The Star: July 06, 2017

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www. .kiwi
Thursday July 6 2017 11
News
Saturday 8 –
Saturday 22 July 2017
peace and rugby through Solomons
Said Detective Sergeant Folau:
“He wasn’t a good shot, that’s
for sure, otherwise I wouldn’t be
here telling the story. That’s the
volatility – it can just escalate
within seconds.”
The Regional Assistance Mission
to Solomon Islands cost
New Zealand $150 million, with
more than 1000 Defence Force
personnel and 800 police serving
over the 14 years.
Australia led Ramsi at a cost of
almost $3 billion, answering the
plea for help from the Solomons
Government in 2003.
Detective Sergeant Folau’s
work included a leading role in
the operation against warlord
Harold Keke, who was jailed
for life for murdering a Cabinet
minister in the first of the socalled
tension trials.
He said the change over Ramsi’s
14 years had been dramatic.
“When we first got here it was
complete lawlessness, it was
ruled by gun. The police were
corrupt and they were ruling
by gun. The infrastructure had
fallen over, the government had
collapsed with finances, the hospital
was almost non-existent.
“Now infrastructure is really
good, the Government finances
GAME TIME: Darren Folau refereed an annual sevens
tournament in the Solomons.
are being tracked really well and
the police force in particular it is
two-thirds new police force from
2002.”
In spite of that widelyacknowledged
success, there is
significant unease locally about
whether security can be maintained
once the foreign police
leave.
Corruption is widespread,
Kiwi cops in the Solomon Islands
•The Solomon Islands was on the brink of collapse during
civil and ethnic conflict between 1998 and 2003 that saw
more than 100 people killed and around 40,000 driven
from their homes.
•After the Solomons Government asked for help, the Ramsi
was established and an initial force of about 2200 military
and police officers, primarily from Australia and New
Zealand along with representatives from several Pacific
Island states, restored security.
•The last NZDF platoon left in November 2012. Last week
marked the official end of Ramsi, and most of the 16 Kiwi
police officers in the country flew home.
thousands of illegal firearms
have not been surrendered in
official amnesties, and tensions
over land remain.
During her three-day visit
recently, Deputy Prime Minister
Paula Bennett signed an agreement
that will keep eight New
Zealand Police advisers in the
country.
Folau will return to policing
in Christchurch at the end
of the year after helping with
the changeover. He wanted to
acknowledge the six Ramsi personnel
who lost their lives, and
the countless Solomon Island
victims of the ethnic violence.
An unusual number of Crusaders
supporters around Honiara
will be just part of Folau’s
legacy here.
“They are just amazing people.
I put my hand on my heart and
say that I get more co-operation
and genuine support and thanks
and good mornings than I would
back in New Zealand,” Detective
Sergeant Folau said of the experience.
•Preventing crime, pgs 18-19
RIOT: The burnt-out remains
of Chinatown in Honiara after
it was set on fire by rioters
and looters in 2006.
PHOTO: WAYNE DRAUGHT
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