Detailed Timeline – 2009
2009
The Townsville Peace Agreement stipulated that all weapons should be handed over to the International Peace Monitoring Team within thirty days of signing. By 2003, a total of 2,948 weapons and 303,000 rounds of ammunition had been surrendered.[1] As of 2004, an unknown amount of weapons remained in circulation.
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 significant progress was made in 2000-2003. In 2004, the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands launched a draft of a new constitution proposal.[2] During 2005, the draft constitution circulated among stakeholders, such as citizens and provincial leaders.[3][4] 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.[5] The body was charged with the management and coordination of the Constitutional Reform Project.[6] In May 2009, the Constitutional Congress (CC) and Eminent Persons Advisory Council held a joint plenary (EPAC), during which the two bodies discussed substantive issues arising from the theme committee reports produced in 2008. The bodies also deliberated the 2004 constitutional draft by working through it clause-by-clause. [7] The plenary resulted in a new constitutional draft. On June 26, 2009, the Solomon Islands National Constitutional Congress and the EPAC produced the 1st 2009 Draft Federal Constitution of Solomon Islands.[8]
The Townsville Peace Agreement called for all MEF and 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, [9] no additional repatriation was noted since.
The Townsville Peace Agreement stipulated the repatriation of Malaita Eagle Force (MEF) and Isatabu Freedom Movement (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). No additional reintegration programs or services were documented, though over 1000 ex-militants were integrated into the police constables in 2000 and discharged through reintegration programs by the end of 2003.
The Townsville Peace Agreement stipulated the establishment (within 60 days of signing) of a Peace and Reconciliation Committee to facilitate reconciliation and forgiveness. This deadline was not met, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was not established until August 28, 2008,[10] and was not officially launched until April 29, 2009. [11]
The Townsville Peace Agreement called for negotiations to allocate appropriate development assistance to the affected areas within 12 months of signing. In 2009, the Road Improvement (Sector) Project continued work in institutional capacity building and infrastructure rehabilitation. Some roads in Malaita and Temotu were completed in 2009.[12]
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 2009.
[1] “Solomons amnesty yields almost 3,000 weapons,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, August 22, 2003.
[2] “Solomon Islands launches draft federal constitution,” BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, November 5, 2004.
[3] “Residents of Solomon Islands’ North Malaita hear federal constitution plans,” BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, March 11, 2005.
[4] “Solomon Islands western leaders defer federal constitution deliberations,” BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, February 25, 2005.
[5] “Timeline of CRU’s work output,” Solomon Islands Constitutional Reform Program, July 2016.
[6] “Information on the Constitutional Reform Unit (CRU),” Solomon Islands Constitutional Reform Program.
[7] “Information on the Constitutional Congress & EPAC,” Solomon Islands Constitutional Reform Program, May 2014.
[8] 1st 2009 Draft Federal Constitution of Solomon Islands, The Solomon Islands National Constitutional Congress and the Eminent Persons Advisory Council, June 26, 2009.
[9] “Solomon Islands: Monitoring group details disarmament problems,” BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, August 7, 2001.
[10] The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act 2008 (No. 5 of 208), National Parliament of the Solomon Islands, August 28, 2008.
[11] “Tutu warns Solomon Islanders reconciliation no easy task,” BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, April 29, 2009.
[12] Solomon Islands: Road Improvement (Sector) Project, Asian Development Bank, April 2014.