Harold Keke in the custody of the RAMSI police in Honiara recently after being transported on a Navy Seaking. Photo by Cpl Sean Burton, Army newspaper

Army’s part in Keke arrest

 

 

From Capt Sarah Hawke in the Solomon Islands
A RAPID unfolding of events in the Solomon Islands in which the ADF, as part of the RAMSI, has played a major role.

A major outcome for RAMSI police-led operations so far was the arrest of Harold Keke on Wednesday, August 13.

Based in the remote Weather Coast region in the south island of Guadalcanal, Harold Keke has been linked to a number of major crimes and his surrender and subsequent arrest was seen as an important step in RAMSI’s goal of re-establishing law and order.

Negotiations over his surrender were led by the head of RAMSI, Special Coordinator Nick Warner, Participating Force Commander Ben McDevitt and Military Commander, Lt-Col John Frewen.

The discussions were delicate, with C Coy, 2RAR providing security and back up on HMAS Manoora, RAN Seakings and UH-1H helicopters providing transport and logistic support.

On the day of his arrest Harold Keke, two of his key associates and family members were brought aboard HMAS Manoora and taken back to Honiara where legal proceedings are now underway.

On the day of Keke’s arrest Australian and New Zealand air assets flew RAMSI civilian, police and military personnel to the village of Mbiti on the Weather Coast where around 50 of Keke’s supporters surrendered their weapons in an emotional ceremony.

During the ceremony one of Keke’s men declared “the war is over” referring to years of ethnic conflict that appears at this stage to be drawing to a close.

Spr Andrew Keep, 3CER, had the job of destroying the guns in front of 600 local people to show they would no longer be a threat.

“The weapons were in good condition and the metal was strong (the generator struggled at one stage), they were generally military style weapons like MAG 58’s and SLR’s. It was the first lot of weapons I had cut up in Solomon Islands”, he said.

The successful outcome demonstrated the military’s ability to work with and support RAMSI police and civilian-led operations.

At Avu Avu, soldiers from C Coy, 2RAR are serving with soldiers from Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF). At Kolina, two sections from Mortar Platoon, 2RAR, are based with Tongan soldiers from RAMSI’s Pacific Island Contingent (PIC) Company (the PIC company has platoons from Australia, Tonga and Papua New Guinea).

Not far from Mbiti is Tari, where Australian soldiers from PIC Company are working alongside their Tongan counterparts.

On the Island of Malaita, C Coy, 2RAR and RFMF solders are at Auki. Two hours drive from Honiara is the Police Post at Turarana, where Australian and PNG troops are based.

The outposts are supported by various elements including 3CER, 2HSB, 2FSB and 101 Sig Sqn.

With the whirlwind of activity, the air and sea elements have been fully tasked.

After returning from the Weather Coast with Harold Keke, HMAS Manoora was again loaded with stores and equipment to continue taskings to assist police posts, carry out amnesty visits and also the delivery of urgent medical supplies to provincial health clinics, organised by Australia’s development agency, AusAID.

On the accommodation front, living conditions continue to improve.

Most soldiers are now in tents with duck boards. An ablution block has opened at the Joint Police and Military HQ at the former Guadalcanal Beach Resort (GBR) with work underway on the facilities at the Henderson Airfield.

The Australian, New Zealand and PNG engineers have been flat-out improving the conditions.

A 2.4m crocodile continues to mark out his territory off GBR.