As the first Australian troops landed in the Solomon Islands yesterday the Prime Minister, John Howard, gave a strong indication the Federal Government was prepared to intervene in other Pacific trouble spots. Mr Howard and the Opposition Leader, Simon Crean, said that Operation Helpem Fren could be a precedent for further combined military-police security force deployments in the region. "Very importantly, it will send a signal to other countries in the region that help is available if it is sought, that we do have a desire to help all the peoples of the Pacific to have conditions of law and order and hope and peace and stability for their future generations," Mr Howard said during a farewell ceremony for task force members in Townsville. Mr Crean, speaking on local radio, said it was in Australia’s interests to be prepared to respond to other requests for stabilisation operations in the Pacific. "You look at the problems in the area and they are on our doorstep. If you let the criminals take over in any country, that does let the gangland in, the drugs, the guns, all the smuggling operations - and that becomes a wider threat to the whole of our region," he said.
Not to mention the turban set.
The head of the Australian-led intervention, senior Foreign Affairs Department official Nick Warner, warned it was probably a "last chance" for the Solomons to achieve political stability. He said the people of the Solomons had the right to be free of threats from "armed thugs" who had brought hardship to good and generous people. He warned that Australian forces - along with those from New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga — would not hesitate to act against lawlessness.
Lock and load, mates.
The Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Keelty, said the intervention provided a one-off opportunity for the Solomons to get it right. "Unlike some other failed states, where there is absolutely no government in place, what we have here is a government in place and bipartisan support for the intervention." But Mr Keelty warned it could take months to gauge the level of opposition to the force in provincial areas of the islands. "I think we’ll have an early understanding of [potential opposition] in Honiara at least over the next 24 to 48 hours," he said. "In terms of the provinces, that will take a bit longer as we reach out."
Reach out and touch Harold Keke with a 7.62.
The first troops to arrive were members of Charlie Company from the Townsville-based 2RAR who emerged from a Hercules in combat fatigues just after 7am, carrying their weapons and heavy packs. There to greet them was the Australian High Commissioner, Bob Davis. More aircraft touched down throughout the day, unloading troops and tonnes of equipment and supplies. Just after 9.40am, Australian infantrymen stepped off a landing craft from the Manoora and sloshed through the last few steps to Red Beach, which is dotted with rusting war refuse.
Nice touch of history, that. |