Over 100 arrests as Solomon Islands protests turn violent

dpa Berlin Police in the Solomon Islands have made more than 100 arrests during several days of violent protests calling for the resignation of the prime m...

dpaBerlinPolice in the Solomon Islands have made more than 100 arrests during several days of violent protests calling for the resignation of the prime minister in the country’s capital Honiara.Those detained are suspected of being involved in rioting and looting, police in the South Pacific nation said. The authorities called on people to refrain from looting and from setting buildings on fire.Demonstrators have been demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare since Wednesday, but he has so far been defiant despite a mob attempting to storm his official residence during the unrest.Since then, numerous government buildings have been attacked and partly burnt down, and shops have been looted, local media reported.On Friday, security forces from Australia and Papua New Guinea arrived in the country to support the police on the ground. The government has also imposed a curfew on Honiara until further notice.A major factor in the riots was the island nation’s decision to break with long-time ally Taiwan and to establish diplomatic relations with China in 2019, which dismayed many Solomon Islanders and led to accusations of bribery by Beijing.In the particularly hard-hit Chinatown district, three bodies were found in a burnt-out building in the aftermath of the riots, the broadcaster CNN reported, citing a police spokesperson.The authorities are currently investigating the cause of death in each case and are attempting to identity the victims. It wasn’t immediately clear if the deaths were connected to the riots or not.