The arrival of the multinational peacekeeping force has very significant ramifications not only for the Solomon Islands but Oceania generally and in particular those parts of Oceania which are
experiencing similar problems to those evident in the
Solomon Islands.

The decision by the Australian government to take an
active role in restoring the social fabric of the Solomon Islands has been generally approved by Pacific Island nations. In addition it has been indicated that 75 per cent of the Australian people support the move.

There is little doubt that the fundamental problems in
the Solomon Islands stem from clan loyalty. Strong
clan loyalty is a feature of much of Oceania and occurs when a person's loyalty to their own clan or tribal group takes precedent over their obligations to society generally.

In the Solomon Islands, strong clan loyalty has resulted in corruption at all levels of society, in particular within the police force and the political and governmental processes producing an eventual complete breakdown of the social fabric.

There is also little doubt that the fundamental issue is land. That people from one particular island are able to occupy the land of others on Guadalcanal with immunity from any police action has been the primary cause of the violence on Guadalcanal.

The unfortunate murder of a former Solomon Islands
Police Commissioner who was from the island of
Tikopia is one of many disturbing examples of the corruption evident as a result of clan loyalty in the Solomon Islands police force.

The alleged culprit was a serving police sergeant from Malaita who was arrested for the murder. He was
subsequently allowed to escape by his fellow Malaitan
police officers and has now apparently returned to
Malaita. According to the present Police Commissioner,
Mr. William Morrell, there are now "some problems"
preventing the police from again detaining him.

In a long interview conducted on the remote
Weathercoast, warlord Harold Keke expressed his
concern about the corruption of the police and politicians in Honiara. He also indicated that the Weathercoast villages which were destroyed were, in fact, destroyed by officers of the Solomon Islands police force - a statement which was apparently verified by refugees in a settlement near Honiara. Although it was not discussed in the interview with Harold Keke, one would have to suspect that the alleged murders on the Weathercoast may well be clan-related.

There is little doubt that it would take some time to
unravel the problems in the Solomon Islands and one
would suspect that the peacekeeping force may need to
be prepared for quite a long stay. The early indications are that the peacekeepers had correctly identified the problem areas. The utilization of Australian police and government officials will, hopefully, eliminate the problem of clan loyalty in these organizations and once again restore their credibility.

In the longer term, consideration will almost certainly need to be given to the relevance of the political structures put into place by the previous colonial administrators. One could easily form the view that the unravelling of the social structure in the 25 years since independence suggests that the present political structure may not be adequate to represent the diverse and volatile ethnic community that exists in the Solomon Islands.
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Best wishes,
Jane
www.janeresture.com
www.janesoceania.com
www.pacificislandsradio.com
jane@janeresture.com
jane@pacificislandsradio.com

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