The second anniversary of the Australian-led military intervention in the Solomon Islands was marked yesterday with an all-day concert in the capital Honiara which attracted an estimated 15,000 people.
The celebratory air was in contrast to two years earlier when more than 2,000 troops and police from the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) started to arrive to end five years of civil strife and lawlessness.
RAMSI remains well supported by a majority of the half-million Solomon Islanders, according to a recent report by regional observers, and the emphasis is now on rebuilding services and government as well as bringing leading figures in the violence to justice.
The concert yesterday included performances by Australian indigenous band Yothu Yindi, local performers and visiting police and navy bands from Australia.
Yesterday evening, visiting Australian and New Zealand government ministers joined government leaders for a thanksgiving service in Honiara. In parliament, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza congratulated RAMSI on its success in restoring law and order and putting the nation back on track.
"On behalf of the government and the people of Solomon Islands, I commend RAMSI and its military, police and civilian personnel for the outstanding performances they continuously render to our government and the people of Solomon Islands since their arrival on our shores this time two years ago," Kemakeza said.
"Since day one, RAMSI has been doing commendable and splendid work to ensure our country recovers from the mishaps of the recent troubled years," he said.
The current strength of RAMSI -- with contributions from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and eight other Pacific Island nations -- reflects the fact that the military task is over.
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