Commonwealth Reviews Progress of Solomon Islands Accord

A meeting to review the operations of the Multinational Police Peace Monitoring Group (MPPMG) and progress in the implementation of the Honiara Peace Accord was held at the Commonwealth Youth Programme Regional Centre, Panatina, Honiara on 6 December 1999. It was attended by representatives of the National Government of Solomon Islands, the Guadalcanal Provincial Government, Australia, Fiji Islands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, United Kingdom and Vanuatu. The Commonwealth Secretary-General was represented by Mr Jon Sheppard, Director of the Commonwealth Secretariat's Political Affairs Division, who chaired the meeting. Professor Ade Adefuye, Assistant to the Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Solomon Islands also attended.

The Commander of the MPPMG, and Commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police presented reports on the MPPMG operation, while the Solomon Islands National Government and the Guadalcanal Provincial Government reported on the activities that were of relevance to the Honiara Peace Accord.

In a press statement issued by Mr Sheppard on 7 December he reported that the meeting noted:

A general improvement in the security situation in spite of occasional activities that were not related to the ethnic tension;
Broad support for the activities of the MPPMG from the Guadalcanal Community, and a commitment to the resolution of the causes of the ethnic unrest;
Progress in the implementation of the provisions of the Honiara Peace Accord particularly on the issues of land and the Provincial Government System;
Progress in the police effort to establish the concept of community policing in Guadalcanal;
Progress made in the collection of weapons, although much still needs to be done.
The meeting decided to extend the mandate of the MPPMG for another period of six weeks until the end of January 2000. It was further agreed that during this time:

The Government of Solomon Islands would take steps to recover 395 officially registered firearms in Guadalcanal;
The Royal Solomon Islands Police would intensify efforts to combat the activities of criminal elements;
All concerned would intensify efforts to discourage rumours, especially of revenge attacks, which have impeded the progress of weapon surrender.
It was decided that there should be a further meeting involving the Solomon Islands Government, the Provincial Governments of Guadalcanal and Malaita, and the Commonwealth Secretary-General's Special Envoy, as soon as possible and preferably by 17 December 1999, to further advance the peace process and the above objectives.

The Commonwealth undertook to assist these steps in whatever way possible, including through the services of the Commonwealth Secretary-General's Special Envoy, and appealed to all parties to co-operate in the restoration of peace and harmony in Solomon Islands.

Issued by the Information and Public Affairs Division,
Commonwealth Secretariat,
Marlborough House,
Pall Mall,
London SW1Y 5HX,
United Kingdom.
Tel: 0207-839 3411;
Fax: 0207-839 9081;
Telex: 27678

99/71 10 December 1999