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DATE=6/5/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SOLOMON / COUP (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-263161
BYLINE=DANA ROBERTSON
DATELINE=CANBERRA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The prime minister and governor-general of the 
Solomon Islands have been taken hostage in a coup 
attempt staged by a militia group -- the Malaita Eagle 
Force.  As Dana Robertson reports from Canberra, the 
Eagle Force is involved in an ethnic civil war on the 
nation's central island, Guadalcanal. 
TEXT: The Malita Eagle Force was established last year 
by men from the island of Malaita to take on another 
militia group form Guadalcanal which had begun 
attacking Malaitan settlers.  The groups are reported 
to have taken control some police stations and the 
government telecommunications center.
The airport at Honiara is closed and air travel in and 
out of the capital has stopped.
The coup attempt began early Monday morning when armed 
men raided the main police weapons armory at Rove, on 
the outskirts of the city.
Armed men are patrolling the street, prompting a 
warning form the Honiara Mayor for residents to stay 
indoors.  A former member of Solomon Island's 
parliament -- Labor Leader Joses Tuhanuku says the 
coup centers on a dispute over land.
Speaking from Canberra, Mr. Tuhanuku says he believes 
recent events in Fiji sparked Monday's coup.
            //TUNHANUKU ACTUALITY//
There is nothing positive to look forward for when 
Solomons Islands is joining other third world 
countries. So it is a very sad day for Solomons 
Islands.
            //END ACTUALITY//
He says the country's special forces are not in a 
position to overpower the coup leaders.  According to 
people in the Solomons who have contacted the 
Australian media, the Eagle Force had given the 
parliament a deadline of later Monday to pay a massive 
compensation claim for the property of Malaitan people 
destroyed by their opponents.
The reaction Australia has been swift. Australian 
Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer has 
condemned the coup asttempt. He says Australia has 
been working to stabilize the situation in the Solomon 
Islands and the situation has not been helped be the 
Fijian coup.
            //DOWNER ACTUALITY//
The coup attempt in Fiji was certainly in terms of the 
situation in the Solomon Islands a very considerable 
set back.  Not that there was any umbilical link 
between the two;  but there was an atmospheric link 
between the two.
            //END ACTUALITY//
Over the past 18 months, fighting between rival ethnic 
groups has claimed the lives of about 50 people. 
(signed)
NEB/HK/DR/GC/WD
NEB/ 
05-Jun-2000 05:42 AM EDT (05-Jun-2000 0942 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.