New Zealand has no plans to evacuate its citizens from the troubles in the Solomon Islands, Honiara.
A protest on Wednesday calling for the Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare to stand down lapsed into major unrest which local police were unable to contain.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on Friday evening, the High Commission in Honiara is providing Safe Travel advice to New Zealanders in the Solomon Islands.
This includes following the instructions of the local authorities.
The spokesperson said any New Zealanders in the Solomons who have not registered with Safe Travel are advised to do so as soon as possible.
There are 43 New Zealanders registered on SafeTravel, all believed to be in Honiara.
New Zealanders in Solomon Islands are also urged to exercise care and remain where they are if it is safe to do so, a MFAT spokesperson said in a statement.
“Since 19 March 2020 we have advised all New Zealanders do not travel overseas,” the spokesperson said.
No request for help from Solomons govt – NZ
Earlier, New Zealand’s Trade Minister David Parker issued a statement as acting foreign affairs minister, with Nanaia Mahuta overseas on her first official trip.
Parker said New Zealand had not received any requests for assistance from the Solomons government.
“New Zealand is a long-standing partner of Solomon Islands, and there are deep and enduring connections between our two countries,” Parker said.
“Our engagement in Solomon Islands is guided by the principle of tātou tātou, or all of us acting together for the common good.
“We stand with the government and people of Solomon Islands through this difficult time,” Parker said.
Australia has deployed police and defence force personnel following a request from the Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare.
Community step in to help police
RNZ Pacific correspondent in Honiara Georgina Kekea said police had been able to contain the crowd from going into the main CBD area in Honiara.
She said most of the rioting and looting has been taking place in Chinatown and not so much in the West side of Honiara.
Kekea said members of the community in West Honiara came forward to help the police and make sure people do not damage shops or buildings along the CBD.
“Friday afternoon, some of the mothers and people in the Henderson community marched along the main CBD asking those participating in the riots to just stay back.
“It’s the Eastern part of Honiara that is still not under control,” Kekea said.
She also said people were looking for food on Friday and that will be an issue for those in Honiara in the coming days.
Chinatown in Honiara, where some buildings still are burning Photo: Georgina Kekea
Curfew
The overnight curfew declared by the Solomon Islands Governor General in the capital Honiara has ended.
Sir David Vunagi said the 7pm to 6am curfew would be repeated everyday until revoked.
Sir David had said it was a necessary measure for the preservation of public security.
Only authorised officers were allowed to move within the city during the curfew hours and anyone found breaching the restrictions would be prosecuted.
————–FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA NOUNOU —————-
Ko e fakahā loto ‘i Solomone’ ‘oku hoko ia ‘i he motu lahi taha pea toe tokolahi taha ko Malaita. Ko e tupu’anga ‘o e fakahā loto mo e fakamoveuveu fakalilifu ko ‘eni’ ko e ta’efiemālie ki he palani ngāue ‘a e fonua’ ki muli’ pe foreign policy. Ko Solomone ko e taha pe ia ‘o ha ngaahi fonua si’i ‘i mamani kuo kei ‘i ai ha’anau vā fengāue’aki fakatipilōmetika mo Taiuani kae ‘ikai ko Siaina. Ka ‘i Sepitema 2019 ne hanga ai ‘e he Palēmia lolotonga ia Manasseh Sogavare ‘o tali ke nau fetu’utaki fakatipilomētika mo Siaina. ‘I he taimi ko ‘eni na’e lipooti ai ‘o pehē kuo palōmesi ‘e Siaina ki Solomone ha tokoni fakapa’anga fe’unga mo e $500 miliona ‘Amelika kae fakapapau’i ‘ena kāinga fakatipilometika’. Na’e hoko ‘eni ia ke mamahi ai ‘a Taiuani ‘o motuki hona vā kuo ta’u ‘e 36 mo Solomone’. Na’e tu’u mai leva ‘a e taki fakavāhenga ia ‘o Malaita’ ko Daniel Suidani ‘o fakaanga’i lahi ‘a e Palēmia ‘o e fonua’ he fo’i tu’utu’uni ko ia ke nau fetu’utaki fakatipilomētika mo Siaina’. Taimi tatau pe foki ne kei ‘i ai pe fetu’utaki ia ‘a Solomone tautefito ki Malaita mo Taiuani hangē ko ‘ene kei tokoni hake fakame’angāue ki he Koviti’. Na’e toe folau foki ‘a Suidani ia ki Taiuani ‘i Mē, 2021 o fai e kole tokoni ai. Na’e toe kau mai mo e kau politiki kehe ‘o Solomone’ hono fakafepaki’i lahi ‘o e palēmia’ he’ene vilitaki ke nau fetu’utaki mo Siaina’ Ne nau ‘ohake ‘a e ngaahi palopalema kehe kuo fihia ai ‘a e fonua kehe’ hangē ko ‘enau pehē ‘e uesia lahi ‘enau founga pule fakatemokalati’ he ko Siaina oku ‘ikai ko ha fonua temokalati pea ko Taiuani pe ‘a e fonua temokalati ne hoa mo ‘enau politiki fakafonua’. Kuo nau siomata he faingata’a’ia ‘a e ngaahi ‘otu motu kehe he tā mo’ua ki Siaina koe’uhi pe ko e tauhele ‘ulu fakapa’anga ‘a Siaina ‘o naut ō ai. ‘Oku nau toe manavasi’i ki he hū mai ‘a e kakai Siaina’ mo ‘enau founga ‘e ala uesia ai ‘enau lao kelekele, pule ‘a e lao’ mo honau anga fakafonua’. Na’e ‘ikai toe fakavaivai ‘a Suidani ia taki ko ‘eni Malaita ‘i hono fakafepaki’i ‘a e palēmia’ pea ne iku ai ki ha poupou lahi meiate ia mei hono kakai’ ‘o kamata ha’anau fakahā loto ‘a ha kakai ne toko 1000 pe nai. Kae ‘ikai taimi kuo maliu ia mei he fakahā loto melino ki ha fakamoveuveu kuo iku ‘ikai toe lava’i ‘e he kau polisi’ pea kuo hū atu ai ‘a ‘Aositelēlia ke tokoni ‘i hono feinga’i ke pukepuke melino. Ko e faka’auha lahi ‘eni kuo fai ki he loto kolo’ tautefito ki he ngaahi pisnisi lahi ‘a e kau Siaina’.
