VIOLENCE CONTINUES IN HONIARA

S E C R E T PORT MORESBY 000170

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EAP/ANP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/19/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR CASC BP
SUBJECT: VIOLENCE CONTINUES IN HONIARA

REF: PORT MORESBY 169

CLASSIFIED BY: Robert Fitts, Ambassador, AMB, STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b)

1.(S)SUMMARY: Though violence subsided somewhat over the night,
groups of youths still are on the loose and out of police
control. There has been extensive damage to Chinese businesses
and a number of police have been injured. Businesses and
government offices are closed. The Australians appear ready to
send in forces from their ready reaction company.

2.(SBU) There have been no reports of disturbances outside of
the capital city. We are working with SS-O to put out a warden
notice advising Americans in Honiara to remain indoors. END
SUMMARY

3.(SBU) Though the situation remains confused, it appears that
roughly 300 supporters of Charles Dausebea began the riot on 18
April when Snyder Rini was elected Prime Minister. They claimed
he had won office on the back of Taiwanese money. Other groups
of disaffected toughs joined in and began attacking Chinese
(Taiwanese) affiliated businesses. The totals involved may be
1000 split into three roving groups. Much of Chinatown has been
burned and looted as well as the ground floor of the Casino
Hotel. On the morning of 19 April, we received reports that the
groups were now threatening the Honiara Hotel which is owned by
the (ethnic Chinese) major backer of the Rini coalition ( who is
also the father of Foreign Minister Laurie Chan).

4.(C) The Solomon Island police, including their Australian-New
Zealand RAMSI members, have not yet been able to bring the
situation under control. There are press reports that eight
RAMSI officers were injured on the 18th. We understand that the
number has now grown and that at least two are seriously
injured. All injuries are from large rocks hurled by the crowd.
There have been no reports of any other weapons.

5.(S) We understand that the Australians are preparing to make
the decision to commit their Ready Response Unit, a company kept
on alert in Townsville about 2 = hours flight from Honiara. This
would be an expected step. The unit was committed also some 18
months ago when a RAMSI officer was murdered. The move is made
more probable as the military backup now in the Solomons is a
platoon from Fiji. RAMSI officers have long considered the
Fijians to be the least reliable unit available. They were
especially concerned with an earlier tendency for the Fijian
troops to fraternize and become involved in local disputes.

6.(U) Embassy is working with SS-O on a warden notice advising
Americans in Honiara to remain indoors unless absolutely
necessary. There are roughly 70 Americans in Honiara. We have
no reports of any incidents outside of Honiara and no reports of
any threat to foreigners except for Chinese. However, we will
advise that all unnecessary travel to Solomon Islands be
curtailed pending developments. The U.S. Consular agent, who was
on Easter vacation, will return to Solomon Islands this
afternoon.

7.(C) COMMENT: RAMSI's arrival in July 2003 put an immediate end
to the ethnic violence that had plagued the country for three
years. Never-the-less, tensions remained under the surface,
particularly among the young toughs that had enjoyed free rein
during the troubles. Events of the last two days make clear
that, despite three years of hard work and much expense by
Australia and New Zealand, the situation in Solomon Islands
would quickly revert should RAMSI be removed. We believe that
the lid will probably be back on soon, particularly if military
forces are committed. However, RAMSI will likely face a more
difficult day-to-day task in the future. Having once again taken
the streets, Honiara's young ethnic toughs will probably remain
ready for any other opportunity and political opportunists will
be more ready to use them. Outside intervention in Solomon
Islands may be needed for a long time to come.

FITTS