Solomon Islands rebels mark expats

By SCOTT INGLIS

Heavily armed Solomon Island bandits are repeatedly robbing New Zealanders of cash and cars or subjecting them to extortion in lawless Honiara.

Gangs of up to nine robbers, armed with semi-automatic weapons and pump-action shotguns, have targeted most of the estimated 15 New Zealand businesspeople in the past three to four weeks.

There are 30 New Zealanders in the Solomons, including partners and children.

Victims have been forced to hand over money, their vehicles and equipment such as chainsaws and outboard motors. They have been threatened with violence or kidnapping if they resist.

None of the businesspeople or their families have been physically hurt.

News of the armed attacks comes as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday warned New Zealanders not to travel to the Solomons and urged those already there to leave as soon as possible.

The New Zealand High Commissioner in Honiara, Nick Hurley, told the Herald last night that "most people have given up property rather than life."

The bandits claim to be members of the Malaita Eagle Force militant group, which control Honiara with some police force members.

In many cases weapons are not pointed, but the threat of their use is implied.

"Certainly [from] the accounts given to us, these people give the appearance they would shoot if given resistance," Mr Hurley said.

The businesspeople, many of whom run service industries and are fearful, are demanding that the Solomons Government provide better security for them.

One New Zealander confirmed that most expatriates had been targeted by bandits but he did not want to be named or talk about his experiences.

He said businesspeople were trying to sort out the situation with locals and did not want to do that publicly.

He knew of one New Zealander "fined" $5000 by locals for allegedly swearing at them.

"We're in a state where there's no police control at all. I think everyone has been a victim."

Foreign Minister Phil Goff could not be reached last night but his ministry said the Solomons remained unstable, with an increasing number of armed clashes between opposing groups on Guadalcanal Island.

About 190 New Zealanders have fled the Solomons already but flights are sporadic and can be cancelled at short notice.

A 10 pm-to-5.30 am curfew has been imposed. A new Prime Minister was elected on June 30 and a new Government formed following a constitutional crisis and civil unrest earlier in the month.

An official at the Australian High Commission in Honiara said last night that extortion demands had spiralled in the past fortnight.

Armed groups had demanded cars, fuel and other items from many expatriate businessmen. He had heard of Chinese shop owners being asked for sums as high as $25,000 in return for "protection" by armed men. Some retailers had paid up "and may regret it because once you get it [protection] how do you get rid of it?"

The official said that in one incident armed men had taken a car which later ran out of brake fluid. They returned the vehicle to the firm and demanded another one.