RAMSI had four distinct components:
1. In 1998, the Solomon Islands descended into economic collapse, chaos and armed conflict
First, in 1998, Solomon Islands had descended into economic collapse, chaos and armed conflict sparked, in part, by significant transmigration from the island of Malaita into the capital city of Honiara on the neighbouring island of Guadalcanal and fuelling ethnic tensions between Malaitans and Gualese.
While the Solomon Islands casualty figures by 2003 were relatively low, forced evictions, and a population-wide fear of armed militants, and the incapacity of the government to respond effectively, were significant in creating insecurity and instability.
Particularly brutal militant activities emerged, which led to forced displacement and widespread fear.
- murders
- sexual assaults
- criminality – including the looting of police weapons and police defections to militant groups
2. The government of Solomon Islands requested Australia to intervene;
Second, and quite distinctively, the government of Solomon Islands requested Australia to intervene; repeatedly it transpired, as the Australian government was quite reluctant to do so initially.
The then Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, considered such actions to be “folly in the extreme”.
Yet, disregarding his Foreign Minister and policy advisors across government, Prime Minister Howard met with the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sir Allen Kamekeza in early June. RAMSI was despatched within a matter of weeks on July 23rd.
3. The mission was civilian-led
Third, the mission was not military-led. It was civilian-led, headed by a senior Australian diplomat, Nick Warner, with a civilian contingent from across the Australian government, significantly police heavy from the federal Australian Federal Police, with defence support.
The mission had tri-fold authority to restore law and justice, and to improve both economic governance and the machinery of government. The economic governance pillar was aimed at restoring government finances and promoting economic reform to generate growth.
The machinery of government pillar was aimed at rebuilding core institutions of the state.
The law and justice pillar was about removing looted firearms and enforcing strong penalties for the possession of firearms after an initial amnesty, and rebuilding the police, justice and corrections structures and systems.
4. The mission had the blessing of the Pacific Islands Forum
Fourth, the mission had the blessing of the regional organisation, the Pacific Islands Forum. It also had significant support on the ground from a number of participating Pacific police forces.
RAMSI had bewildering early successes, particularly in the disarming and arrests of militants. Yet it was originally intended to last only a few months, with one garrison staying up to 12 months.
On June 29, 2018, edging on the 15th birthday of RAMSI, the last Special Coordinator delivered the official speech of closing the RAMSI coordination.
Although, the Australian and New Zealand bilateral police assistance programs will maintain a presence in the Solomon Islands. While it has whittled its contribution down to being a solely police-support mission, it still exists way beyond its anticipated purpose.
Significantly, it has also come at an estimated financial cost to Australia of at least $2.8 billion, the vast majority being expended on the law and justice pillar.