The eastern part of the Solomon Islands national capital, Honiara, is currently under an uneasy calm following the Solomon Islands Police Force (SIPF) regaining control of the area after overnight rioting.
“We are utilizing all available resources and we are not taking any chances,” Acting Police Commissioner Junita Matanga said.
She stated that, “police officers deployed under the operation will not tolerate any nuisances and disorderly behavior.”
Criminals from Burns Creek settlement and nearby squatters East of Ranandi industrial area of Honiara have rioted, looted retail shops and commercial businesses and even burnt down buildings overnight.
Media report said the rioters were people, who had claimed to be flood victims of the recent flooding in Honiara.
And over the past five weeks, they have been residing in evacuation care centers, including the Panatina Campus pavilion of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU). But they were told to vacate the premises over the past four weeks, which eventually came to a head-on-collision on Friday.
Media reports, which confirmed by independent observers and NGOs in the country, alleged that those claimed victims of the flood were making false claims but they were not victims.
The genuine victims of the flood in East and Central Honiara, were already gone back to their various settlements and squatters to reclaim their land and began rebuilding their lives.
But those remaining ones in the Care Centers were homeless unemployed individuals prior to the flood. They were simply taking advantages of the flood to claim and qualify for government and NGOs assistance.
According to reports, the government and education authorities in the country have recently decided to instruct the removal of the individuals to enable the university and other schools in the Eastern and Central areas of Honiara, which were used as evacuation centers, to resume classes.
Prior to the removing of the individuals, they demanded that the government pays them money to help rebuilding their lives once again. Their demand was also accompanied by threats to go on rioting in the streets of Honiara, but the police failed to take it seriously.
Following their removal, they eventually rioted in the Eastern part of Honiara, on Friday evening and throughout the night, causing multi million dollars widespread damages to private properties and retail shops along the business strip from Ranandi to Burns Creek.
Since last night, the Police have managed to arrest some of the leaders of the rioting mob and also set up roadblocks in the area to monitor any suspicious activities.
This evening, a police press statement revealed that the SIPF has already launched a major security operation to target the current lawlessness experiences in parts of Honiara. Additional officers have been deployed and are patrolling Honiara and surrounding communities.
A number of Police Units have been utilized in this operation which has increase police manpower. Police Operations Officers are already assisting general duty officers with patrols and a variety of other policing tasks.
Acting Commissioner Matanga reminds the public that with the launching of the security operation, police are more prepared and have the response capability to attend to any disorder situation.
The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force operation is also benefitting from the strong support that is currently provided by the RAMSI’s Participating Police Force (PPF).
Police Commissioner Ms Matanga also strongly urged members of the public to refrain from involving in illegal activities and to stay at home.
“While I appreciate the responsible attitude displayed by the most members of the public, you are warned not to take advantage of the situation and get involved in unlawful activities,” she said.
“I call on members of the public to stay at home and exercise restraint and refrain from going out unless it is absolutely necessary,” Acting Commissioner Matanga said.
Police are already responding to a group of individuals who are trying to setup roadblocks around the King George to Burn’s Creek area this evening. Police will be continue with patrol but may also set-up random check points in and around the town boundary if it is required.
Police also called on the public to support their operation by providing any information relating to the unlawful activities and also information on anyone or group who may want to take advantage of the situation to cause additional nuisance.
The police call is also extended to community elders, church leaders and NGOs such civil society groups or community support groups to help in educating our people to stay away from such illegal activities.
The police operation will continue on to tomorrow and will depend on security assessments to either scale down the operation or extend.
The current disorder is the result of the behavior and attitude a few unruly individuals within our communities but police has continued to get huge support from the public and we are looking forward for the continued public assistance.
Any information that can assist police with their operation can be phoned in through the Police Communication Centre’s toll free numbers on 23666 the emergency number 999.
“We are utilizing all available resources and we are not taking any chances,” Acting Police Commissioner Junita Matanga said.
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| A building still smoldering from a riot the previous night in East Honiara. |
Criminals from Burns Creek settlement and nearby squatters East of Ranandi industrial area of Honiara have rioted, looted retail shops and commercial businesses and even burnt down buildings overnight.
Media report said the rioters were people, who had claimed to be flood victims of the recent flooding in Honiara.
And over the past five weeks, they have been residing in evacuation care centers, including the Panatina Campus pavilion of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU). But they were told to vacate the premises over the past four weeks, which eventually came to a head-on-collision on Friday.
 |
| People walk toward the area where buildings were still on fire after an overnight riot in Honiara |
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| A coconut tree in front of King George IV School, which was cut down by looters overnight. |
The genuine victims of the flood in East and Central Honiara, were already gone back to their various settlements and squatters to reclaim their land and began rebuilding their lives.
But those remaining ones in the Care Centers were homeless unemployed individuals prior to the flood. They were simply taking advantages of the flood to claim and qualify for government and NGOs assistance.
According to reports, the government and education authorities in the country have recently decided to instruct the removal of the individuals to enable the university and other schools in the Eastern and Central areas of Honiara, which were used as evacuation centers, to resume classes.
Prior to the removing of the individuals, they demanded that the government pays them money to help rebuilding their lives once again. Their demand was also accompanied by threats to go on rioting in the streets of Honiara, but the police failed to take it seriously.
Following their removal, they eventually rioted in the Eastern part of Honiara, on Friday evening and throughout the night, causing multi million dollars widespread damages to private properties and retail shops along the business strip from Ranandi to Burns Creek.
 |
| Vehicles back on the road, East of Honiara, after the main highway was closed overnight due to rioting |
This evening, a police press statement revealed that the SIPF has already launched a major security operation to target the current lawlessness experiences in parts of Honiara. Additional officers have been deployed and are patrolling Honiara and surrounding communities.
A number of Police Units have been utilized in this operation which has increase police manpower. Police Operations Officers are already assisting general duty officers with patrols and a variety of other policing tasks.
Acting Commissioner Matanga reminds the public that with the launching of the security operation, police are more prepared and have the response capability to attend to any disorder situation.
The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force operation is also benefitting from the strong support that is currently provided by the RAMSI’s Participating Police Force (PPF).
Police Commissioner Ms Matanga also strongly urged members of the public to refrain from involving in illegal activities and to stay at home.
“While I appreciate the responsible attitude displayed by the most members of the public, you are warned not to take advantage of the situation and get involved in unlawful activities,” she said.
“I call on members of the public to stay at home and exercise restraint and refrain from going out unless it is absolutely necessary,” Acting Commissioner Matanga said.
Police are already responding to a group of individuals who are trying to setup roadblocks around the King George to Burn’s Creek area this evening. Police will be continue with patrol but may also set-up random check points in and around the town boundary if it is required.
Police also called on the public to support their operation by providing any information relating to the unlawful activities and also information on anyone or group who may want to take advantage of the situation to cause additional nuisance.
The police call is also extended to community elders, church leaders and NGOs such civil society groups or community support groups to help in educating our people to stay away from such illegal activities.
The police operation will continue on to tomorrow and will depend on security assessments to either scale down the operation or extend.
The current disorder is the result of the behavior and attitude a few unruly individuals within our communities but police has continued to get huge support from the public and we are looking forward for the continued public assistance.
Any information that can assist police with their operation can be phoned in through the Police Communication Centre’s toll free numbers on 23666 the emergency number 999.
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