HONIARA, Solomon Islands (11 Dec 2000) -- Santa will not be bringing toy guns to the Solomon Islands this year. The Honiara Parliament has passed the Firearms and Ammunition Amendment Bill banning the manufacture, sale, carriage, possession and use of imitation firearms throughout the Solomons. The ban covers air rifles, air pistols and toy guns. During fighting that killed over a hundred, young locals used fake guns to intimidate and harass citizens. The recent peace agreement that finally brought an end to the fighting calls for rebels to give up their firearms no later than the end of this week. According to Andrew Nori, the leader of the Malaita Eagle Force (MEF), 90 per cent of the weapons held by MEF militants have been turned over to authorities. | | An international team of peace monitors is observing the weapons surrender. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
