FemLINKPacific 1325 Report: Solomon Islands

17 November 2011

As Radio Australia reported yesterday (16 November) there have been violent clashes in Honiara between protesters and police in Honiara. The protesters are demanding newly declared Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lillo step down just hours after he took office. Mr Lillo won a parliamentary vote this morning to replace Danny Philip as PM.

According to FemLINKPacific's "1325 network" member Lisa Horiwapu of Vois Blong Mere Solomon there is a feeling of deja vu, a reminder of the 2006 post election violence and there is a sense of political frustration while huge police presence continues in town but children remain home from school "until further notice":

"All the schools, shops, markets, offices were closed yesterday. My home is along the same road to the GG's residence, so deafening with the helicopter's noise. It was quite tense yesterday. My husband tried to go to the fuel stations but they were all closed and he said the China town road was littered with stones and broken glasses. We are aware of a few casualties especially from the police and arrests made yesterday. A liquor ban is in force until 8am Sunday [ since the beginning of the week]"

"This morning, you could still feel the tension in the air with police presence even though the deafening helicopter is already out of the way. Some shops are already opening their doors for business, although some remain closed."

She adds that several hours ago Parliament resumed and all the debate is focusing on the events of yesterday: "The police commissioner was on the radio this morning asking everyone to help the police contain the situation. He still maintained that the situation is still tense. We will just have to wait and see how things turn out by the end of the day."

Sharon Bhagwan Rolls
Executive Director
femLINKPACIFIC
www.femlinkpacific.org.fj

ENDS