Pte Sean Lannigan, Recon Sniper Pl, 2RAR, meets the locals at Op Anode Open Day, held near Honiara.Photo by Cpl Sean Burton, Army newspaper

Positive energy
Op Anode’s current flows through Solomon Islands restoring order

 

From Capt Sarah Hawke in the Solomon Islands

AFTER the focus on setting up, personnel deployed on Op Anode are now becoming more active as they support the re-establishment of law and order in Solomon Islands.

As this story was being prepared, most of the 2000 Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) personnel had arrived from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Papua New Guinea. Led by the Special Coordinater, Nick Warner, the RAMSI also comprises civilian personnel.

The RAMSI police, who are drawn from across the Pacific, are supporting the Royal Solomon Island Police to re-establish law and order. The military contingent is assisting the police by providing a secure environment so law and order can be reestablished.

The Australian-led mission has received strong support from Solomon Island people, with weapons being handed in on a regular basis and constant reports of the community welcoming efforts to address the law and order problems.

This was reflected in the number of weapons voluntarily handed back by the community. On one occasion 40 guns were handed in, of this 85 per cent were home made. 3CER have assisted in destroying any weapons handed to RAMSI. The key focus for the Regional Assistance Mission is the guns amnesty that is running for 21 days from the August 1, most of these weapons will be destroyed by 3CER.

At the same time as the amnesty, the police contingent are setting up police outposts across Solomon Islands. To do this they are relying on the military contingent to help secure the area and help with establishing infrastructure.

The Air Force and Navy are also playing a role in moving equipment and personnel and is providing general maritime support to the operation. Four ships led by HMAS Manoora are in Solomon Islands.

The Fremantle class Patrol Boat, HMAS Whyalla, is currently conducting police led operations and spent its first week in waters around Shortland Island near Bougainville. HMAS Wewak and HMAS Labuan, both Landing Craft Heavy (LCH), are operating in logistic support to the operation.

HMAS Manoora was heavily involved in the establishment of the first police post by RAMSI at Avu Avu. The only way into the remote Weathercoast was by taking the police and military personnel and equipment by ship from Honiara and then from the ship by Seaking helicopter.

A fifth Australian naval vessel, HMAS Hawkesbury, a Mine Hunter Coastal, will soon join the force.

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