VZCZCXRO7081
OO RUEHPB
DE RUEHPB #0170 1090039
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O P 190039Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4415
INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0771
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0173
RHMFISS/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHSV/AMEMBASSY SUVA 0140
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY 1783

S E C R E T PORT MORESBY 000170 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EAP/ANP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  4/19/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PINR CASC BP
SUBJECT: VIOLENCE CONTINUES IN HONIARA 
 
REF: PORT MORESBY 169 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Robert Fitts, Ambassador, AMB, STATE. 
REASON: 1.4 (b) 
 
1.(S)SUMMARY: Though violence subsided somewhat over the night, 
groups of youths still are on the loose and out of police 
control. There has been extensive damage to Chinese businesses 
and a number of police have been injured. Businesses and 
government offices are closed. The Australians appear ready to 
send in forces from their ready reaction company. 
 
2.(SBU) There have been no reports of disturbances outside of 
the capital city. We are working with SS-O to put out a warden 
notice advising Americans in Honiara to remain indoors. END 
SUMMARY 
 
3.(SBU) Though the situation remains confused, it appears that 
roughly 300 supporters of Charles Dausebea began the riot on 18 
April when Snyder Rini was elected Prime Minister. They claimed 
he had won office on the back of Taiwanese money. Other groups 
of disaffected toughs joined in and began attacking Chinese 
(Taiwanese) affiliated businesses. The totals involved may be 
1000 split into three roving groups. Much of Chinatown has been 
burned and looted as well as the ground floor of the Casino 
Hotel. On the morning of 19 April, we received reports that the 
groups were now threatening the Honiara Hotel which is owned by 
the (ethnic Chinese) major backer of the Rini coalition ( who is 
also the father of Foreign Minister Laurie Chan). 
 
4.(C) The Solomon Island police, including their Australian-New 
Zealand RAMSI members, have not yet been able to bring the 
situation under control. There are press reports that eight 
RAMSI officers were injured on the 18th.  We understand that the 
number has now grown and that at least two are seriously 
injured. All injuries are from large rocks hurled by the crowd. 
There have been no reports of any other weapons. 
 
5.(S) We understand that the Australians are preparing to make 
the decision to commit their Ready Response Unit, a company kept 
on alert in Townsville about 2 = hours flight from Honiara. This 
would be an expected step. The unit was committed also some 18 
months ago when a RAMSI officer was murdered. The move is made 
more probable as the military backup now in the Solomons is a 
platoon from Fiji.  RAMSI officers have long considered the 
Fijians to be the least reliable unit available. They were 
especially concerned with an earlier tendency for the Fijian 
troops to fraternize and become involved in local disputes. 
 
6.(U) Embassy is working with SS-O on a warden notice advising 
Americans in Honiara to remain indoors unless absolutely 
necessary.  There are roughly 70 Americans in Honiara. We have 
no reports of any incidents outside of Honiara and no reports of 
any threat to foreigners except for Chinese.  However, we will 
advise that all unnecessary travel to Solomon Islands be 
curtailed pending developments. The U.S. Consular agent, who was 
on Easter vacation, will return to Solomon Islands this 
afternoon. 
 
7.(C) COMMENT: RAMSI's arrival in July 2003 put an immediate end 
to the ethnic violence that had plagued the country for three 
years.  Never-the-less, tensions remained under the surface, 
particularly among the young toughs that had enjoyed free rein 
during the troubles.  Events of the last two days make clear 
that, despite three years of hard work and much expense by 
Australia and New Zealand, the situation in Solomon Islands 
would quickly revert should RAMSI be removed. We believe that 
the lid will probably be back on soon, particularly if military 
forces are committed.  However, RAMSI will likely face a more 
difficult day-to-day task in the future. Having once again taken 
the streets, Honiara's young ethnic toughs will probably remain 
ready for any other opportunity and political opportunists will 
be more ready to use them. Outside intervention in Solomon 
Islands may be needed for a long time to come. 
 
FITTS