Fed: Austs expect warlords to face justice: Hill
CANBERRA, Aug 10 AAP - Australians would expect Solomon Islands warlords to be broughtto justice for their role in murders, Defence Minister Robert Hill said today.
Senator Hill said he felt a little uneasy about a photograph of the head of the interventionforce now in the Solomons, Australian Nick Warner, shaking the hand of warlord HaroldKeke.
Keke admitted to Mr Warner that six hostages he was holding had died.
Senator Hill said the focus of the intervention force was to help the Solomons restorelaw and order to the country.
But there would be an expectation that serious crimes would be prosecuted.
"I think Australians would be uncomfortable if the solution in the Solomons allowsthose who committed murders to avoid prosecution," he told ABC television.
"But principally, even though I say that, I see it as part of a total picture whichis a restoration of confidence within the Solomon Islands of law and order."
Senator Hill said he was extremely happy with the way the intervention force was working.
"So far it's gone very well. I think it's probably gone better than we would have expected,"
he said.
AAP sw/cdh/bwl
KEYWORD: SOLOMONS HILL
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