Twelve months after the launching of the Regional Assistance Mission (RAMSI) to the Solomon Islands, Nick Warner, its Special Coordinator was in Nuku'alofa on 28 June to thank the Tongan government for its participation in making 'Operation Helpthem Friend' a great success.

Nick was elated when he told the Tongan press about RAMSI. "It was the right plan, at the right time, with the right team of people, that had the right approach and the right level of political backing by the Solomons Government and by the governments of the Pacific." He said that the nature of the operation and the fact that all the 10 countries of the Pacific were willing to help a friend had been a key ingredient in the success of the operation.

Nick said that since the arrival of the Peace Keeping Force in the Solomons on 24 July last year, "3,700 weapons have been taken out of the community, including 700 military staff weapons, and 3,000 people have been arrested, including key militants. The four or five militant organisations that rampaged through the islands have been effectively taken apart. They no longer operate effectively any longer.

"There have been no deaths, and not one single shot was fired in anger."

Nick said that there was still a lot of work to be done. "It will take years of effort by all of us to enable the Solomons to stand on its own two feet as a confident and a proud and prosperous member of the Pacific community."

Nick was accompanied on his visit to Tonga by Ben McDevitt, the Solomons Deputy Police Commissioner; Catherine Walker, a Development Coordinator; Michael Krause, a Military Adviser and Sekove Naqiolevu an Assistant Special Coordinator.

RAMSI was wholly financed by Australia to the tune of about AUD$300 million dollars.