Police are investigating the cause of death and their identity, and have no further information to release at this time, Solomon Islands communications officer Desmond Rave told CNN Saturday.
“Honiara is pretty stressed right now, but the city is getting back to normal,” Rave said.
Security forces have been unable to stem the unrest in Honiara that began on Wednesday with protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare as well as looting and burning shops and businesses.
According to Reuters.
The protesters also called on the government to limit ties with China, respect the right of self-determination of the people of Malaita and resume development projects in Malaita province.
According to police, more than 100 people have been arrested as of Saturday, who have called on rioters to stop looting and burning buildings and warned more arrests will be made if the unrest does not stop. again.
Sharing a photo of the RAAF C-17 transport plane landing in the capital, Dr Lachlan Strahan, Australia’s High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands tweeted: “ADF has arrived in Honiara!”
Australia’s Joint Operations Command on Saturday released photos of soldiers from the Army’s 3rd, 6th and 17th Brigade landing a military transport aircraft as part of a “mission of emergency assistance”.
An Australian peacekeeping force has been deployed at the request of the Solomon Islands government. Their arrival comes after a violent Tuesday night that saw the Prime Minister’s residence attacked and much of the capital turned to ashes, according to journalists for Agence France-Presse in Honiara.
The Australian Department of Defense said it has also deployed the Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Armidale patrol boat to the Islands to support local forces in maritime security work.
Papua New Guinea also deployed a security team to the Solomon Islands on Friday at a request from the Pacific island nation, PNG Prime Minister James Marape said in a statement.
The security team, consisting of 20 police officers and 15 correctional service members, is deployed to assist Solomon Islands police in “preventing looting and vandalism” in Honiara, and can be increased if necessary. written statement.
The Solomon Islands government on Friday declared a nightly curfew and advised all civil servants to stay home. The curfew will last from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily, effective Friday.
“During this time, only authorized personnel are allowed to move in the city,” a government statement said.
On Friday, the central government advised all civil servants to stay home due to the unrest, with the exception of essential workers, and encouraged employees to ensure they have food supplies “due to the current situation.” at uncertain.”
On Thursday, a local journalist said a fire broke out in Chinatown, and police had lost control in east Honiara.
Elizabeth Osifelo of Honiara and Helen Regan of CNN contributed reporting.
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