Chairman of the National Peace Council Paul Tovua helps cut the first weapno destroyed in the Solomon Islands under RAMSI

AFP's Darren Booy and Tony Stafford meet local kids at Gwaunaru'u village, Malita Province

Commander of the Participating Police Force and newly sworn-in Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Ben McDevitt consults with Superintendent Philip Idufo'oa, Provincial Police Commander, Malita Province

AFP police officers lead their Australian Defence Force colleagues into the Solomon Islands at the beginning of Operation Helpem Fren

Royal Solomon Islands Police officers help their Australia Federal Police colleagues to load surrendered weapons at the National Peace Council headquarters in Honiara

It's all on track after a week
Published Friday 1 August 2003

By Brian Hartigan in Honiara
After little more than one week since the start of Operation Helpem Fren, several key milestones have been reached. Those achievements have only been possible through the fantastic cooperation the Participating Police Force has received from the Solomon Islands community.

Already, the streets of Honiara are relatively free of drunken mobs, illegal trading stalls have moved out of town and police patrols can be seen regularly throughout the city. Reports of stolen cars returned to their rightful owners in the dead of night came early.

A new atmosphere of ease seems to have fallen over the city as the general public feels it is safe enough resume normal activities and to move freely about town.

The Participating Police Force's warm welcome at Henderson International Airport on Wednesday 24 July began what was to be a very busy and successful week for the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands. Two hours after landing, the first joint Royal Solomon Islands Police and Participating Police Force foot patrols through the streets of Honiara were sent out.

Less than 24 hours later, the first of many surrendered guns were handed to Commander of the Participating Police Force Ben McDevitt at a meeting with the National Peace Council. The weapons were publicly destroyed outside NPC headquarters on Saturday and, fittingly, it was NPC Chairman Paul Tovuoa who cut the first one.

On Monday, Mr McDevitt was sworn in as the Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police. Speaking after his swearing in ceremony at the residence of Governor General Sir Father John Ini Lapli, Mr McDevitt outlined the responsibilities given to him by Commissioner Bill Morrell - first, to rid the Solomon Islands of illegal guns, second, to resolve the situation on the Weathercoast and, third, to review professional standards within the RSIP.

In relation to professional standards he said that the majority of RSIP, who were dedicated and committed officers, were being let down by a few who he branded "drunkards, thieves and extortionists" and assured all that he would deal swiftly with officers who acted illegally.

Following a memo issued by Commissioner Morrell on Friday, Monday also saw 38 weapons, illegally held by police, handed in to Rove armoury under an amnesty that finished at 10pm. After this time, according to the memo, any police officer in the Honiara district found in possession of firearms without the written permission of the Commissioner would be sacked from the force and criminally charged.

On Wednesday, Special Coordinator Nick Warner and Mr McDevitt traveled to Auki in Malaita Province to meet community leaders and others to make arrangements for handing in weapons in the area. After the meeting Mr McDevitt said he was very hopeful that by August 15 all guns from Malaita would be in Auki where they would be publicly destroyed.

On the same day as the meeting in Malaita, another 30 guns were handed over to the Participating Police Force at the headquarters of the National Police Council in Honiara. This latest haul brings the total number of guns surrendered so far to about 100, which is a very encouraging sign for the future given that the gun amnesty had not been announced until Thursday. The gun amnesty commenced at midnight on 31 July and will finish at midnight on 21 August.

As supplies and equipment were unloaded from a container ship at the Honiara docks in the latter part of the week, RAMSI and the Participating Police Force look forward to more hard work, professional challenges and, above all, to helping all the people of the Solomon Islands to build a better, safer future for themselves and their children.

Mr McDevitt said he was extremely happy with the reception he and all his people had received from the community here in Honiara and in the other centers he had traveled to since arriving.

"The atmosphere of friendship and warmth we feel when we meet people in the streets is overwhelming," he said.

"We look forward to getting out to other provinces and centers and we encourage everyone throughout the Solomon Islands to allow us to be their friends. Come over and say hallo."