The intervention forces are there as part of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), first deployed in 2003.

The imperialist intervention force also includes dozens of Australian and New Zealand civilian officials “embedded” in government departments to run key aspects of the country, including its financial and legal system. Its appointees include the police commissioner, solicitor-general, and accountant-general.

In the past three years, RAMSI cops have arrested more than 4,000 people. They are currently holding the newly appointed minister of police on charges of “inciting a riot” in the April events.

The April protests included reactionary attacks in Honiara, the capital, that destroyed most of Chinatown and forced several hundred Solomon Islanders of Chinese descent to flee. This explosion of anti-Chinese resentment was fueled by allegations that the government of Taiwan provided millions of dollars in bribes to secure Rini’s election and that they had similarly funded the previous government, in which Rini was deputy prime minister, in return for diplomatic recognition.

Following the protests, Snyder Rini resigned. Manasseh Sogavare, previously installed as prime minister when rightist gangs from the island of Malaita staged a coup in 2000, has now been elected in his place.
 
 
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