Detailed Timeline – 2001
2001
The Townsville Peace Agreement stipulated that all weapons should be handed over to the International Peace Monitoring Team within thirty days of signing. The initial deadline for surrender was November 16, but this deadline was not met. The arms surrendering ceremony was rescheduled for December 15.[1] This deadline was met, and more than 100 guns held by the Malaita Eagle Force (MEF) were shipped to the International Peace Monitoring Team with 100 additional guns following.[2] However, on December 18, peace monitors reported that hundreds of arms remained in circulation.[3] In 2001, monitors estimated that at least 500 heavy weapons remained in circulation. [4]
The Townsville Peace Agreement called for the creation of a Constitutional Council within 28 days of signing, tasked with rewriting the Constitution to provide more autonomy to provinces. No progress was made in 2000. In January 2001, a team of British constitutional lawyers committed to a 3-month stay in the Solomon Islands, during which they would advise on the drafting process as the government reformulated the Constitution to accommodate greater autonomy for provinces.[5] However, no Constitutional Council was established in 2001 and no changes to the Constitution were initiated in 2001.
The Townsville Peace Agreement called for all MEF and Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM) soldiers to be repatriated to their home villages within 30 days of signing. In 2001, the Peace Monitoring Council Reported that some militants had returned home.[6]
The Townsville Peace Agreement stipulated the repatriation of MEF and IFM soldiers and the initiation of public works programs to provide counseling and employment services for ex-combatants and their families (within 3 months of repatriation). By the end of 2000, approximately 1000 ex-combatants had been recruited into the police force. [7] In 2001, no additional reintegration programs or services were documented.
The Townsville Peace Agreement stipulated the establishment (within 60 days of signing) of a Peace and Reconciliation Committee to facilitate reconciliation and forgiveness. This body was not formed in 2001.
The Townsville Peace Agreement called for negotiations to allocate appropriate development assistance to the affected areas within 12 months of signing. In January 2001, an Asian Development Bank funded project for the rehabilitation of infrastructure was launched, referred to as the Post-Conflict Emergency Rehabilitation Project. It was specifically allocated to repair roads in Honiara, West Guadalcanal, East Guadalcanal, and Malaita, bridges in East Guadalcanal, West Guadalcanal, and Malaita, as well as the rehabilitation of provincial buildings and water supplies. However, the initiation of the projects was delayed and did not occur in 2001.[8]
The Townsville Peace Agreement stipulated the constitution of the Peace Monitoring Council (PMC) within 14 days of signing. The PMC was convened within the allocated timeline.
[1] “Minister says time period for arms handover extended,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, November 18, 2000.
[2] “Deadline reached for weapons handover,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, December 16, 2000.
[3] “Many guns still not accounted for,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, December 19, 2000.
[4] “Weapons said missing from police armouries,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, February 28, 2001.
[5] “British lawyer to help amend constitution,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, January 18, 2001.
[6] “Solomon Islands: Monitoring group details disarmament problems,” BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, August 7, 2001.
[7] “Solomon Islands: Fears money not there to pay militants recruited as constables,” BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, January 4, 2001.
[8] Solomon Islands: Post-Conflict Emergency Rehabilitation Project, Asian Development Bank, September 2009.