Police in Solomon Islands have beefed up security along the shared maritime border with Papua New Guinea, ahead of the Bougainville independence referendum this weekend.
The non-binding referendum, which begins on Saturday, is the final expression of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, signed in 2001 to formally end the decade long civil conflict.
Fighting during the war often spilled into Western Solomons.
Officers from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force have this week been visiting communities in the Shortland Islands, which are only a few hours by boat from Bougainville, to reassure them that they will be maintaining an increased presence in the region while the referendum is being conducted.
Police in Solomon Islands conducting an awareness meeting in the Shortland Islands ahead of the Bougainville independence referendum in neighbouring PNG. Photo: Royal Solomon Islands Police Force
The Western Province Police Commander Mathias Lenialu said police, immigration and customs officers had conducted awareness meetings in 16 Shortlands communities and sought their support in managing border crossings during the Bougainville operation, which will run until the 7 December.
"The common border between Solomon Island and Papua New Guinea is not closed. We are here to monitor, control and facilitate movements during the Bougainville Referendum," Mr Lenialu said.
"I want to ask people in the Shortland Islands and parts of Choiseul not to panic when they see the heavy presence of police in their communities. Police are there to provide security for our people," he said.
A member of the Shortlands community, Chief Bakile, from Maleai village welcomed the increased police presence.
"We are happy to see more police officers presence during the Bougainville Referendum. My people feel very safe and are able to move around freely. We will assist police with information that will help police to do its work," Mr Bakile said.
