New Solomon Islands PM Gordon Darcy Lilo ... pledges unchanged "core policies". Photo: SPREP

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Sharon Bhagwan Rolls

What did this week’s political protest riots in Honiara mean to women? Did they actively engage as protesters?

No, according to Koisau Sade, gender coordinator of World Vision Solomon Islands, who was close by.

“From what I saw [on Wednesday], the gender composition of protesters, I would say 98 percent were male. I only saw one young lady emerge from the crowd,” she said.

Protesters outside the house of the Governor-General, Sir Frank Kabui, demand the resignation of newly-elected Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo. Photo: Koisau Billy/femlinkPACIFIC

“The only other woman there was from the media.”

Violent clashes erupted in Honiara between protesters and police in Honiara.

The protesters were demanding newly elected Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo to step down just hours after he took office. He won a parliamentary vote to replace Danny Philip as prime minister.

Lillo, sacked from cabinet last week after questioning Philip over alleged misuse of funds, has since pledged to carry on the “core policies” of the National Colaition for Rural Advancement.

Many children
Women in the neighbourhood simply observed from their yards, she added, noting that most of the protesters were male youths.

“The male youths outnumbered the mature adult males. I saw children who looked as young as 11 or 12 years joining the crowd and holding stones as big as fists in their hands.”

Rocks were thrown at a large old water tank next to the house of the Governor-General, Sir Frank Kabui.

“It was noisy so I didn’t get to hear what was being said, just the chants asking PM Lilo to step down,” she said.

“The police were very alert and came to the Governor-General’s residence in numbers just before the crowd arrived.”

According to Lorio Sisiolo, general secretary of the Solomon Islands National Council of Women, the wave of protests instilled fear in the community, resulting in a complete shutdown of Honiara.

“It seems that business houses are now back to normal. We are still monitoring the situation,” she said.

“Also at the council we are getting views from our women as to what their views are with regards to the current situation and how it affects us all women and children.”

Deja vu
Protesters were not keen on being photographed.

“When I started taking pictures as the protesters arrived, they saw me and threw rocks into our yard and on top of our house.”

According to FemLINKPacific’s “1325 network” member Lisa Horiwapu of Vois Blong Mere Solomon, there was a feeling of deja vu – a reminder of the 2006 post-election violence and there was a sense of political frustration.

“All the schools, shops, markets, offices were closed [on Wednesday]. My home is along the same road to the GG’s residence, so deafening with the helicopter’s noise,” she said.

“It was quite tense. My husband tried to go to the fuel stations but they were all closed and he said the China Town road was littered with stones and broken glasses. We are aware of a few casualties, especially from the police and arrests made yesterday.

“A liquor ban is in force until 8am Sunday.”

Sharon Bhagwan Rolls is executive director of Fiji-based femLINKPacific.

Earlier report from femLINKPacific in Honiara