Be careful travelling by sea from PNG to Solomon Islands

This article was in today's Solomon Star:

Tourists arrested, want case heard quickly
Submitted by drupal on Thu, 2007-11-29 11:18. Headlines
By DOUGLAS MARAU

FOUR tourists, who are currently under boat arrest for illegally entering the country, are appealing to police to hear their case quickly.
Speaking from their boat to Solomon Star yesterday, the tourists said they wanted their case to be heard now than later because they are running out of food ration.
The tourists are from America, Japan, Australia and Papua New Guinea.
They told Solomon Star that they didn't intend to break any Solomon Islands laws. "We have followed the immigration requirements but when we get to Korovo there was no Customs officer there so we head straight to Gizo Police Station and notify them about the situation.
"Instead to our surprise they arrested us and put us under boat arrest," one of the disappointed tourists said.
According to the tourists, on November 4 they arrived at the Solomon border after a trip from Rabaul, Papua New Guinea.
"We heard so much about the history of Solomon Islands and wanted to see the country. Our plan was to spend only two days in Solomon Islands and move on," the tourist said.
However, they said when they checked in at the port of entry in Korovo, Shortland Islands no Customs officer was there.
"When we told Gizo police about our situation they in turn put us under boat arrest," the tourist said.
"It was only on Saturday that we were charged for illegal entry into Solomon Islands - 18 days after we arrived.
It is not our fault because we followed all the immigration requirements."
The tourists said they are now running out of food, money, water and other basic necessities therefore wanted their case heard quickly.
They said even their flights back to their countries are now cancelled.
"We are now prisoners in our own boat", the tourist said.
Chief Immigration Officer investigation prosecution Peter Mae yesterday confirmed to Solomon Star the story but refused to comment on it.
"I have nothing to say because all the information are now with Gizo Police," Mr Mae said.
Gizo Police Station chief superintendent Bernard Roa also refused to comment on the case.
If found not guilty, the situation these four tourists are encountering today will be a blow to the country's tourism - a sector which the country is seriously looking at reviving following the problems faced by the country in the recent past.

Edited by: Ozziegiraffe

When I entered the Solomons this way 2 years ago, I was warmly welcomed by the immigration officer in Gizo and given my entry stamp.

Could the trouble be that these folks went to police instead of immigration first?

Otherwise if the Solomons authorities have decided they don't want people entering overland from PNG, that's too bad.
Given the low number of tourists they get, they surely shouldn't be THIS fussy.