Land forum raised in Solomons talks

Land compensation is likely to be pivotal to any resolve for lasting peace in the Solomon Islands, Foreign Minister Phil Goff says.

Weekend-long peace talks by about 100 Christian, business and political representatives ended last night with some success.

The talks, on board the NZ Navy frigate Te Kaha at Honiara, looked at possible solutions to ethnic clashes. More talks with the militant Malaita Eagle Force will start tomorrow.

Mr Goff said a communique had been drafted setting out "basic issues and principles" to be followed in the peace process and during discussions with the Malaita Eagle Force.

A major issue and one likely to be pivotal to any resolve for lasting peace, was compensation for land, he said.

"The Malaitan Eagle Force put forward a suggestion of a land forum where people can take their land settlement claims to a tribunal that will hear the justice of their claims and award compensation in a similar way to the Waitangi Tribunal.

"That's quite well regarded by all sides."

The Solomons has been racked by intermittent fighting between rival militias from Guadalcanal and Malaita islands for nearly two years. At least 60 people have died in the fighting and 20,000 Malaitans have been forced out of Guadalcanal. Honiara has since become a Malaita enclave, controlled by the Malaita Eagle Force.

Mr Goff said the talks would not have made the progress they had if it had not been for the use of the Te Kaha as a neutral venue.

"We have been able to make a significant difference in facilitating the talks, or the process of the talks, but there is still quite a long way to go."

One of the difficulties was that the militant groups included "rogue elements and individuals with their own agenda" who were mainly concerned with self-advancement and were prepared to continue disrupting the Solomons economy, he said. Most people wanted peace restored.

- NZPA