Emeute aux Iles Salomon après un match – novembre 2009
Football riot prompts Solomons security review
www.rnzi.com
16 November, 2009
The Solomon Islands police and the country’s football federation will be beefing up security following rioting during a tournament match which saw a building burnt down and a business looted.
A Solomons Cup match between Honiara and Malaita ended early after rioters threw rocks on the field, following a ruling by the referee against Malaita.
14 people have so far been arrested.
The Solomon Islands police Commissioner, Peter Marshall, says the rioters’ behaviour was disgraceful, and more arrests will be made.
“It’s not something that is particularly extraordinary in the sense that overseas fans do get angry at soccer venues, and tempers start to flare and we’re very mindful that only two premises were actually damaged and one actually belonged to the soccer federation itself.”
Peter Marshall says there will be additional security for the finals and semi finals of the tournament, and he is working with the football federation to see what else needs to be done.
News Content © Radio New Zealand International
PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand
Football riot in Solomons
16 nov 2009
A football riot in the Solomon Islands over the weekend has alarmed authorities there, with regional military peacekeepers put on alert.
One building was destroyed in the capital Honiara and a shop in China Town looted.
New Zealander Peter Marshall, who is commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIPF), said he was deeply troubled by events on Saturday and has launched a criminal investigation.
The riot occurred in the first game of the Solomon Cup between Honiara and Malaita. When the referee refused to award a goal to Malaita in the second half, supporters invaded the ground and destroyed the Solomon Islands Football Federation building.
Mr Marshall said there were large numbers of police at the ground but they were outnumbered.
« Police officers were outnumbered at the scene, and when a RSIPF fire engine arrived on the location it then came under attack from rock throwing offenders, » he said.
« The fire truck was forced to retreat and a fire officer was struck by a rock.
« Three other police officers were injured by people throwing rocks, though fortunately their injuries were not serious and they did not require hospitalisation. »
Marshall said the crowd of over a thousand people moved through the China Town area and one retail premises was forcibly entered and a large amount of merchandise was stolen. A number of cars, including a police vehicle, were stoned and subsequently damaged.
Following ethnic tensions – mainly between Malaitans and the indigenous Guadalcanal people – a Regional Assistance Mission (RAMSI) provides police and military personal.
Mr Marshall said RAMSI was put on stand-by.
In the event they were not needed as the crowd dispersed.
Mr Marshall said they will now talk to the Football Federation.
« It is obviously totally unacceptable for large elements of the crowd to behave as they did. Police officers were injured doing their duty and property was damaged and stolen by criminal elements who took advantage of the situation that unfolded.
« At this stage there is no evidence to suggest the attacks were premeditated » he added.
SIFF Building Torched, Six Arrested
Monday, November 16, 2009 8:12 AM
Six people have been arrested as the Police Commissioner Peter Marshall has ordered a criminal investigation into the arson attack on the administration building of the Solomon Islands Football Federation, SIFF.
Mr Marshall condemns the criminal and anti-social behavior of a large number of spectators attending a soccer match between Honiara and Malaita last Saturday.
Members of the crowd threw rocks onto the field and set fire to the football administration building following a ruling by the referee against the Malaita team.
He says police officers were out-numbered at the scene – and a Police fire engine came under attack when it arrived. The fire truck was forced to retreat and a fire officer was struck by a rock.
Mr Marshall says three other officers were injured by people throwing rocks.
The Police Commissioner says more than one-thousand people were part of the angry crowd which moved into the China town area and looted one of the shops there.
He says a large amount of goods was stolen and a number of cars, including a police vehicle were stoned and subsequently damaged.
Mr Marshall says the investigation plans to quickly bring offenders to the court to account for their actions.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Marshall says he wants to have urgent discussions with organizers of the Solomon Cup tournament in regards to security for future soccer games.
Mr Marshall says he has directed an assessment to be made in terms of police numbers allocated to soccer matches in the future.
He questions why the Malaita – Honiara match was allowed to commence so late in the afternoon.
Mr Marshall says Solomon Islands police, with RAMSI police and military were alerted and put on stand-by at short notice. But he says he was impressed with their overall response to the incident.
The Police Commissioner says there is no evidence at this stage to suggest the attacks were premeditated. Police are urging members of the public who have information in relation to the matter to contact them on telephone 23666.
16 arrested in soccer riot
http://www.news.com.au
By Ilya Gridneff in Honiara
AAP
November 16, 2009
SOCCER referee’s unpopular decision sparked riots and looting in the Solomon Islands at the weekend, showing that ethnic tensions remain high despite years of relative calm.
A building was destroyed in the capital Honiara and a Chinatown shop was looted in echoes of trouble that led to the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).
Alarmed authorities put RAMSI forces on alert but extra police and military personnel were not required as the trouble failed to escalate.
New Zealander Peter Marshall, Royal Solomon Islands Police commissioner, said 16 men had been arrested for their involvement in the melee with most charged with theft and receiving.
« Like many parts of the world, fans weren’t too happy with an umpiring decision at the end of the game, » he said.
« The Solomon Islands football administration building was burnt, three cars had their windows smashed and a fire truck attacked, » he said.
« Three police (officers) were struck by rocks, » he said.
« The crowd moved from the ground into the nearby Chinatown area and items were stolen from a shop, » he said.
« It was a spontaneous combustion, if you can put it that way, in the overall scheme of things it could have been much worse, » he said.
Com Marshall said there were thousands of supporters at the Solomon Cup game between Honiara and Malaita but the trouble involved only a hundred people when the referee refused to award a goal to the Malaita team.
Tomorrow the Solomons will enter into a two week soccer tournament where all the provinces will take each other on.
« Particular games between particular provinces are obviously planned for with extra support, so yes, we prepare for games where there is potential for incidents like this, » he said.
Years of ethnic tensions and political unrest, mainly between Malaitans and the indigenous Guadalcanal people, led to the deployment of RAMSI in 2003 to restore law and order and good governance.
anthropologie du présent 