Fed: AFP fly to Solomons ahead of Downer visit

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Fed: AFP fly to Solomons ahead of Downer visit

By Karen Polglaze, Diplomatic Correspondent

CANBERRA, Dec 16 AAP - Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers flew into the troubledSolomon Islands today amid security concerns ahead of a visit by Australian MPs led byForeign Minister Alexander Downer.

Questions over whether the visit should go ahead arose after shots were fired overthe house of Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza on Friday by disgruntled former militiamembers seeking compensation.

Despite a peace agreement between warring factions in the South Pacific nation, theSolomon Islands has been unstable since a coup in mid-2000.

"I remain deeply concerned by the situation in the Solomon Islands," Mr Downer saidin a statement.

Seven parliamentarians will accompany Mr Downer on the trip beginning tomorrow whichwill also include Vanuatu, Samoa and New Zealand.

Vanuatu has suffered some instability this year, but police officers involved in amutiny have been given a suspended sentence by the courts in what a Department of ForeignAffairs official described as a good solution.

While the officers may be cashiered from the police force, a custodial sentence mayhave led to further instability, the official said.

The third country, Samoa, would provide the group with a regional example of effectiveeconomic reform.

But the major regional concern remains the Solomons with its precarious economy, apolice force still containing partisan elements and its budget at risk from armed groupsseeking compensation for various grievances.

"The Solomon Islands is in a bit of a mess and it's up to them to get themselves out,"

the official said.

"We can't do it for them. Essentially, until the people in the parliament and the communitycan get a grip on what they need to do themselves, there's not a lot that outsiders cando for them."

Two people had been arrested following the attempt on Friday by former militia membersto force the government to pay the full amount of their claimed compensation.

The government had to stop caving in to the demands, the official said.

"They buy peace by handing over cash," he said.

"Eventually, this has got to stop or they'll run out of money."

Friday's incident had caused concern, given Mr Downer's visit, so the AFP were arrivingahead of the trip to ensure security was under control.

Mr Downer will also visit New Zealand on Friday for six-monthly talks with New ZealandForeign Minister Phil Goff.

AAP kjp/ph/br

KEYWORD: DOWNER