New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel are in the Solomon Islands to monitor a peace agreement signed in Townsville, Australia, in 2001 between the Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM) and the Malaita Eagle Force (MEF). Since 1998 the IFM has been forcibly expelling Malaitans from Guadalcanal. The MEF, representing Malaitans living in Guadalcanal, has been opposing the IFM.
The International Peace Monitoring Team (IPTF) comprises a Headquarters and four monitoring teams. IPMT Headquarters (HQIPMT) is located in the Solomon Islands capital of Honiara on the main Guadalcanal Island. Teams T, V, and H are also located on Guadalcanal, and Team A is located on the smaller northern island of Malaita.
What is happenning
The NZ Contingent is led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). The Contingent consists of one MFAT Officer, six NZ Police Officers, and eight members of the NZDF. Most NZDF personnel are senior non-commissioned officers. Most work in Honiaraand at various team locations contributing to medical, communications, and logistic support activities. Two are armourers who deal with weapons that are voluntarily handed in by IFM and MET fighters as part of the peace agreement.
Deployments to the Solomon Islands are for four months, although replacements are staggered at two month intervals. At this stage there is no indication as to when this deployment with the IPMT will last. NZ will remain involved for the forseeable future.
Other Forces
At the present time only Australia and New Zealand are involved with the IPMT. It is possiblethat somePacific Island nations will contribute personnel, probably civilian police, to the IPMT.
History
In 1998 sporadic ethnic conflict erupted in the Solomon Islands. The source of the unrest is found in history. After WW2, the British authorities moved the capital from the island of Malaita, to Honiara on the island of Guadalcanal, to make use of a huge military base left behind by withdrawing United States forces. During subsequent decades, many Malaitans immigrated to Honiara to continue to take up key public service jobs . According to indigenous Guadalcanalese, they also encroached on traditional Guadalcanal beliefs.
Violence
After Independence on 7 July 1978, tensions heightenned. In 1998 violence erupted between the Guadalcanal based IFM - representing indigenous Guadalcanalese, and the MEF - representing Malaitans from Guadalcanal. At least 60 people have been killed and some 20,000 have been displaced from their homes.
Failed Peace
Regional efforts were made to stop the violence and to resolve the underlying causes. A ceasefire was negotiated in June 1999 but this did not hold. Another was reached in 2000. It was due to have been followed by peace talks in late May of 2000, but the ceasefire was destined not to hold, and the talks were called off.
Then, on 4 June 2000, the situation escalated when insurents from the MEF took hostage the Solomon Island Prime Minister Bartholemew Ulufa'alau. Militia forces also took control of instillations around Honiar, such as some Police stations, the government telecommunications centre,and major road intersections. Subsequentlystreet fighting broke out between the rival ethnic groups. Two days after seizing him, the MEF released the Prime Minister on condition he face a no-confidence vote in parliament.
Townsville Peace Agreement
The situation remained tense, but on 15 October 2000 a peace agreement was finally signed in Townsville, Australia. The agreement included deployment to the Solomon Islands of an International Peace Monitoring Team comprising unarmed civilian bservers from Australia and New Zealand along with other regional neighbours supported by Australian and New Zealand specialists. So far the peace has held and good progress has been made in disarming the two rival militias. However, the ethnic issues that underly the conflict may take some time to resolve.
The Nation
Geography
The Solomons are a group of 992 islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of papua New Guinea. It has a land area of 27,556 square kilometres and a coastline of 5,313 kilometres.
As ell as some low lying coral atolls, the Solomons feature rugged mountains. The highest peak, on the island of Guadalcanal, is Mount Popomanaseu at 2,330 metres. The Solomons' mountains are volcanic in origin, nd the region is gelogically active, with frequent earth tremors and some volcanic activity
Climate
The climate is determined by the tropical monsoon. The weather is hot and humid most of the time, with few variations in temperature or weather. Cyclones do occur, but they are rarely destructive.
Population
There is an estimated population of 441,000 people living in the Solomon Islands, and of those there are some 35,288 living in the capital Honiara.
Ethnically, the majority are Meenesian (93%), Polynesian (4%), Micronesian (1.5%), European (0.8%) and Chinese (0.3%).
Languages
There are 120 indigenous languages spoken among the Solomon Islanders, with 67 being official, but Melenesian Pidgin is common to all. Even though it is an official language, only 1 or 2 % speek English.
Royal Warrant
Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of New Zealand and Her OtherRealms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, to all whom these Presents shall come, Greeting!
Whereas We are desirous of instituting a new medal for award to members of Our New Zealand Defence Force and certain civilian persons for services rendered during war, and both warlike and non-warlike (including peacekeeping) operations commenced since 1 January 2000:
We do, by these Presents for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, institute and create a new medal:
1 Style
The medal shall be styled and designated "The New Zealand General Service Medal".
2 Description
The medal shall be made of silver plated base-metal and circular in shape, bearing,
Aon the obverse, a representation of the Effigy of the Sovereign; and
Bon the reverse, the inscription THE NEW ZEALAND GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL
within a wreath of New Zealand flora (fern fronds, pohutukawa, and kowhai blossom)
ensigned by a Royal Crown.
3 Ribbon
The Medal shall be worn from the left breast suspended from a ribbon, 32 millimetres in width, of such design as the Governor-General of New Zealand, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister or a Minister of the Crown acting for the Prime Minister, may determine by regulation.
4 Regulations
The Governor-General of New Zealand, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister or a Minister of the Crown acting for the Prime Minister, may from time to time issue regulations relating to
Athe design of the distinctive ribbon for any specific operation; and
Beligibility for the medal for any specific operation.
5 Register
The names of all those persons who receive the Medal shall be recorded in a register kept by the Chief of Defence Force.
6 Order of wear
In the official list showing the order in which Orders, Decorations, and Medals shall be worn in New Zealand, the New Zealand General Service Medal shall be worn as a war medal according to the date of service.
7 Miniatures
Reproductions of the Medal, in miniature, which may be worn on certain occasions by those persons who have received the Medal, shall not exceed one-half the size of the full-size Medal.
8 Annulment
We reserve to Ourself, Our Heirs and Successors, full power of annulling, altering, abrogating, augmenting, interpreting, or dispensing with this Our Royal Warrant, or any part thereof, by a notification under Our Sign Manual.
Given at Our Court of Saint James's, this 23rd day of July 2002, in the 51st Year of Our Reign.
By Her Majesty's Command.
Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand.
REGULATIONS FOR THE AWARD
1 Title
These regulations are the New Zealand General Service Medal (Solomon Islands) regulations
2002
2 Commencement
These regulations shall come into force on the 28th day after the date of their notification in the
Gazette
3 New Zealand General Service Medal (Solomon Islands)
The New Zealand General Service Medal (Solomon Islands) is awarded subject to the Royal
Warrant and to these regulations
4 Ribbon
The Medal shall be worn on the left breast suspended from a ribbon 32 millimetres in width,
composed of green with 3 narrow central stripes of dark blue, yellow, dark blue
5 Operational area
In these regulations, operational area means
Athe group of islands that make up the Solomon Islands; and
Bthe archipelagic waters and territorial sea of the Solomon Islands
6 Eligibility
The following persons are eligible for the Medal:
Amembers of the Armed Forces (within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Defence
Act 1990):
Bmembers of the New Zealand Police (within the meaning of section 2 of the Police
Act 1958):
CNew Zealand civilians
Dany other persons whom the Prime Minister, on the advice of the Minister of
Defence, may determine
7 Qualifying service
A person qualifies for the award of the Medal under this regulation if he or she meets the
requirements of regulation 6 and
Ahas served 30 days or more, continuous or aggregated, on land in the operational
area while a member of a New Zealand Government contribution to 1 or more of the
following
i the Services Assisted Evacuation of New Zealanders and other nationals
(Operation Purple Haze) between 5 June and 5 July 2000:
ii the International Peace Monitoring Team (operation Minerva) or tasks directly
contributing to the achievement of the mission goals or the maintenance of
operational capability between 10 November 2000 and 22 June 2002
iiithe support of the International Peace Monitoring Team (Operation Ricochet 1)
on HMNZS Te Mana, when disembarked, between 27 April 2001 and 14 May 2001; or
Bhas served 30 days or more, continuous or aggregated, in ships or craft in the
operational area during the support of the International Peace Monitoring Team (Operation
Ricochet 2) on HMNZS Manuwanui between 14 October 2001 and 20 February 2002
Chas had his or her period of service in the operational area terminated, before the
completion of qualifying service, by death or evacuation owing to wounds or other disability
caused by that service; or
Ddid not complete qualifying service, but has been given a New Zealand Royal
Honour for gallantry or bravery in the operational area; or
Eif the mission directive stated that the deployment was to be greater than the
qualifying service in the operational area, has had his or her period of service in the
operational area terminated before the completion of the qualifying service at the direction
of the New Zealand Government department or agency that deployed him or her, where
that termination is for official reasons (not personal or compassionate)
8 Delegation
The Chief of Defence Force or an officer of the New Zealand Defence Force authorised by the
Chief of Defence Force may award the New Zealand General Service Medal (Solomon Islands) to any eligible person who qualifies for the award of that Medal
9 Forfeiture and restoration
It shall be competent for the Chief of Defence Force or a Chief of Staff acting for the Chief of
Defence Force to
Acancel and annul the conferment of the Medal on a person; and
Bif the conferment of the Medal on a person has been cancelled or annulled, restore
the Medal to that person
Minister farewells first deployment to Solomon's
Minister of Defence Mark Burton today farewelled the first group of NZDF personnel deploying to the Solomon Islands.
The group includes the New Zealand Senior National Officer, Wing Commander Shaun Clarke and Wing Commander Ron Thacker, Air Component Commander for the operation, as well as other headquarters elements such as intelligence, communications, medical, logistics, operations, and Air Security and maintenance personnel.
In addressing the deploying personnel, Mark Burton said that the current situation in the Solomon Islands was of concern to the entire Pacific region.
"The collapse of law and order has led to significant loss of life, destruction of homes, and the displacement of many families. The machinery of government is failing and the provision of even the most basic services is at risk.
"You will play a key role, not only in supporting the police as they restore law and order, but also in facilitating civil and humanitarian assistance, providing helicopter transport, engineers for refurbishment of facilities, and medical staff who will work to help re-establish community level medical support.
"Our NZDF personnel are already well versed in working in such diverse situations as the former Republic of Yugoslavia, Bougainville, and Timor Leste. New Zealand has an international reputation for excellence, for their calm, cooperative style, gained by working alongside many different forces from around the world in deployments such as these.
"New Zealand's service men and women have an international reputation for excellence, and I have every confidence in your ability to successfully undertake this demanding task. I am confident that the personnel we farewell today, as well as those who will deploy over the next week, are all world-class personnel who will all acquit themselves with honour and distinction, whatever the challenges," said Mark Burton.
The personnel departed from Ohakea on a C130 Hercules, which will land in Townsville, Australia later today. The NZDF personnel, along with the first contingents from Australia and other Pacific countries, will be farewelled on Thursday by Prime Minister Helen Clark and the Prime Ministers of Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga. The Pacific Forum Secretary General will also be in attendance.
Solomon Islands Deployment Schedule
The first 16 NZDF personnel to be deployed to the Solomon Islands will depart New Zealand for Townsville, Australia on Wednesday 23 July, along with the first contingents from Australia and other Pacific countries. They will be farewelled the following day by Prime Minister Helen Clark and the Prime Ministers of Australia, Fiji, and Tonga. The Pacific Forum Secretary General will also be in attendance.
This group includes the New Zealand Senior National Officer and the Air Component Commander for the operation, as well as other headquarters elements such as intelligence, communications, medical, logistics, operations, and Air Security and maintenance personnel.
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