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| Chinese in Riot-torn Solomon Islands Get Help |
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Chinese Embassy in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has been taking urgent measures to provide assistance to the overseas Chinese in Solomon Islands, the riot-torn South Pacific state. Zhao Yanbo, Political Counselor of Chinese Embassy in PNG, told Xinhua Thursday that the Solomon Islands Police were contacted by the Chinese Embassy to secure the life and property safety of the Chinese people. "The Police have moved about 400 Chinese to a camp in the Police headquarters, and they are currently quite well protected," said Zhao. The protests had erupted in Honiara, the capital, on Tuesday night, reportedly triggered by the election of Snyder Rini as prime minister by 50 lawmakers chosen at an April 5 parliamentary election. Reports said dozens of Chinese-owned shops in the Chinatown in Honiara were looted. There are over 400 Chinese living in Honiara, amongst whom, over 180 are Chinese nationals, including five Hong Kong people. Zhao said, "there were injuries but no death" to the local Chinese following the two-day looting. "We have called all the relative organizations, including the Australian and New Zealand forces stationed there to rein in the riot," said Zhao. He said PNG Chinese Embassy is trying to send staff to Solomon Islands for further assistance to the Chinese there. According to Radio New Zealand, a tense calm has settled Thursday over the Solomon Islands after 180 Australian soldiers and police arrived in the capital Honiara to quell violent protests. A curfew was called across the city on Wednesday and police were given the power to arrest people on suspicion of inciting violence and hold them without charge for up to a week. (Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2006) |
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