Australia pledges assistance to Solomons after ceasefire

2:00 PM

CANBERRA - Australia pledged further assistance to the Solomon Islands today after two warring ethnic militias signed a much-delayed ceasefire agreement, paving the way for a possible end to 21 months of conflict.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australia would send a team of officials as soon as possible to hold discussions with the South Pacific nation's government and community representatives to develop a programme for further assistance.

"Now that a ceasefire has been concluded, we will be able to provide further substantial assistance to underpin the peace process and help restore the national economy," Downer said in a statement.

He did not give any details about what further assistance could be provided or at what cost.

Government estimates put Australia's total aid to the Solomons, including through regional support programmes, at A$17.1 million (NZ$21.9 million) for 1999/2000 (July-June).

The ceasefire agreement, which includes provisions for the laying down of arms and the establishment of a ceasefire monitoring group, was signed on Wednesday night as a precursor to full-scale peace talks next week and goes into force from Friday.

It was signed by government representatives and leaders of one of the rival groups, the Malaita Eagles Force (MEF), aboard the Australian navy ship HMAS Tobruk anchored off the capital Honiara.

The agreement was then taken by boat to the west of the main Guadalcanal island to be signed by rebels from the Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM).

"This is the first step in the peace process," said Downer.

The agreement came after months of on-off progress in resolving the ethnic conflict.

The MEF has controlled much of Honiara since launching a June 5 coup which led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu. The coup sparked fierce jungle fighting with the Guadalcanal-based IFM.

The new government of Prime Minister Mannasseh Sogavare has already paid out A$3.1 million (NZ$3.9 million) in compensation for lost land and damaged property in a bid to bring the militias to the negotiating table.

Tension has simmered for decades in the former British colony about 1,600 km (1,000 miles) northeast of Australia, with people from the main Guadalcanal island resenting migrants from Malaita because they were seen as taking the top jobs in Honiara.

About 70 people have died in clashes in the past two years.

- REUTERS