AFP and ADF teams in the Solomon Islands. Photo by Cpl Sean Burton, Army newspaper

From Capt Sarah Hawke in the Solomon Islands

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has established a permanent police presence at Avu Avu on the Weather Coast of the Guadalcanal as part of Op Anode.

Avu Avu is the first police post to be set up by the mission to re-establish law and order in Solomon Islands.

53 RAMSI police and military personnel will help establish the police post. Because of the remote location of Avu Avu, the personal and 30 metric tonnes of equipment were flown in over 36 Seaking flights.

The establishment of the permanent police presence coincides with the weapons handback amnesty that runs until August 21.

Geoff Clarson from the AFP is one of the police officers stationed at Avu Avu. Shortly after his arrival, the Station Sergeant from Perth said they were focused on improving the current law and order environment.

“Priority one at this stage obviously is the return of all weapons, that’s the major part and then assisting the RSIP in maintaining law and order in the area,” he said.

The local community has welcomed the police presence, Leanne Joy is the secretary at the Avu Avu Secondary School. She said education has suffered from the militant upheaval with student numbers falling in the past three to four years from 300 to 50.

The military contingent will only remain in Avu Avu long enough to ensure a secure environment in which the police can carry on with their work. As well as security, the military will also provide logistic support.

Commander of the Avu Avu military contingent, Capt Vince Connelly, said there was still a number of high powered weapons in the community.

Avu Avu is the first of a number of police posts to be established by the Regional Assistance Mission. The next permanent post will be set-up at Auki in the next few days.

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