Te Karere Ipurangi
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Solomon Islands Coup Supplement
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8 Jun 2000 - 6.00pm

 

Transcript of News items broadcast by Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (courtesy of SIBC)

 

EVACUATION

Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians are being evacuated from Honiara.

The first phase was by sea of women and children of Australian nationality on the HMAS Tobruk at five o'clock this afternoon.

The Australian High Commission in Honiara says contingency plans for the evacuation by air of remaining Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders and other approved foreign nationals have been developed and are likely to be executed within the next 48 hours.

It says residents in outlying provinces are currently not considered under threat and are advised to remain in their present locations.

 

DEADS - IFM

The Isatabu Freedom Movement High Command claims its members have killed five members of the Malaita Eagles Force during fighting in the Alligator Creek on Tuesday and a further three were killed yesterday.

In a press statement delivered to SIBC late this afternoon, the IFM said it felt it had to put the facts right following  what it terms as conflicting and misleading reports.

The IFM claimed that on Tuesday the bodies of the five IFM members layed on the tarsealed road for almost 8 hours before removal under the cover of darkness.

It further claimed that yesterday three MEF members were killed during the heavy barrage of firing.

The IFM claimed that there were no casualties or injuries inflicted on the population during the heavy barrage of firing from the patrol boat.

IFM said it also took possession of two Government hiluxes used by the MEF and over ran the Police-MEF bunker at the eastern end of the Alligator Creek bridge.

The IFM admitted it suffered one casualty with bullet shot wound in the thighs on Tuesday.

The Movement said yesterday's heavy barrage of firing only did a lot of damage to the coconut palms.

SIBC has been unable to get any independent confirmation on the claims by the IFM.

 

TENSION - HELP

The Honiara City Council has joined others in reinforcing calls for outside police or military to intervene in the situation in Honiara.

The Council passed the resolution at an extra-ordinary meeting today.

The resolution says the intervention would restore confidence in the local police force and restoration of law and order.

Meanwhile, the Council appreciates the Para-military operation for the security of businesses, properties and citizens of Honiara during this period of unrest.

In other related news, Western Premier, Reuben Lilo, has re-iterated a call to people from the province to remain neutral and refrain from actions that may create hatred among the communities.

 

SIWA CONTAMINATION TESTS

The Solomon Islands Water Authority,SIWA, had a busy day today testing the water and checking outlets in and around the capital for possible contamination.

SIWA confirmed that officers from their quality control division have been busy all day testing the water, and results so far are O.K.

It said the water is safe for humans, and it is being monitored every half hour.

 

EVACUATION

Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians are being evacuated from Honiara.

The first phase was by sea of women and children of Australian nationality on the HMAS Tobruk at five o'clock this afternoon.

The Australian High Commission in Honiara says contingency plans for the evacuation by air of remaining Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders and other approved foreign nationals have been developed and are likely to be executed within the next 48 hours.

It says residents in outlying provinces are currently not considered under threat and are advised to remain in their present locations.

 

PREMIERS MEET

Provincial Premiers will have the opportunity to contribute ideas towards resolving the ethnic tension in the country.

They will be able to do this at a meeting arranged for either Sunday or Monday next week.

Permanent Secretary of the Department of Provincial Governments, Tony Seketa, told SIBC News that the Premiers are being called into Honiara to attend a meeting with the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group due in the capital this weekend.

He said among issues to be discussed at the meeting is the national security in the country.

The Commonwealth Group is visiting the country to investigate the current situation.

Mr Seketa said while in Honiara, the Premiers will have the opportunity to discuss with the national government, the ethnic tension and contribute ideas to resolving the situation.

 

OPPO - TAIWAN

The Parliamentary Opposition has disapproved of the Republic of China's decision to allow the goodwill visit by its naval squadron to Solomon Islands.

Leader of Opposition Manasseh Sogavare in a letter to the Embassy of China said the country is in a state of political turmoil, and public opinion of the government on its handling of the tension is at its lowest hence the events of Monday.

Mr Sogavare says it would seem the visit is a show of military power which could be misinterpreted in an environment that is already frustrated by negative response to the demands of the joint forces.

He also says the visit may also be seen as providing military and moral support to the executive government, which he claims is losing support.  

Meanwhile, Mr Sogavare advises the Embassy of the Republic of China to arrange for the immediate departure of the squadron.

 

SELWYN - MEDIA

Selwyn College Secondary school on West Guadalcanal has condemned in the strongest terms, a newspaper report earlier this week which claimed that the school was closed  because of threats from members of the Isatabu Freedom Movement.

A statement from the school says the newspaper report was false, and is completely misleading.

The statement says such reporting can only stair up the already deteriorating situation in the capital instead of helping to solve it.

It says the school had finished all its programs for the term.

 

SDA - TENSION

The Seventh-Day Adventist Church re-iterates that it remains neutral in the current tensions and wishes to see peace restored.

And it calls on all all parties to stop fighting, respect democratic processes and allow the peace process to go ahead.

In a statement today, President of the Western Pacific Union Mission of the SDA Church, Pastor Neil Watts, said the Church believes that the use of force to extend ones views is unacceptable.

He said that the Church strongly oppose the use of armed force for political or any other purpose and condemn the current fighting taking place near Honiara.

Pastor Watts said the church is appealing to Solomon Islanders to lay down their guns and come forward to discuss ways to resolve the situation.

He added the SDA Church calls on Solomon Islanders to be united in the spirit of Christ who told us to love even our enemies.

The church also urges its members not to be involved in either side of the conflict.

And, it calls on local SDA churches to consider applying disciplinary action if any members become involved in such activities.

ENDS
SIBC NEWS/////

 

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