Solomons Erupt Again

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After an uneventful national election in long-restive Solomon Islands, many expected the Parliament's choice of a Prime Minister to go smoothly. But when the 50 M.P.s chose Snyder Rini as the country's new leader on April 17, the capital, Honiara, exploded into violence. Looting and arson almost destroyed the small commercial district, setting the country's already fragile economy back years.

Businessman Tigi Sikele allegedly threw the first rock from a crowd of protestors outside Parliament House. "After that it just erupted," says Royal Solomon Islands Police spokesman Mick Spinks. "The whole crowd just started picking up rocks and stoning the police and the police cars." Tear gas was used as a last resort to allow Rini to escape to safety, Spinks says. When the officers retreated into the building, half the 1,000-strong mob stayed around Parliament and the other half headed for Chinatown, starting an arson and looting spree that continued for two days.

By the time police and troop reinforcements arrived from Australia to bolster the Regional Assistance Mission that has been providing security in the Solomons since 2003, most of Honiara's shopping hub had been razed, nine police cars burned and 32 Australian officers injured. Hundreds of ethnic Chinese, the mainstay of the limping economy, fled the country.

The rioters' outrage stems from reports that Rini had bought M.P.s' votes with money from Asian business backers. Rini has denied the allegations, but claims of bribery and corruption - which were also leveled at his predecessor, Sir Allan Kemakeza - swirl constantly on the Solomons' "coconut wireless." Police investigating the riots on Sunday arrested Central Honiara M.P. Nelson Ne'e for intimidation and issued a warrant for the arrest of East Honiara M.P. Charles Dausabea on similar charges.

Honiara remains under lockdown, with a night curfew and a ban on the sale of alcohol. As well as rushing in 220 extra soldiers and 70 police, Australia has dispatched two Navy patrol boats, two Army Iroquois helicopters and a platoon of airfield-defense guards. Together with reinforcements from Fiji, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, they are being kept on alert in case further violence breaks out when Parliament meets this week.