo
4. Fauabu - Erickson Otoia
5. West Baegu/Fataleka - William Isui
Returning Officer for the Monday 15 elections, Mr Houma says of the 33 Provincial Assembly members election, only nine(about 27%) are from the previous house. That means 24 are new members or about 73 percent of the 33-member Assembly.
The new provincial members will be sworn-in on Monday next week followed by the election of the provincial speaker on Tuesday. Following the speaker’s election will be an induction course to be held on Wednesday and Thursday for the new provincial members. The premiership election is expected to be carried out on Friday next week.
MyBlog says
MyBlog has been unable to probe the leadership quality of the elected members.
It however hopes the members would deliver what are required of them to the people. With little knowledge of most of the members, MyBlog's prediction for the Premier's Post is member for Aimela Ward in Central Kwara'ae, RICHARD NA'AMO IROSAE.
Deputy Premier? It's anybody's guess. Member for Takwa Ward - Ben Foukona? If he can lobby the North Malaita Region members, as an experienced former Parliamentarian and for a provincial balancing act, he could just get that position. But, then someone from either the Southern or Eastern region of the province will do.
Whichever team forms the next Provincial Executive after Friday next week, it faces a challenging encounter as it navigates Malaita into uncharted waters.
Happy surfing on the cyberspace.
A controversial plan by the Solomon Islands prime minister to allow firearms training in Taipei for his personal police bodyguards has been quashed by the Taiwanese government.
Manasseh Sogavare's government wants to rearm its police force, a move opposed by the Australian-led RAMSI. The rearming plan has also been condemned by civil groups fearful of a return to violence and ethnic unrest in the country. Mr Sogavare has brushed aside an Australian-led training package for his police bodyguards in favour of a Taiwanese course. Solomon Islands police and other government officials believed the course included weapons training for 12 officers who have left for Taipei.
But the Australian Associated Press reports a statement from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canberra late Thursday said “firearms shooting training has been removed from the training programme”. The statement signed by Dr Gary Song-Huann Lin also said Taiwan would not provide firearms to re-arm the Solomon Islands police force.
Mission does not support plan
The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, RAMSI, says it does not support the plans by the government to re-arm the Solomon Islands Police Force at this time.
RAMSI Special Coordinator Tim George says this following a meeting with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare today. The meeting was to discuss RAMSI’s concern about the proposed re-arming of the Solomon Islands Police Force.
Mr George says that RAMSI was unable to support the re-arming plans at this time on three principal concerns. He says firstly, there does not seem to be a satisfactory plan for training, purchasing, maintenance and security of weapons. Mr George says secondly, and most important of all, RAMSI is not aware of evidence of broad support for re-arming the police among Solomon Islanders themselves. Finally, he says RAMSI was concerned about the short timeframe intended for re-arming the Solomon Islands Police.
Mr George says that there would be a limited need in the future for the use of firearms to manage dangerous wildlife; fisheries and border control; and security of internationally protected people and dignitaries. He says that RAMSI could support limited re-arming of the Solomon Islands Police but at least two key conditions would need to be met.
Mr George says the first being the development of a professional group of officers in relevant parts of the police force, with a thorough management plan for re-arming. He says there also needs to be broad community support for re-arming the police, noting the longstanding sensitivity about this issue in Solomon Islands.
Mr George reaffirms that through the work of the Participating Police Force, RAMSI was helping the Solomon Islands Police Force to become a confident and well-trained force that Solomon Islanders could support and trust. The Solomon Islands Police Force is working hard to become a truly professional, modern police force with high standards and integrity.
MyBlog comments
MyBlog Post 17 of Tuesday 14th November 2006 had warned that prolong political stand-off between Honiara and Canberra could have adverse effects on Solomon Islands.
Of course the Sogavare-led government had been pinning its hope on the Republic of China or Taiwan. ROC is being seen as Solomon Islands saviour. MyBlog believes that while Taiwan may offer help to Solomon Islands, when it come to security, it's a different ball game.
MyBlog suggests you refer to Post 17 for it view on the souring relations.
Malaita Elections
The Malaita provincial election results have been finalised.
By yesterday afternoon, Returning Officer Johnson Houma confirmed the results for wards 8, 9 and 10. They were the last three of the 25 remaining wards on Malaita, which went to the polls on Monday.
Other wards in the province have held their elections on December 5 and 18, 2006. The elections were postponed twice because of lack of funds and untimely distribution of ballot boxes to respective polling centres.
The results for Wards 8, 9 and 10 are:
08. Malu'u -- Edwin Miniti Suiba'ea
09. Matakwalao -- Senly Levi Filualea
10. Takwa -- Ben Foukona
Ward winners (18/12/06 elections)
31. Luaniua - Wilson Sanga
32. Pelau - Christopher Mouka
33. Sikaiana - Keusa
Ward winners (05/12/06 elections)
1. Auki - Ina Leong
2. Aimela - Richard Na'amo Irosae
3. Buma - Robert Madeo
4. Fauabu - Erickson Otoia
5. West Baegu/Fataleka - William Isui
Returning Officer for the Monday 15 elections, Mr Houma says of the 33 Provincial Assembly members election, only nine(about 27%) are from the previous house. That means 24 are new members or about 73 percent of the 33-member Assembly.
The new provincial members will be sworn-in on Monday next week followed by the election of the provincial speaker on Tuesday. Following the speaker’s election will be an induction course to be held on Wednesday and Thursday for the new provincial members. The premiership election is expected to be carried out on Friday next week.
MyBlog says
MyBlog has been unable to probe the leadership quality of the elected members.
It however hopes the members would deliver what are required of them to the people. With little knowledge of most of the members, MyBlog's prediction for the Premier's Post is member for Aimela Ward in Central Kwara'ae, RICHARD NA'AMO IROSAE.
Deputy Premier? It's anybody's guess. Member for Takwa Ward - Ben Foukona? If he can lobby the North Malaita Region members, as an experienced former Parliamentarian and for a provincial balancing act, he could just get that position. But, then someone from either the Southern or Eastern region of the province will do.
Whichever team forms the next Provincial Executive after Friday next week, it faces a challenging encounter as it navigates Malaita into uncharted waters.
Happy surfing on the cyberspace.
posted by Myblog | 10:48 pm
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