By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor
The Solomon Islands government is looking into establishing a defence force which would make it the fourth Pacific nation to have a military.
Some parliamentarians support the idea, while others are pointing to the country’s history of violent unrest.
National Security Minister Jimson Tanagada said the government was in the early stages of exploring whether to form a defence force.
“Sir, let me emphasise that this is not an attempt to militarise our nation, but the other a long term nation-building effort aimed at enhancing Solomon Islands, resilience, sovereignty and self-reliance,” Jimson Tanagada said in Parliament last week.
He said the government was taking a prudent approach but also told Parliament the country must not ignore escalating geopolitical tension in the region.
“There’s no fixed time frame but the urgency is there given the evolving security challenges,” Tanagada said.
The country’s police force used to have a paramilitary unit but after a civil conflict at the turn of the century, during which guns from the police armoury were used on civilians, there was a complete ban on firearms.
Restoring public trust
And it took over a decade to restore enough public trust to start rearming the police.
Helpem Fren – Rebuilding a Pacific Nation. Video produced in 2013.
Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale respects the process so far, but says the government should heed lessons from the past.
“We must learn from our own civil conflict,” Wale said.
“And you know, in Fiji, of course, there’s been a number of coups where the military was directly involved in.
“And in [Papua] New Guinea when they did not pay them [soldiers] their allowance they took their guns and went to the Parliament.
“So all these things, the police must address. How do we make sure this would never happen?”
Wale said one way to ensure control of the military was for parliamentarians from across the political divide to be involved
“This issue is so critical that us as representatives must help to together, inform it, influence it, mould it, shape it. Right from the word go,” he said.
Melanesia focused
Former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said the formation of a Solomon Islands military must be Melanesia focused.
“I heard Papua New Guinea is brokering, of course, the peace [sic] treaty with America already.
“And the treaty is so wide, Mr Speaker, that it’s allowing military assets of America to land at anytime without any permission,” Manasseh Sogavare said.
“And those are serious matters that we need to discuss about the security of the region,” he said.
It was Sogavare who first suggested the country form a defence force after a trip to China in 2023 while prime minister.
He agreed government control of any armed force was of the utmost importance.
“We can understand the cautious approach that we take on that matter before we go seriously into establishing a defence force that the sovereign government wont have control over it,” Sogavare said.
Control issue important
“I think the control issue will be very important here. That the government must have control over the military force.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele said a Solomon Islands military could also assist in subregional crises.
He also says it would be beneficial if a Melanesian Military Force was ever created — a concept still being discussed among members of the sub-regional bloc.
“Papua, New Guinea and Fiji, of course, they have defence forces.
“Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu does not (sic) So that is also the gap in terms of the discussions,” Manele said.
But cost is a major prohibitor and Manele said any resources for a military must not take away from the needs of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force which is currently in charge of national defence and security.
“I think that cautious approach is important. It’s not only about the numbers but also the cost in terms of sustaining these arrangements,” Manele said.
Overall, MPs supporting the establishment of a Solomon Islands military said it would benefit the country and wider region.
However, it remains to be seen whether their constituents agree.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
