Solomon Islands police media officer Desmond Rave told CNN on Saturday that police are investigating the cause of his death and his identity, and have no further information to disclose at this point.
“Honiara is quite tense at the moment, but the city is getting back to normal,” said Rev.
Security forces have been unable to stop the unrest in Honiara that began on Wednesday, with protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogaware and looting and burning of shops and businesses.
Protesters are calling on the government to limit ties with China, respect the rights of the Malaita people to self-determination, and restart development projects in the country’s most populous island, Malaita Province.
More than 100 people have been arrested till Saturday, according to police, who appealed to the rioters to stop looting and burning buildings and warned of further arrests if the unrest did not stop.
In a bid to strengthen local police, Australian Defense Forces (ADF) soldiers arrived in Honiara on Friday, Australia’s High Commissioner to the Islands confirmed on Saturday.
Sharing a photo of an RAAF C-17 military transporter landing in the capital, Dr. Lachlan Strahan, Australian High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, tweeted: “ADF arrives in Honiara!”
Australia’s Joint Operations Command released photographs on Saturday of soldiers from the Army’s 3rd Brigade, 6th Brigade and 17th Brigade disembarking from a military transport aircraft as part of an “emergency aid mission”.
Australian peacekeepers have been deployed at the request of the Government of the Solomon Islands. According to reporters from Agence France-Presse in Honiara, his arrival comes after a third night of violence, in which the prime minister’s residence was attacked and large parts of the capital ashes.
Australia’s Defense Ministry said it has also deployed Royal Australian Navy patrol boat HMAS Armidale to the islands to support local forces in maritime security.
PNG Prime Minister James Marape said in a statement that Papua New Guinea on Friday also deployed a security team to the Solomon Islands following a request from the Pacific island nation.
Security teams, which include 20 police and 15 correctional service members, have been deployed to help Solomon Islands police “prevent looting and vandalism” in Honiara, the statement said. can be extended.
The Solomon Islands government announced a night curfew on Friday and advised all government employees to stay at home. The curfew will run daily from 7 pm to 6 am, effective from Friday.
“During this period, only authorized officials are allowed inside the city,” a government statement said.
On Friday, the central government advised all public servants, except essential workers, to stay at home due to the unrest, and encouraged employees to ensure food supply “due to the uncertainty of the prevailing situation”.
On Thursday, a local journalist said a fire was raging in Chinatown, and that police had lost control in eastern Honiara.
Elizabeth Osifello in Honiara and CNN’s Helen Regan contributed reporting.
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