HONIARA, Solomon Islands (25 July 2000) -- Hopes for a ceasefire between warring ethnic militias in the Solomon Islands were dealt a blow on Monday when some militia leaders failed to turn up for peace talks. Talks set to resume on board Australian navy ship HMAS Tobruk were postponed until Thursday when three Insatabu Freedom Movement (ISM) commanders did not arrive, prompting a protest from the rival Malaita Eagles Force (MEF). Insatabu spokesman Sethuel Kelly said there had been difficulty locating the three absent commanders because of bad weather and rough seas on the Guadalcanal coast where the commanders are stationed. Kelly said he hoped to locate the men so talks could resume on Thursday. "Both the ISM and MEF commanders present at the talks today agreed that in order to arrive at a true ceasefire agreement, all commanders should be present," deputy prime minister Allan Kemakeza said in a statement "Despite all this I am still optimistic a ceasefire agreement will be signed by the weekend," Kemakeza said. | | HMAS Tobruk Tension has simmered for decades in the former British colony about 1,600 km (1,000 miles) northeast of Australia, with people from the main island of Guadalcanal resenting migrants from Malaita, who have been seen as taking the top jobs in the capital, Honiara. The MEF took over key installations in Honiara in a June 5 coup which led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa'alu. About 70 people have been killed in clashes since early last year. |
