Updated June 29, 2017 10:37:53

The Australian-led assistance mission to Solomon Islands will officially end tomorrow, as the country eyes a lasting peace after ethnic violence that left it on the brink of collapse.

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) saw Australia, New Zealand and 13 other Pacific countries send help to stabilise the island nation, at the request of its government.

Australia spent an estimated $2.8 billion on the 14-year mission, contributing 7,200 soldiers and 1,700 Australian Federal Police officers to the effort.

But as the mission draws to a close, there are concerns over whether the current peace will endure and in the words of the country's Prime Minister, Solomon Islands has arrived at a crossroads in its history.

The ethnic violence in Solomon Islands between 1998 and 2003 which locals refer to as "the tensions" saw fighting between militants from Guadalcanal island and the nearby island of Malaita.

Militants in Guadalcanal began targeting migrants from Malaita, who had travelled to Guadalcanal to seek employment in the capital Honiara, and had over the years created multiple settlements on the island.

The militants resented the growing influence settlers commanded over the island, as well as the settlers' presence on their lands.

The resulting violence saw thousands of Malaitan settlers flee back to their home island or to the relative safety of the capital.

A Malaitan militant force was set up in response, further entrenching unrest across the country, and the police force began to take sides in the violence.

After years of worsening conflict and fruitless peace efforts, Solomon Islands found itself on the verge of becoming a failed state.

In 2003 the Solomon Islands government made a formal request for assistance to its regional neighbours, and RAMSI was born.

Australian soldiers and federal police quickly restored law and order and confiscated thousands of guns.

But it was not an easy mission two Australians died, one was shot in the back.

"On the side of law and order [RAMSI] was clearly very successful," said James Batley, a former special coordinator of RAMSI and Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands.

"And dramatically so early on, when the militant groups disarmed and their weapons were destroyed."

Mr Batley spoke to the ABC from Honiara, where he is participating in the end-of-mission celebrations.

"It's really very striking just how warm the messages we are hearing here in Honiara are," he said

Australia's Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and representatives from other participating Pacific countries were also given a warm, traditional welcome to the capital.

Justice Minister Michael Keenan attended the ceremonies and said Australia was duty-bound to lead a regional intervention.

"Australia could not afford to have a failed state on our doorstep," he said.

"We are essentially the superpower in the Pacific, and it's very important that we play our role."

Beyond just ending the conflict, RAMSI had a broad mandate.

The mission also involved repairing national institutions, restoring government finances and the aiding the operation of the public service.

The police force also needed renewal after its participation in the conflict, and was rearmed on a limited basis earlier this year for the first time since the violence ended.

44 unarmed Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers will also remain in the country after the withdrawal to serve as trainers.

But the mission was not without its critics one of the most strident among them being the current Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare.

While Mr Sogavare had previously accused the mission of undermining his country's sovereignty, and had even threatened to terminate the effort, he has changed his views in recent times.

Speaking in Parliament earlier this week, he praised RAMSI for fully achieving its mandate.

"It faced a lot of challenges, but of course none of which deterred the mission from pursuing and achieving the objectives it set out to achieve," he said.

"Law and order has been restored, [the] machinery of government is functioning again."

Opposition leader Jeremiah Manele said there was anxiety in some parts of the country over what would happen after the withdrawal.

Acknowledging these concerns, Mr Sogavare described Solomon Islands as being at a crossroads, but said the country's second chance at peace was an exciting challenge.

"We must learn to live together in harmony," he said.

"We must learn, Mr Speaker, to see our differences as a point of strength."

Not everyone is convinced that lessons have been properly learnt following the unrest.

"The Solomon Islands Government did not make use of the opportunity when RAMSI [was] here to solve the underlying causes," Guadalcanal Premier Anthony Veke said.

Mr Veke said land rights on Guadalcanal, a major grievance of the militants there, have not seen any progress.

He said the Government could have used the stability provided by RAMSI to make inroads.

"If the Government wants to see Solomon Islands stability they have to be able to address these land issues in Guadalcanal."

Mr Batley is aware of these arguments.

"There's no doubt that there's a bit of nervousness around," he said.

"Some thoughtful Solomon Islanders are asking the question: 'Did we sufficiently make use of the opportunity that RAMSI provided to really address the really deep issues?'

"There is a bit of national debate around, but I think overwhelmingly the feeling is that the time is right."

Mr Veke was also positive about the prospect of an enduring peace in Solomon Islands.

"I'm confident that the country's future is bright and in good hands," he said.

"Especially with the new Commissioner of Police and also with the more than 40 AFP who will be remaining.

"I think they can still continue to provide an environment in which the common can actually address those issues."

Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, world-politics, solomon-islands, australia, pacific, new-zealand

First posted June 29, 2017 09:42:13

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Solomon Islands at a crossroads as Australian-led assistance mission bids farewell - ABC Online