Chinese evacuees leave for China (Xinhua) Updated: 2006-04-24 23:27
Three hundred and ten Chinese evacuated from the strife-torn Solomon Islands
left for China Monday afternoon from Papua New Guinea's capital Port Moresby
onboard a chartered Boeing-777.
Australian soldiers stand guard on a street in
the Chinatown district of the Solomon Islands' capital Honiara April 24,
2006. The Solomon Islands parliament was sworn in under heavy security on
Monday amid fears the first sitting since last week's devastating riots in
the capital could trigger further violence.
[Reuters] |
So far the Chinese government has completed the evacuation of Chinese from
the Solomon Islands capital of Honiara, which witnessed two days of riots
sparked by the controversial election of new Prime Minister Synder Rini last
week.
The plane took off from China earlier in the day and arrived at Port Moresby
hours later.
The Chinese government started to evacuate Chinese from Honiara Saturday. The
evacuees arrived at Port Moresby on board four chartered planes.
Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday instructed the foreign ministry as well
as Chinese embassies and consulates in Papua New Guinea and other countries to
take measures to practically protect the security of the overseas Chinese in
Solomon Islands and help them tide over the current hardships facing them.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also asked the Foreign Ministry and relevant
departments to watch the development of the Solomons situation, and to take
every possible measure to ensure the safety of all people of Chinese origin in
the islands country.
The Hong Kong-based newspaper Wen Wei Po said that some 350 people, including
20 from Hong Kong, would be on board the flight which is due back in Guangzhou
on Monday evening.
The Chinese were the main target and victims of the riots in Honiara.
Chinatown was nearly leveled down following looting and arson. Many of the
Chinese are homeless now after their property lost and business ruined in the
two-day riots starting on April 18.
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