Rural police and military posts

Rural police and military posts

As it began patrols of police and military forces to outlying islands and provinces, RAMSI established 16 police posts throughout the Solomon Islands for the Participating Police Force (PPF). Military support for these posts was provided by military forces from RAMSI participating nations, including Australian forces deployed under Operation Anode. Engineering assistance for the construction of police posts in the Solomon Islands was provided by a contingent of military engineers, made up mostly of members of 3rd Combat Engineering Regiment (3CER).

The 16 PPF posts are located in: Tulagi (Central Province); Taro (Choiseul Province); Avu Avu, Isuna, Mbambanakira and Tetere (Guadalcanal); Buala (Isabel Province); Kira Kira (Makira Province); Ato’ifi, Auki and Malu’u (Malaita); Tingoa (Rennel and Bellona); Lata (Temotu Province); and Gizo, Munda, and Lofung (Western Province).

Australian Federal Police Overseas Operations, Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) Audit report No.53, 2006-07 Performance Audit, pp48-49

The PPF established 16 police posts outside Honiara, primarily in existing SIPF facilities, which are staffed by PPF or a combination of PPF and SIPF members. In some of the posts the PPF live at the police station; in others the PPF rents private accommodation as police residences….There are substantial logistical issues also involved in maintaining provisions, communications and operational support for these posts. For the most part, all supplies need to be flown in regularly (usually weekly). Maintenance of motor vehicles is potentially problematic. There are few service agents or repairers outside Honiara, and the nature of the roads system outside larger centres like Honiara and Auki results in considerable wear and tear of vehicles. Required service levels for logistical support to provincial posts are specified in the contract arrangements with the prime contractor. The ADF provided most of the initial operational support. For example, the ADF built a number of provincial police stations in remote areas and provided accommodation on the site of the PPF’s compound, the GBR.”

Police post in Avu Avu, Capt Sarah Hawke, Army – the soldiers’ newspaper, 28 August 2003

Avu Avu police outpost, Australian War Memorial (AWM) photograph

Unidentified Australian soldiers carry a large equipment case to the military post at Avu Avu. Avu Avu police station can be seen behind. Avu Avu is located at the southeast end of the Weather Coast of Guadalcanal. …Avu Avu police station was the first to be established, by fifty-three RAMSI police and military personnel, in August 2003. … Security support for the police post was provided by forces from Pacific nations and by members of the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR), deployed under Operation Anode.”

Avu Avu police post, Australian War Memorial (AWM) photograph

External view of Avu Avu police station, established on the Weather Coast of Guadalcanal by the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI). The sign next to the door bears the logos of RAMSI (left) and the Royal Solomon Islands Police (right). Avu Avu is located at the southeast end of the Weather Coast of Guadalcanal. …The remote Weather Coast is not accessible from RAMSI’s main base of operations in Honiara by road, and personnel and thirty tonnes of equipment had to be airlifted into the village from HMAS Manoora by Sea King helicopter.”

Auki police outpost, Australian War Memorial (AWM) photograph

The PPF established police posts throughout the Solomon Islands, including three on the island of Malaita, supported by ninety RAMSI military personnel. The post at Auki was the second RAMSI police post to open, in August 2003.”

Kolina police outpost, Australian War Memorial (AWM) photograph

Kolina, like many villages on the remote Weather Coast, could be reached by RAMSI forces from their base in Honiara only by helicopter. At the edge of the forest the outpost camp and soldiers of C Company, 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR) can be seen. The infantry from 2RAR provided military support to the recently established police post at Kolina. The village had been a stronghold of militant leader Harold Keke, who surrendered to RAMSI forces on 13 August 2003, following negotiations with Australians Nick Warner, (the Special Coordinator of RAMSI), Lieutenant Colonel John Frewen, (the commander of the military task force), and Ben McDevitt, (commander of police forces). The arrest of Harold Keke was a major milestone in the initial phase of RAMSI’s Operation Helpem Fren, the Australian-led multinational policing and military intervention in the Solomon Islands. The police post was established in Kolina shortly after Keke’s arrest, on 16 August 2003.”

Kolina police outpost, Australian War Memorial (AWM) photograph

Infantry from 8 Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR), approach their camp at Kolina, on the remote Weather Coast of Guadalcanal.… Australian and Pacific nation military forces manned Kolina outpost on two-week rotations, to provide security support to the police. Members of C Company of 2RAR, part of the Ready Deployment Force, based at Townsville, were deployed to the Solomon Islands under Operation Anode, Australia’s contribution to RAMSI.”

Kolina military camp, Australian War Memorial (AWM) photograph

Unidentified infantry from 8 Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR) carry a generator on the edge of the forest near their outpost at Kolina, on the Weather Coast of Guadalcanal. Behind them, Lance Corp Justin Huggert, also of C Company, 2RAR, mans a machine gun – an F89 Minimi Light Support Weapon – on piquet duty. Kolina outpost was established to provide security support for the recently opened police post at Kolina, as part of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).”

Mbambanakira police post, Australian War Memorial (AWM) photograph

“Following the arrest of Keke on 13 August 2003, a police post was established at Mbambanakira, with logistical and security support provided by RAMSI military forces.”

Malu’u police post, Australian War Memorial (AWM) photograph

“Malu’u police post was opened on 19 September 2003 as one of three posts in northern Malaita, an area affected by the violent activities of armed militia groups, such as the Malaitan Eagle Force (MEF).”

Isuna police post, Australian War Memorial (AWM) photograph

“The police post at Isuna was officially opened on 5 November 2003, and operated by members of the multi-national PPF, with security provided by RAMSI military forces, including infantry from 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR), deployed under Operation Anode.”

See also