Detailed Timeline – 2008
2008
The Townsville Peace Agreement stipulated that all weapons be handed over to the International Peace Monitoring Team within thirty days of signing. By 2003, 2,948 weapons and 303,000 rounds of ammunition had been surrendered. As of 2004, an unknown number of weapons remained in circulation.
The Townsville Peace Agreement called for creating a Constitutional Council within 28 days of signing, which was tasked with rewriting the Constitution to provide more autonomy to provinces. No significant progress was made in 2000-2003. In 2004, the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands launched a draft of a new constitution proposal.[1] During 2005, the draft constitution circulated among stakeholders, such as citizens and provincial leaders.[2][3] The Solomon Islands Constitutional Congress (CC), the central body working on the Constitutional Reform Program, was formally appointed in 2007. In July 2007, the Constitution Reform Unit was established in the Office of the Prime Minister.[4] The body was charged with the management and coordination of the Constitutional Reform Project.[5] The Constitutional Reform Unit and Constitutional Congress continued operations in 2008.
The Townsville Peace Agreement called for all Malaita Eagle Force (MEF) and Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM) soldiers to be repatriated to their home villages within 30 days of signing. Although some militants were reported to have returned to their villages in 2001, no additional repatriations have been noted since.
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). Although over 1000 ex-militants were integrated into the police constables in 2000 and discharged through reintegration programs by the end of 2003, no additional reintegration programs or services were documented.
The Townsville Peace Agreement stipulated the establishment of a Peace and Reconciliation Committee to facilitate reconciliation and forgiveness (within 60 days of signing). This deadline was not met, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was not established until August 28, 2008.[6]
The Townsville Peace Agreement called for negotiations to allocate appropriate development assistance to the affected areas within 12 months of signing. The Asian Development Bank Post-Conflict Emergency Rehabilitation Project was judged to be 99% complete in February 2008.[7] In 2008, the Road Improvement (Sector) Project continued work in project management and institutional capacity building. In late 2008, the project initiated physical work on infrastructure.[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.
The Townsville Peace Agreement called for a formal review of the agreement no more than 24 months after signing. This deadline was not met, and no review was completed in 2008.
[1] “Solomon Islands launches draft federal constitution,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, November 5, 2004.
[2] “Residents of Solomon Islands’ North Malaita hear federal constitution plans,” BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, March 11, 2005.
[3] “Solomon Islands western leaders defer federal constitution deliberations,” BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, February 25, 2005.
[4] “Timeline of CRU’s work output,” Solomon Islands Constitutional Reform Program, July 2016.
[5] “Information on the Constitutional Reform Unit (CRU),” Solomon Islands Constitutional Reform Program.
[6] The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act 2008 (No. 5 of 208), National Parliament of the Solomon Islands, August 28, 2008.
[7] Solomon Islands: Post-Conflict Emergency Rehabilitation Project, Asian Development Bank, September 2009.
[8] Solomon Islands: Road Improvement (Sector) Project, Asian Development Bank, April 2014.