Tongan troops arrive at the village of Malu’u in northern Malaita, to provide security support to ...

Tongan troops arrive at the village of Malu’u in northern Malaita, to provide security support to the police post established there by the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI). They have arrived by helicopter from the RAMSI base near Honiara, to relieve Australian soldiers from 7 Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR), some of whom can be seen loading their kit into the helicopter behind. The helicopter is Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) UH-1H ‘Huey’ Iroquois helicopter NZ3806; the changeover involved Iroquois helicopters, belonging both to RNZAF No. 3 Squadron, and to 171 Operational Support Squadron, 1st Aviation Regiment. This illustrates the way that Australian and New Zealand helicopter crews worked closely together to provide transport to RAMSI. Infantry from C Company of 2RAR were amongst the first Australian troops deployed to the Solomon Islands under Operation Anode, in July 2003. Military forces were deployed to RAMSI under the multi-national Operation Helpem Fren by Tonga, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea. The troubled region of northern Malaita had been the scene of significant violence and unrest due to the activities of armed militia groups, such as the Malaitan Eagle Force (MEF). The police post at Malu’u, one of three on the island of Malaita, was established in September 2003.