One of the main rebel leaders in the Solomon Islands, Harold Keke, has surrendered to the Australian-led force that is trying to restore peace in the archipelago. Mr Keke was taken into custody along with three other senior militants, in what was seen as a significant breakthrough for the peacekeeping force. The rebel leader surrendered near his base in the Weathercoast area of Guadalcanal island after talks with the head of the international mission, Nick Warner.
He’s a brave rebel leader, until a real army showed up.
NICK: "Hang it up, Harold, or we'll perforate you."
HAROLD: "Yar! You'll never... What's 'perforate' mean?"
NICK: "Fill you full of holes."
HAROLD: "Hokay. I quit." |
Mr Keke and his supporters are blamed for a string of killings, including a government minister and a group of Anglican priests, and are alleged to be responsible for a four-year reign of terror in his remote stronghold. The four arrested men have been taken to the capital, Honiara, on board the Australian warship HMAS Manoora, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said. Mr Keke was arrested on an outstanding warrant for robbery. But there will now be a full investigation into other suspected crimes by the warlord and his followers, including murder, Mr Downer told the Australian parliament.
Wonder if the Solomans have the death penalty?
Some 40 firearms were handed in to the intervention force by villagers in the area after Mr Keke’s arrest. Mr Keke is suspected of murdering six Anglican priests he took hostage in April, after he admitted to Mr Warner last week that they were dead.
"They got sick, really really sick."
| "And then their heads fell off..." |
The six hostages were members of an indigenous Anglican order called the Melanesian Brotherhood. They had been held by Mr Keke for several months in his hideout in Weathercoast. At one stage they were shown on Australian television smiling and sharing a meal with the rebel leader. Mr Keke is said to have personally killed the government minister.
"It was lead poisoning, must have been something he ate." |